Son of John Gaines Bingham and his second wife Catherine Mariah Fisher. After the death of his father in 1854, John came to Texas along with his widowed mother and two younger sister, Sallie and Mattie. They settled in Dallas and John went to work as a typesetter (Printer's devil) for the Dallas Herald, a predecessor of the Dallas Morning News. He worked for this newspaper until the outbreak of the Civil War at which time the entire staff of the newspaper signed up for military duty with the Confederacy. He served over four years.

After the end of the war, he returned to Dallas and again worked for this same newspaper. During this time he set a speed record for setting type which was never broken or even matched until mechanical typesetting was introduced. In 1867 he purchased a newspaper in McKinney and continued to work in Dallas to earn the money to pay off his indebtedness for the purchase of the paper. Isaac Finks Graves and Judge Muse signed his note with him for the purchase. He began publishing The Enquirer in Feb. 1869 and continued to publish until 1898 at which time he retired.
On Sept. 30, 1869, he married Eliza Virginia Graves, the eldest daughter of Isaac Finks Graves and his wife Margaret Ann Stevens. John's family lived in a house on Louisiana Street which was next door to the printing office of the Enquirer until 1883. In 1882 John began to build the home located at 804 Chestnut Street. All the lumber used in the construction of the home was hauled
overland from Jefferson, Texas, by ox cart. The residence was under construction for a period of two years. The lower floor of the home was sufficiently completed in the early spring of 1883 for the family to move in and occupy the lower floor. The house plan was drawn from memory of a home in Georgia which John Bingham had admired while serving in the war. The childern were: Margaret Gaines, Sallie Mills (Couch), Isaac Graves, Nathaniel Stevens, Stephen Goodwin, and Eliza Virginia (Morelock).
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Pioneer Editor Drops Dead. Capt. John H. Bingham Died of Heart Failure Monday at Noon.
Capt. John H. Bingham is dead. The summons came Monday at noon and without warning. Heart failure is given as the cause of his death. Capt. Bingham had not been complaining of feeling unwell, so we understand, and was able to attend to his usual business. He was at his home on South Chestnut street at the time and was out on the porch playing with one of the little children. He complained of a hurting in his left side and in a few moments thereafter was stricken. The news of his sudden death was received with much sadness by many friends throughout the city. It was a shock to everyone, for the Captain was down town nearly every day.

To this writer, the death of Captain Bingham brings much sadness. We had known him for 37 years. It was in his office we learned much of the printers' trade. He was for many years, editor of the Enquirer, one of the oldest papers in the State, and we can truthfully say he was a good employer. We thought much of him. He was a skillful printer and he required us to do our work right or not at all. ....The captain was a man of few words. He was honest and sincere in his views. He was a finely educated man, a deep thinker, a splendid writer. As brave a man as ever walked our streets. He was a democrat and always worked for and voted the democratic ticket. He was for years editor of the McKinney Enquirer which he edited until 1895, when without a moment's notice he ceased its publication. That was the Captain's way. He never consulted others about what was his business.....No man every knew John H. Bingham to ‘ride the fence' on any question.

.....he retired to his home, where he spent much of his time reading and looking after his big alfalfa farm. He owned several hundred acres at the time of his death. He took much interest in outdoor life. He was 74 years of age. He came here about 60 years ago from Tennessee. He was an ex-Confederate soldier, serving throughout the war. He was a member of Goode's Battery, and Texas Ranger. During the latter part of the war, he was elected Captain of a Company to succeed Capt. Douglass.

In 1867 Capt. Bingham was married to Miss Eliza V. Graves, daughter of the late Isaac F. Graves. Six children were born to this union, all living except two, Nathaniel, who died several years ago, and Margaret Gains who died when about one year of age. Those living are Mrs. J. T. Couch of this city; Mrs. Wat Morelock of Dallas, Isaac Bingham of Bakersfield, Cal., and Good Bingham at home. The funeral service was held at the home Wednesday afternoon...by Bishop Garrett of Dallas, assisted by Rev. Carrington, Rector All Saints Church of Dallas, and Rev. Jamison, Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of this city. Many old time friends and neighbors had gathered to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased and mingle their tears in sympathy for the grief stricken wife and children. At conclusion of the service the body was conveyed to Pecan Grove cemetery where it was lowered to its eternal rest. Thus passes from the busy walks of man, another familiar figure of the early days of Collin. Peace to his ashes.[The McKinney Examiner, McKinney, Texas, Sept. 11, 1913.]