A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From the History of Washington County, Pennsylvania by Earle R. Forrest, Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926: Early in life Samuel Arrison Barnum realized the truth that success never comes to the idler or dreamer, and he accordingly has through the years of his active life devoted himself indefatigably to whatever vocation he applied himself. The prosperity which be enjoys is the legitimate result of rightly-applied energy and the exercise of right business principles. In such men as Mr Barnum there is especial satisfaction in offering their life records-not necessarily that the careers of men of his type have been such as to gain for them wide reputations or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been absolutely true to the trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the respect of their respective communities and have been useful in their spheres of action.
Mr. Barnum was born in Allenport, Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of September, 1864, and is a son of Jesse Duncan and Elizabeth Ann (Biles) Barnum. The father was born at Smithfield (formerly known as Brownfield), Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1835, and died in Allenport April 19, 1897. He followed coal mining all his life and was a highly respected citizen throughout his community. He was a democrat and took an active interest in local public affairs, having filled practically every township office as well as serving for a number of years as justice of the peace, He was a member of the Baptist church He was the son of Samuel and Rosanna (Minesinger) Barnum , the former of whom was born at Danbury, Connecticut, in 1787, and died at New Geneva, Pennsylvania, in 1860. He was superintendent of iron furnaces at Brownfield for a number of years and later became a coal operator at New Geneva. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 -, gave his political support to the democratic party and was a member of the Baptist church. His wife was born and reared at Smith Ferry, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and died at New Geneva in 1866. Samuel Barnum was a son of Captain Justus and Mary (Benedict) Barnum, the former of whom was born at Danbury, Connecticut, where he spent his life and died. He was a tailor and was engaged in mercantile business. He attained to considerable prominence in the community and served several terms as a member of the Connecticut legislature. In his political views he was a democrat. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and rose to the rank of captain, and was a member of the Congregational church. His father, Joseph Barnum, and five of his sons, fought in that war. Joseph Barnum was the son of Richard Barnum, who was a member of the colonial assembly of Connecticut. His father, Thomas Barnum, the progenitor of the Barnum family in America, came from England to this country in 1640. He was the youngest of fifteen sons whose father was an English nobleman, and was one of the men who purchased from the Indian-, the land where now stands the city of Danbury, Connecticut. There they established a colony of their own, organized a church and a school and had a constitution independent of any other world government.
Elizabeth Ann Biles was born in Allen township, Washington county, January 17, 1839, and died at Allenport in September, 1921. She was a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Curry) Biles, both of whom also were born and reared in Allen township, where they spent their lives, engaged in farming pursuits, and there died. The father was a democrat and a member of the Universalist church. He was the son of William Henry and - (Flemming) Biles, the former of whom was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and a descendant of William Biles, a prominent Quaker and member of the colonial assembly, also filling other important offices. He was a member of William Penn's famous council. He was a native of England, though of Irish descent, and came to America prior to the coming of Penn.
Samuel A. Barnum attended the public schools of Allenport and then took a course in the Iron City Business College at Pittsburgh, where he was graduated in 1884. He then went to work in a store for T. J. Wood, a coal operator at Wood Run, Pennsylvania, where he remained about five years. He had been wisely economical of his resources and now he acquired an interest in the Allenport Coal Company, of which he became manager. He next became a stockholder in and a director of the Diamond Coal & Coke Company and became president and general manager of the store connected with that company, retaining that position for twenty years, or in September, 1924, when the company was sold. He is now president and manager of the California Department Store Company, which was started June 1, 1924, and which has already proved a very sound investment. He is also a director of the People's Bank & Trust Company and also a number of gas and coal companies and numerous other enterprises, including a large and successful peach orchard at Southern Pines, North Carolina, of which his son, P. T., is also part owner. During the World war Mr. Barnum was active in all local war agencies, supporting the Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives, served as a member of the county safety committee and was a member of the Home Guard. He has always given his support to the democratic party and has served as a member of the school boards in East Pike Run township and the borough of California, and also served as burgess of Elco, Pennsylvania. He was the democratic nominee for congress in 1914; was a delegate to the democratic national conventions in 1912, 1916 and 1920: and was alternate delegate to the national convention of 1924. Fraternally he is a member of Gummert Lodge, No. 252, Free and Accepted Masons, at Fayette City, Pennsylvania, and of Syria Temple,. Noble., of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh. He also belongs to the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, the Nemacolin Country Club of Beallsville, and the Sons of the American Revolution. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church of California, being a member of the official board and superintendent of the Sunday school.
On June 26, 1888, at Roscoe, Pennsylvania, Mr. Barnum married Miss Sarah Jane Anderson, who was born June 20, 1866, and died at California in 1919. She was the daughter of James Nelson and Hannah (Flemming) Anderson, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, followed the vocation of mining after coming to this country, and died at Roscoe. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a democrat in his political allegiance. His wife. who also died at Roscoe. was a native of England. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnum were born four children, namely: Ruth Cleveland attended the public schools, and then entered and graduated from the Southwestern Normal School, at California. and Emerson College, in Boston, Massachusetts, after which she attended the Goucher College, at Baltimore, Maryland. She became the wife of Harry S. Alexander. of Washington, Pennsylvania, a mechanical engineer. now in charge of building construction for the Seiberling Rubber Company at Akron, Ohio. They have one child, Ruth Ann. Paul Thurman, after taking the preparatory course at the Kiskiminetas Springs School, at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, entered Princeton University, where he was graduated, and is now in partnership with Robert Page, under the firm name of Barnum & Page, engaged in the general insurance and real estate business at Southern Pines, North Carolina. He married Miss Bessie George, of California, and they are the parents of three daughters. Sarah Jane, Grace Bonnelle and Elizabeth Saint George. Grace Marie was graduated from the Southwestern Normal School, at California, the Birmingham School for Girls and Wellesley College, at Boston. She is now the wife of Wilbur F. Galbraith, a lawyer of Pittsburgh. Hilda Gail was graduated from the California Normal School and the Birmingham, School for Girls, and is the wife of Raymond S. Sparks, a merchant at Indian Head, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. They have a daughter, Sarah Jane.
Personally Mr. Barnum is a public-spirited man in all that the term implies, being ever interested in all enterprises tending to promote the general welfare and withholding his support from no movement for the good of the locality. Genial and friendly in manner, his personal relations with his fellowmen have been pleasant and agreeable, and because of his business ability and success, his high character and his tine community spirit, he holds a high place in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Name: Samuel Arrison Barnum; SAR Membership: 24669; Birth Date: 20 Sep 1864; Birth Place: Allenport, Washington, Pennsylvania; Father: Jesse D Barnum; Mother: Elizabeth A Biles Barnum.
From the Charleroi Mail, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, Friday, August 12, 1949: Samuel A. Barnum, 85, of California, former Washington County Register of Wills and a lifelong Democrat, died at 12:45 am today at the home of his sister, Mrs. James Gee in Allenport. He had been ill for two years. For many years, Mr. Barnum was a Democratic leader in the county, and as a native of the Monongahela Valley had many close associates in political and fraternal life. In recent years, until his illness, he was connected with the Valley Supply Co. stores and once was associated with the Diamond Coal Co. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution; Fayette City Lodge No. 252; Free and Accepted Masons; Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, Pittsburgh Consistory and Syria Temple.
His wife, a son and daughter are deceased.
Two daughters, Mrs. (Edward) Raymond Sparks, Indian Head; Mrs. Harry Alexander, Meadville; a brother, Francis of Worthington, Ohio; a sister, Mrs. James Gee, Allenport, with whom he lived, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild survive.
Mr. Barnum wan born September 20, 1864, in Allenport and lived throughout his lifetime In Washington County.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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