A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
James fought with Company "L", 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, during 1864 and 1865.
From The North Adams Transcript, North Adams, Massachusetts, Monday, June 5, 1899: James H. Barnum 55 years old, committed suicide at Adams, Massachusetts and was found Sunday morning. He had been in poor health for some time past and was feeling very despondent. Twice before he had threatened to do away with himself. Once he went to a barn in the rear of his house and said he had a mind to cut his throat with a razor and another time he tied a rope to a beam and said he would hang himself. He underwent a couple of operations for his health at the House of Mercy in Pittsfield but received no benefit and it is believed he suffered a good deal. For a week past Mr. Barnum is thought to have made up his mind to end his life. He talked with his daughter in Adams and asked her if she could not board his youngest son, William, and look out for him. Saturday night Mr. Barnum told his mother-in-law to sleep with his wife and he would sleep upstairs. His wife had not been feeling well. He said he had not slept for a couple of nights and thought if he went up stairs he could get a good night's rest. He said good night to his wife at 10 o'clock. That was the last-seen of him until his son William, 18 years old came home Sunday morning, after staying at his sister's, Mrs. J. K. Ferguson's on Prospect street overnight. He got home about 8:20 o'clock and went up to find his father. He was not in bed and so the son went to the barn. There he found his father hanging dead. Whether the man hung himself Saturday night or Sunday morning is not known. He tied a hemp string such as is used in tying express bundles, around a beam, then in a hard knot around his neck. It is believed he then stepped off a work bench and let himself down by swinging from a beam. His arms were at his side and there were no signs of his having struggled. He had on slippers and they were still on his feet. His feet were not more than an inch from the barn floor. The body was cut down, after being viewed by Medical Examiner O. J. Brown of this city. It was clear that Mr. Barnum had hung himself. Mr. Barnum was born in Lee and had lived in Adams about 35 years. He was an engineer and had worked at Adams Bros. Manufacturing Company's and the L. L. Brown Paper company's mills. He was at one time a special officer at Maple Grove. He was also a member of George E. Sayles post, G. A. R., and had served in Company L of the Third Massachusetts Cavalry in the Civil War. He was married twice, his first wife having died a year ago. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Mary McAllister of Cheshire and Mrs. James K. Ferguson, of Adams and three sons, Charles, Ernest and William of Adams and two sisters, Mrs. F. O. Andrews of Pittsfield and Mrs. Mary Whittaker of Afton, N. Y. The funeral will be held from the house on Grove Street, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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