The Bingham family has long since been involved in the business and social life of Pensacola since 1890. The patriarch of the family was Amos Reed Bingham (1842-1915) who enlisted in the 5th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. He was wounded at the battle of Yellow Tavern on May 8, 1864 where his comrade shot and fatally wounded the famous Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. He would relocate to Pensacola in 1890 with his son Frasier Franklin (1872-1953) where they set up the A. R. Bingham & Son Shipping Company running consignment goods. He would court and marry Fannie Augusta McKenzie Oerting (1875-1931) on June 10, 1896, the daughter of one of the most influential businessmen on the Gulf Coast. With northwest Florida's timber boom in full swing, the pair soon expanded into shipping lumber to and from foreign ports. One of their earliest ships, the "Richard A. Bingham" was named after Frasier's son and sank with a load of mahogany logs that all but bankrupted them.
But luckily, Frasier had gone to work for the Southern States Lumber Company as a clerk and by 1900 had become a director for the company's 400,000-acre holdings. He was soon was made the assistant general manager, a position he occupied until they ceased operations in 1930. For the next several years his father worked in the transfer business (hauling) until 1911 when he formed his own company called the "Bingham Transfer Company" at 234 East Intendencia Street. His father would pass away in 1915 and the company was taken over by others. In the meantime, Frasier had branched out into the Pensacola Finance Company and the Pensacola Hotel Company, which along with James Michael Muldon was responsible for the building of the San Carlos Hotel. Before long, he had entered the shipbuilding business and even built wooden schooners during WWI. With business going well the family moved into a new house at 1020 East Cervantes Street in 1907, a home that still stands today.
With his name now a household word Frasier had attempted to enter Pensacola's political arena but unfortunately was unsuccessful. He served for several years as the chair of the Escambia County Republican Executive Committee and tried three times to run for public office. In 1907, he ran for the Pensacola Board of Public Works and in 1908 he ran for the state legislature. He lost both times! In 1929, he ran for the Pensacola Board of City Commissioners and lost for the third time. But, in those days, a Republican stood little chance of winning in the Deep South. So, for his fourth attempt he changed his party affiliation to "independent" and ran in 1930 for the position of Police Commissioner against the former police chief, Ernest Ellis Harper. He lost by just 166 votes.
But regardless, he and his family made an economic impact on the young coastal town of Pensacola during its formative years. He would lose his wife Fannie in 1931 and would not join her at St. John's for another twenty-two years.
Dray wagon for rent at the downtown wharf 1912
Richard Amos Bingham on right
Frasier's grandfather William Simon Bingham (1816-1872) middle, with his two sons Amos Reed (1842-1915) left, and William Frasier Bingham (1844-1905) right
Amos Reed Bingham's Union military service
Amos Reed Bingham's Union Pension Card 1867
Frasier Franklin Bingham and his wife Fannie Augusta McKenzie Oerting, daughter of Charles McKenzie Oerting and Fannie Bronnum
1911 Southern States Lumber Company, American Bank Building
Upper left Fannie, upper right Dorothy (1898-1995), lower left Marjorie Elizabeth (1900-1964) or Hilda (1904-2000) Reed, left Richard Amos (1902-1989), lower right Charles Oerting (1908-1963), and infant unknown
Two sons of Frasier and Fannie Bingham 1912
Richard Amos left and Charles Oerting right
Frasier F. Bingham's Application
for Seaman Certification 1920
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