James served during the US Civil War and his widow received a pension as an Army Widow.
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865. Name: James H Barnum; Residence: Illinois; Enlistment Date: 1 Nov 1861; Rank at enlistment: Private; State Served: Illinois; Service Record: Enlisted in Company C, Illinois 64th Infantry Regiment on 16 Dec 1861. Source: Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men.
In the 1870 US Census for Manteno, Kankakee, Illinois, the family of James Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #199; Family #212
Barnum, J.H.; 35; Male; White; Farmer; Real property $4,000; Personal property $800; b. Massachusetts; Male Citizen of the U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards
Barnum, Eliza; 21; Female; White; Keeps house; b. Ohio
Barnum, Walter; 10/12; Male; White; At home; b. Illinois; b. August
Shay, Edgar; 15; Male; White; Works on farm; b. Illinois
Haines, Mary; 16; Female; White; Servant; b. Indiana
Cole, Estelle; 15; Female; White; At home; b. New York
Cole, Willie; 12; Male; White; At home; b. New York; Attended school within the census year
In the 1875 Kansas State Census for Indiana Township, Lincoln, Kansas, the family of James Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #73; Family #73
Barnum, J.H.; 40; Male; White; Farmer; b. Massachusetts; Came to Kansas from Illinois
Barnum, E. A.; 26; Female; White; b. Ohio; Came to Kansas from Illinois
Barnum, Walter; 5; Male; White; b. Illinois; Came to Kansas from Illinois
Barnum, Emma; 3; Female; White; b. Kansas
In the 1880 US Census for Elkhorn, Lincoln, Kansas, the family of James Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #6; Family #6
Barnum, James H.; White; Male; 46; Married; Farmer; b. Massachusetts; Both parents b. Massachusetts
Barnum, Eliza A.; White; Female; 32; Wife; Married; Keeping house; b. Ohio; Both parents b. Ohio
Barnum, Walter; White; Male; 11; son; Single; Attended school during the census year; b. Illinois; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, Emma; White; Female; 9; Daughter; Single; Attended school during the census year; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, Edna; White; Female; 5; Daughter; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, Malinda; White; Female; 1; Daughter; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio
In the 1885 Kansas State Census for Colorado Township, Lincoln, Kansas, the family of James Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #53; Family #56
Barnum, J. H.; 50; Male; White; Married; Farmer
Barnum, Eliza; 36; Female; White; Married
Barnum, Walter; 15; Male; White; Single
Barnum, Emma; 13; Female; White
Barnum, Edna; 9; Female; White
Barnum, Melinda; 6; Female; White
Barnum, Ezra; 2; Male; White
In the 1900 US Census for Elkhorn, Lincoln, Kansas, the family of James Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #224; Family #225
Barnum, James H.; Head; White; Male; b. Dec 1834; 65; Married 32 years; b. Massachusetts; Both parents b. Massachusetts; Farmer; Able to read, write and speak English; Rents farm home
Barnum, Eliza A.; Wife; White; Female; b. Aug 1848; 51; Married 32 years; Mother of 6 children; 6 children living; b. Ohio; Father b. Pennsylvania; Mother b. Ohio; Able to read, write and speak English
Barnum, Walter; Son; White; Male; b. Aug 1869; 30; Single; b. Illinois; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio; Farm hand; Able to read, write and speak English
Barnum, Edna; Daughter; White; Female; b. Sep 1875; 24; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts, Mother b. Ohio; Able to read, write and speak English
Barnum, Linnie; Daughter; White; Female; b. Apr 1879; 21; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio; School teacher; Out of work 6 months during the census year; Able to read, write and speak English
Barnum, Ezra; Son; White; Male; b. Mar 1883; 17; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio; Farm hand; Attended school 9 months during the census year; Able to read, write and speak English
Barnum, Sallie A.; Daughter; White; Female; b. March 1886; 14; Single; b. Kansas; Father b. Massachusetts; Mother b. Ohio; Attended school 9 months during the census year; Able to read, write and speak English