A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
His obituary gives his middle name as Bolivar but his FindAGrave memorial #17319009 shows it as Boliver.
From the Starke County Democrat, Knox, Indiana, Wednesday, March 13, 1912: Josiah Bolivar Barnum, for more than forty years a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Knox and Starke County, quietly passed out of this life at 12:30 o’clock yesterday morning, following a protracted illness extending over the past several years. Mr. Barnum's ailments were of complicated natures which have practically made him an invalid for nearly six years. He was ever cheerful, however, in spite of these infirmities and was never heard to complain even in the most trying hours of his long siege of illness. A number of times during the past winter Mr. Barnum has been near death’s door, and the end, therefore, which was preceded by a gradual sinking spell of two days, did not come unexpected to the good wife and children who were constantly at his side. The deceased was born at Bergen Corners, New York, December 13, 1837, and died at the age of 74 years, 2 months and 29 days.
His father's family came west when he was a mere boy, and after a short residence at Kalamazoo, Mich., settled down at Rochester, Ind. Here Mr. Barnum grew to manhood and later became a resident of Cass County. When his country called for volunteers in the early sixties he was one of the first to respond in his neighborhood and his record as a soldier shows that he did gallant service as the nation’s defender for a period of three years and 9 months in the ranks. He participated in many of the bloodiest battles of the war and during his enlistment served in the 55th, 29th, 73rd and 116th Indiana regiments. He was promoted to corporal and later to sergeant during the war. At the close of the gigantic struggle he returned home and on December 29, 1869 was united in marriage in Knox to Lucinda Myers, his surviving wife. Seven children were born to this union, three of whom died in childhood. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barnum resided at Hooversville, Cass County until the spring of 1871 when they removed to Knox. Mr. Barnum was a shoemaker and he followed this trade until he was forced to lay aside his tools some six years ago. He was a good father, neighbor and friend and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. For years he was an active member of the William Landon GAR Post, and his funeral will be conducted from the Free Methodist Church. Interment will be made at Crown Hill Cemetery. The deceased is survived by his wife, three sons, John H., (Horace) Elihu and George, one daughter, Mrs. Alta Dunsing of South Chicago, three grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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