A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
In the 1850 US Census for Newark, Rock County, Wisconsin the family of James M. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #218; Family #227
James Barnum, 37, M, Wagon maker, Real property $500, b. Kentucky
Martha J. Barnum, 13, F, b. Indiana
William Barnum, 12, M, b. Indiana, Attended school within the year
Mary F. Barnum, 8, F, b. Indiana, Attended school within the year
John R. Barnum 6, M, b. Indiana
Mary Barnum, 63, F, b. Canada
[Note: the family of his brother Timothy Barnum was living next door].
In the 1860 US Census for Newark, Rock County, Wisconsin the family of James M. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #434; Family #441
James M. Barnum, 48, Male, White, Farmer, Real property $1,400; Personal property $326; b. Kentucky
Amanda Barnum, 44, Female, White, b. Delaware
Wm. Barnum, 22, Male, White, Farm laborer, b. Indiana
Mary F. Barnum, 18, Female, White, b. Indiana, Attended school within the census year
John R. Barnum, 16, Male, White, Farm laborer, b. Indiana, Attended school within the census year
Ada M. Barnum, 5, Female, White, b. Wisconsin
Timothy Barnum, 3, Male, White, b. Wisconsin
Eber Barnum, 1, Male, White, b. Wisconsin
Note: The family of Sarah Barnum, widow of James' brother Timothy, was enumerated two houses away.
From the Janesville Gazette; Janesville, WI; Thursday, January 21, 1892. Janesville, Rock, Wisconsin. Old Settler Dead by His Own Deed. James M. Barnum, Seventy-Eight Years Old, Found Poisoned at His Home. Wrote that He was Tired of Life. And Leaving this Note In a Trunk He Swallowed a Big Dose Of Morphine. James M. Barnum, aged seventy-eight years, a farmer living in the town of Newark, nine or ten miles northwest of Beloit, committed suicide by taking morphine. The other members of his family were away from home during the fore part of the night and were surprised on trying to enter the home to find the doors all locked from the inside. When they succeeded in gaining an entrance they were horrified in finding the lifeless body of the aged Mr. Barnum lying on the floor. Poison Found in the Room. Investigation showed in the room a paper containing a little morphine, and any doubts of self-destruction were dispelled by the finding in the old gentlemen's trunk of a letter in which he said he was tired of life and would end it by taking poison. A coroner's inquest returned a verdict in accordance. Deceased has resided at Newark nearly fifty years.
Probate file # 4258. Last Will and Testament of James Madison Barnum, dated 12-31-1891, lists relatives: son Timothy L. Barnum, Beloit, Wisconsin; son John Robert Barnum, Bagley, Guthrie, Iowa; daughter Mary Francis Whitehead, Avon, Rock, Wisconsin; Martha J. Andrews, Clinton, Iowa and Ada Barnum, son Eber Barnum, Town of Beloit.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
©1998, 2022. The format of this website and all original statements and narrative included on it are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Factual information may be freely quoted for use in private genealogical research when accompanied by a full source citation, including the date of acquisition. Click here to view the format of a citation for an Internet resource. The publication of large extracts from this site in any form requires prior written consent.
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 20 February 2024