A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
On both his own death certificate and the birth certificate of his son Warren Addison Barnum, Ira Barnum's occupation is shown as farmer. He had a year or two of college education and was a school teacher for many years, but he also had a raspberry farm about three miles outside of town (Sauk Rapids), where he took his sons to work during school vacations. The boys all hated it, but Ira believed that the hard work would help them to build character.
In the 1850 and 1860 US Censuses for Sheshequin, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, Ira Barnum was single and was enumerated in a family group together with his parents and siblings.
The History of Sheshequin 1777-1902 contains the following entry: Company "A", 35th Pennsylvania Militia. (From July 2 to Aug. 7, 1863) Corporal Stephen Z. Shores, Privates: Ira A. Barnum, William K. Hill, Benjamin F. Horton, George W. Horton, William P. Horton, John J. Webb, William Webb, Isaac L. Young. The 35th Regiment Militia Infantry was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1863, for the protection of Pennsylvania during Lee's invasion. After duty in the Department of the Susquehanna, the unit was mustered out on August 7, 1863 following 34 days of service.
Information also exists for an Ira A. Barnum who enlisted as a Private in Company "A", 9th New York Volunteer Cavalry on 20 September 1861 in Warsaw, New York, at the age of 19 and was promoted to Corporal on 1 November 1864. He is a different Ira A. Barnum, and was killed in action at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia on 31 March 1865.
In the 1870 US Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton, Minnesota Ira and his wife Ida were enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #54; Family #55
Barnum, Ira A.; 26; Male; White; Farming; Real property $300; Personal property $150; b. New York; Male citizen of US of 21 years of age and upwards
Barnum, Ida; 20; Female; White; Keeping house; b. Illinois
Note: Ida's parents, Corydon and Emma Holmes, were enumerated living in the same town.
In the 1880 US Census for District 068, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #49; Family #49
Barnum, I. A.; M; W; 39; Married; Farmer; b. New York; Both parents b. New York
Barnum, Ida A.; W; F; 30; Wife; Married; Keeping House; b. Illinois; Both parents b. New York
Barnum, Rose; W; F; 9; Daughter; Single; Attending school; Attended school within the census year; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois
Barnum, Allin [sic]; W; M; 8; Son; Single; Attending school; Attended school within the census year; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois
Barnum, Sylvia; W; F; 6; Daughter; Single; Attending school; Attended school within the census year; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois
Barnum, Warren; W; M; 5; Son; Single; Attending school; Attended school within the census year; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois
Barnum, Lee; W; M; 2; Son; Single; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois
Gordon, Nancy; W; F; 69; Widowed; Keeping house; b. New York; Both parents b. Vermont
In the 1885 Minnesota Territorial Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton County the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Family #270
I. A. Barnum, 40, M, W, b. New York
I. A. Barnum, 35, F, W, b. Illinois
Rose Barnum, 13, F, W, b. Minnesota
Allen Barnum, 12, M, W, b. Minnesota
Warren Barnum, 9, M, W, b. Minnesota
Sylvia Barnum, 10, F, W, b. Minnesota
L. C. Barnum, 6, M, W, b. Minnesota
In the 1900 US Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #113; Family #117
Barnum, Ira A.; Head W; M; b. Feb. 1840; 60; Married 31 years; b. New York; Both parents b. New York; Can read, write and speak English; Owns farm home free of mortgage; Farm Schedule 6
Barnum, Ida A.; Wife; W; F; July 1849; 50; Married 31 years; Mother of 5 children; 4 living; b. Illinois; Both parents b. New York; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum, Lee C.; Son; W; M; b. Aug. 1877; 22; Single; b. Minnesota; Father b. New York; Mother b. Illinois; Farm laborer; Can read, write and speak English
Smith, Bryson B.; Grandson; W; M; b. May 1897; 2; Single; b. Minnesota; Father b. Canada (English); Mother b. Minnesota
In the 1905 Minnesota State Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Enumeration #66
Barnum, Ira A.; M; 66; W; b. New York; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. New York; Resident of this state 37yr 8mo.; Resident of this enumeration district 37yr 8mo.; Farmer
Barnum, Ida A.; F; 55; W; b. Illinois; Both parents b. New York; Resident of this state 45yr; Resident of this enumeration district 45yr.
In the 1910 US Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #323; Family #330
Barnum, Ira A.; Head; M; W; 71; Married 41 years; b. New York; Both parents b. New Hampshire; Speaks English; Farmer; Fruit farm; Employer; Can read and write; Owns farm free of mortgage; Farm Schedule 7
Barnum, Ida A.; Wife; F; W; 61; Married 41 years; b. Illinois; Both parents b. Connecticut; Speaks English; No trade or occupation; Can read and write
In the 1920 US Census for Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #216; Family #231
Barnum, Ira A.; Head; Owns farm free of mortgage; M; W; 80; Married; Can read and write; b. New York; Both parents b. New York; Speaks English; Farmer; General farm; Wage worker
Ira A. Barnum died at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 10 days. According to his death certificate, he died at 8:20 p.m. on March 26, 1921, of chronic bronchitis and non-valvular heart disease, complicated by influenza and senility. He had contracted influenza in Florida in January of 1921, while visiting his brother Captain Smith D. Barnum, who lived in Orlando. He never fully recovered his strength and that was a contributing factor in his death. At the time of his death, he had been retired from farming for about 15 years.
From an unidentified contemporary news paper, 27 March 1921: Ira A. Barnum, Kin of Circus Man, Dead. Ira A. Barnum, aged 82, cousin of the Late P. T. Barnum [N.B., fourth cousin twice removed], of the Barnum Bailey circus, died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. I. N. Smith, 601 Forest av S. Mr. Barnum, who formerly made his home in Sauk Rapids, Minn., had been a resident of Minnesota since 1868. He was A Civil War veteran. Surviving him besides his wife, who resides in Sauk Rapids, are his daughter, Mrs. Smith; a son, Warren Barnum, Oregon City, Ore.; and a brother, Captain Smith C. Barnum, Orlando, Fla. The funeral will take place in Sauk Rapids Tuesday at 2 p.m.
From the Sauk Rapids Sentinel, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota, Vol. 67, No. 6, 31 March 1921, p. 1: Had Lived Here Half a Century. Ira A. Barnum, Pioneer Resident, Succumbs at Minneapolis Home. Was 82 Years Old and Brother [sic] of P. T. Barnum, Famous Circus Man. Ira A. Barnum, a resident of Sauk Rapids for more than 50 years died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. I. N. Smith, in Minneapolis last Saturday evening, after a prolonged illness of several years. He was 82 years of age at the time of his death and up to a few years ago he owned and managed a fruit farm near here. The deceased was a brother of P. T. Barnum, the world-renowned circus man. [N.B., they were actually fourth cousins twice removed]. He had spent the winter with another brother at Orlando, Fla. He had returned only a short time from Florida when his failing health gradually became worse and eventually ended in his death. Mr. Barnum was a devoted public servant during his long residence in this vicinity. He had served for many years on the board of education and was at one time county superintendent of schools. He had taught school in Benton county a number of years before being elected head of the county schools. His splendid manner had brought him a large number of friends who will regret news of his death. He is survived by his wife, who had gone to Florida with him, his daughter, Mrs. I. N. Smith, a son, Warren Barnum, of Oregon City, Oregon, and his brother, Captain Barnum. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with services at the Congregational church. Rev. F. H. Marks conducted the obsequies. Interment was in Sauk Rapids cemetery. (Cemetery records are said to show him as buried in Benton County Cemetery).
The Minnesota Death Certificates Index shows: Barnum, Ira Allen, Date of Birth: n/a, Place of Birth: n/a, Mother Maiden Name: n/a, cert id# 1921-MN-017439, Date of Death: 03/26/1921, County of Death: Hennepin, Surname Soundex: B655. State File Number: 017439; Certificate Number: 017439; Certificate Year: 1921; Record Number: 324267.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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