A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
The Barnum Family, 1350-1907 mistakenly calls him Cortez Deshite Barnum.
Census records for Cortez are unclear about his place of birth. The 1900-1920 censuses say Canada, while the 1930 census says New York.
On June 20, 1913, Cortez Barnum arrived in the port of New York aboard S.S. Colon, which had departed June 14 from the port of Cristóbal, Panama Canal Zone.
There was an article in the Pasadena Star-News of April 29, 1972 about the 75th anniversary of the Church of the Lighted Window in La Canada, California. Apparently the Barnums were members of that church: "Another of the early families of La Canada, whose descendants are still here, was C. D. Barnum and his wife Alice. According to Starr Barnum, his mother and father moved here from Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1891 and had a beautiful 40-acre citrus ranch at the top of Alta Canyada Road. It was C. D. Barnum who planted the palm and olive trees that still border the street today".
Cortez was born in April 1865, mostly likely in Connecticut. His place of birth varies in census and voter registration records.
Based on the birthdates of his children, the family apparently moved to California after January 1890.
1870 census, Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut: Noble S. Barnum, 44, born CT, farmer; Emily, 44, born New York; Lilly, 16, born CT, Manley, 14, born NY; Cortez, 5, born CT; Elmer S., 1, born CT.
1880 census – Carmel, Putnam County, NY: Noble Barnum, 55, born CT, carpenter; Emily, 52; Elbert 11.
1880 census, Hartford, CT: Cortez D. Barnum, 15, boards, works in screw factory.
1900 census – La Canada, Los Angeles County, CA: Cortez D. Barnum, born Canada, April 1865, married 11 years, fruit grower; Alice W., born CT April 1866, 3 children, 3 living (died between 1900 & 1910); Mabel R., born CT Jan. 1890; Starr H., born CA Dec. 1893; Willard G., born Aug. 1897 – Willard died in World War I.
1910 census, Windsor, Hartford County, CT (Cortez had recently remarried)
Cortez Barnum, 45, birthplace illegible, second marriage, married 0 years, parents born NY, farmer; Sarah J., 50, second marriage, born MA; Mabel, born NY; Starr, 18, born CA; Willard, 13, born CA.
In the 1920 census the family had returned to in La Cañada: Cortez Barnum, 60, born Canada, parents born NY, foreman fruit farm; Sarah W., 60, born MA; Starr H. (Hewitt), 26, born CA, civil engineer; Mary J., 26, wife.
Voter Registrations – La Cañada: 1896 – Cortez D. Barnum. 33, 5’ 10 ½”, farmer, light complexion, brown eyes & hair, born Mississippi; 1920, 1922, 1924 & 1926 – Cortez Barnum, Democrat, Fairview; Sarah Barnum, Republican, Fairview.
Cortez is mentioned in some local "Images of America" books.
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times dated Sept. 19, 1895 called "Stray Bullets", Cortez and two other men were arrested for carelessly shooting their guns.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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