Parley Pratt Bingham, fifth son of Willard Bingham and Genet Gates, was born 30 December 1859 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah.

As a child he moved with his family to West Weber. West Weber was later divided into two wards, one called West Weber and the other Wilson Lane. His home was now located in the Wilson Lane Ward.

At the early age of nineteen, he married Margaret McFarland, on 8 May 1879. He and his young bride spent the first years of their married life in Wilson Lane. When courting Margaret they rode horseback into Ogden to the dances. He used to brag about her tiny feet and tell how he could span around her waist with his two hands. They were married in the Salt Lake Endowment House. They traveled to Salt Lake in a wagon accompanied by his brother Gene and wife, Hannah.

Parley aided his father at a sawmill located east of Huntsville. While he was there he lost the end of his index finger of his right hand and while his finger was healing, he took the opportunity to attend a high school in Ogden. A story was told how he left the house early one morning and in a short time he returned down the mountain side with a deer over his shoulder, singing "The Spotted Fawn". His children had fond memories of sitting on his knee or at his feet while he sang them many songs. Sometime later they sold the sawmill east of Huntsville and bought a farm in Wilson Lane, where they took up farming.

At the age of twenty-seven he was called on a mission to the Southern States. He left on 26 January 1886, leaving a wife and four children. He related many times, to his children, how it was necessary for him to eat corn bread, so full of hair, that it held together. He labored as a missionary for twenty-six months in the Carolinas and Georgia, returning 12 April 1888. Sometime after his return he provided food and clothing for a widow and her five children, whom he had converted. They lived in one room of the Bingham home until they could find work and support themselves. Deeds such as these showed the kind heart, sharing spirit, and the industrious ability he had, to be able to have something to share.

He was set apart as Superintendent of the Garland Sunday School, 14 February 1892. Later he served as a School Board Trustee, and as Secretary of the Wilson Irrigation Company for many years. He also acted as Justice of the Peace.

On 15 April 1896 he married Isabel McFarland, a sister to his first wife. On 20 January 1900 he and his wife, Isabel, with two children, moved to Cache Valley; homesteading a ranch near Trenton, Utah.

It took courage to take ones belongings and leave their friends and families and go homestead new lands. At that time, because of the mode of travel which was horse drawn wagons, distances seemed greater. Loved ones and friends remembered when Parley and his family left and how they stood in the road waving goodbyes until the family was out of sight, with the feeling of emptiness and that they may never see them again or at least for a long, long time.

One of the things that made him a success was his ambition. He didn't believe in "coffee breaks" as they call it or time out for refreshments, but made the comment, "If you feel tired and hungry a raw egg from the straw stack or hen house will sustain you until you can finish the task at hand.

I remember well his advice about food when one is visiting away from home. He was asked if he liked buttermilk, and when he replied that he just loved it, he was served a generous serving which he had a difficult time drinking because it was so nasty. He always tasted things first after that, before he committed himself, for he had found out everyone didn't prepare food the same way.

The first home that was built on the homestead was made of logs, but later a large red brick home was erected and was constructed from the first brick made in the Smithfield Brick Yard. This home provided spacious living for the family for many years and some of the sons and their families; until it was finally torn down by the youngest son, Ralph, and a new home built on the same lot.

Parley was one of the last ones to be married in polygamy, and many times he was warned by his friends and neighbors that the officers of the law were coming after him, and for him to hide. He refused and said that he had done nothing wrong and for the officers to come ahead and he would settle with them; but they were never bothered by any officers of the law. This example showed the true strength of his character and honesty of soul.

He was a proud, clean man, who always liked to look nice and be well dressed. He made some associates wait for him while he took a bath, and the remark was made later by them "Imagine, taking a bath in the middle of the week". Not only did he keep his body clean, but his children will long remember his sweet smelling breath and kisses. He wore a mustache, which was as well groomed as his naturally curly hair; which was always in place. He was an excellent shot with a gun. On one occasion at a fair where they sold shots at chickens for a prize, he was refused any more shots because he could hit one every time.

In 1902 he moved his wife, Margaret and family from Wilson Lane, where they had stayed during his first two years of homesteading in Cache Valley, to Smithfield. He would spend the week working on the farm in Trenton, now called Amalga, then to town over the weekend with his family in town. On 3 January 1920 he retired and moved his second wife and family to Smithfield. On 25 April 1920 only a few months later, he not only had a new home, but a new baby, at the age of sixty. He was always proud of and enjoyed having children around. This was unusual for a man of sixty and his wife forty-eight, but with this unusually large family he provided well.

It was told by a speaker at a public gathering that people liked to work for Parley Bingham because they knew that if they did an honest day's work, they would receive an honest pay. He was a stockholder and director of the Smithfield Commercial National Bank.

On 14 March 1926 he was set apart as chairman of the Genealogical Committee. He was very interested in this work, enjoying the hours he spent in this position. Later he resigned as chairman because of poor health and his inability to get around well, as he had rheumatism in one hip; causing him to use a cane for many years.

He was always kind and understanding. He had a great love for children, and they gave him their love in return. He took time to sit and tell many of his experiences with bears and narrow escapes. Many times he would take a piece of dried beef from a rack behind the coal stove, where it had been hung to cure and dry, and whittle small portions for the little ones. These things found a safe place in their memories.

He was doctor and dentist to many in Bingham town, which they called it, because there were so many Binghams living there. Parley owned a pair of real dental forceps, which helped to make his work authentic; at least as far as the children were concerned. He lived a clean life, both physically and morally, using no tobacco or strong drinks. He often made the statement that "He would sooner wear out than rust out". This he proved by his active life. When he retired he bought a cow and two coops of chickens; these with a small garden gave him something to do so that he never became inactive.

Parley was a very successful farmer, for he had a desire to provide well for his two families. He built four brick homes; three in Cache Valley and one in Wilson Lane. He bought a frame home in Smithfield as well, paying cash for each one. He didn't believe in debts.

He died in the Logan Hospital, after three days of illness, of an abdominal obstruction at the age of 73 on 8 April 1933. He was the father of twenty-two children; eleven boys and eleven girls, nineteen of whom grew to man and womanhood.

Compiled by a daughter, Eunice B. Butters
"The Descendants of Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates" Published by The Erastus Bingham Family Corp., Ogden, Utah
Submitted by Linda JoAnn Fackrell Owens, Daniel Lewis Fackrell, Kirk W Fackrell, Blake Hale Fackrell, children of Marva Joan Bingham Fackrell (Rock) and Lewis Hale Fackrell; grandchildren of Wallace James and Ada Mae Wood Bingham, great-grandchildren of Parley Pratt and Isabel McFarland Bingham