A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
He is Find A Grave memorial #152377744.
From: History of Oneida County, New York: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Philadelphia: Everts & Fariss, 1878: Ezra Smith Barnum was born in Danbury, Conn., June 21, 1792, and there resided until 1809. He was son of Ezra and Jerusha Barnum, of Danbury, Conn. His education from books while young was obtained at odd spells at a woman's school in Danbury, "and completed in Utica, in 1809, by attending for one quarter the evening school kept by old Master William Hayes." With his brother-in-law, Levi Comstock, to whom he had been indentured as an apprentice at the shoemaking, tanning, and carrier business, he left his native place, on June 8, 1809, in a lumber wagon for Utica, reaching his destination June 16, and finding a village of some fifteen hundred inhabitants. During this term of service, which expired in 1812, he received only an allowance of thirty-five dollars a year for clothes and spending-money, leaving the balance against him financially when he began life as a master workman. The year previous to the expiration of his apprenticeship Mr. Barnum paid a visit to his parents in Danbury, and on his return went to Buffalo, where he worked at his trade only a short time before the breaking out of the war with Great Britain, when, in response to a call for minute-men, he volunteered, and was at the first taking of Fort Erie. Subsequently he kept a boot and shoe store at Fort George for a short time, but on account of ill health returned to Utica. About this time Buffalo, then only a small village, was burned and he did not go back. From this time until he retired from active business Mr. Barnum was in business relations, at different times, with David P. Hoyt, Wm. Gear, Zebulon Everson, Robert Jones, and with his sons in Barnum's Bazaar. In the year 1832, thinking to improve his health, he bought some sixty-seven acres of land in the vicinity of East Street and turned his attention to farming, but after a few years engaged in the grocery and confectionary business, succeeding Everson and Bryant, on the corner of Genesee and Catharine Streets.
In the year 1849 he first visited Europe for his health and for business purposes, and while there instituted an importing business, which is still carried on by his sons, S. O. Barnum, of Buffalo, and Samuel Barnum, of Chicago. A second visit to Europe was made in 1852, in company with Mr. Theodore S. Faxton and friends. In all his business transactions he retained the confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and was highly esteemed for his manly and unostentatious ways, his strict integrity in all his dealings, and for his great kindness of heart to those in need.
Mr. Barnum bore an important part in public affairs during his sixty-eight years' residence in Utica. He was first elected as constable, collector, and coroner in 1817, and while holding these offices was appointed sheriff, and, without his knowledge, justice of the peace. Concerning this appointment, he was wont to say "he had never been able to find out who was so kind as to recommend him to Governor Yates for the office; that he had little claim to education and none to law, but he had some idea of justice." He was re-elected from term to term until he had served 17 years, and declined further to be a candidate; and it is a fact worthy of note in the summation of his career as justice, that only two cases were appealed from his decision, one of which was affirmed by the higher courts. On retiring from the justiceship, in 1835, Mr. Barnum was appointed Deputy United States marshal and commissioner of deeds. In one or the other of these various offices he served over thirty years. At the first election held after the village of Utica received a city charter, in 1832, Mr. Barnum was chosen one of the aldermen from the First Ward, and served as an alderman for several years afterward.
He was chosen one of the directors of the Oneida Bank upon its organization in 1836, and was at the time of his death, February, 1878, the only member of the original board still in service. He attended during his connection with that bank about four thousand meetings of the directors, and was one year president and two years vice-president of the board. He was for forty-two years a member of the Mechanics' Association, and one of the subscribers to the Old Hall Fund; was one of the original subscribers to the Clinton Liberal Institute Fund, and a member of the first board of trustees, and every year for forty-five years until his death. He was one of the original subscribers to the Utica Academy Fund. His name appears on the roll of one of the first fire companies formed in Utica, and when Utica was set off from Whitestown, Mr. Barnum assisted in running out and establishing the boundaries of the village. The line, on what is now Kimball Street, was run through a forest so dense that a path had to be cleared with an axe to enable the signal flag to be seen at the distance of half a chain.
In politics Mr. Barnum always adhered to the Democratic party, and during General Lafayette's triumphal tour through this country, in 1824-25, he was a member of the Utica committee sent to Whitesboro to meet the committee from the West having the general and his son (George Washington Lafayette) in charge. Mr. Barnum says, in speaking of this incident, "we brought the party to Utica through a new street just opened, which in honor of the general was called Fayette Street."
Twenty-five years afterwards he met George Washington Lafayette in Paris, presented him with the plans of the Washington Monument, and visited General Lafayette's Monument in the cemetery of Pippus [N.B., should be 'Picpus'].
Besides a life of stirring business activity and success, and honorable public service, there remains to add long and eminent service and high honors in the order of Free and Accepted Masons. He was first elected a member of Utica Lodge, No. 47, F. and A. M., in January, 1817; was one of the first to take the four chapter degrees of Oneida Chapter, No. 57, of Royal Arch Masons, in March, 1817. He joined Utica Council, No. 28, of Royal and Select Masters soon after its organization. In February, 1823, Utica Encampment, No. 7 (Now Utica Commandery, No. 3), of Knights Templar was chartered, with Sir Richard Sanger Illustrious Grand master, and among those elected to membership was Ezra S. Barnum. In the bodies named he was early inducted into official position, having held almost all of the offices connected with them, and also nearly all the offices of the Grand Chapter, R. A. M., of New York, and twice to the office of Grand High Priest. He also held nearly every office of the Grand Commandery, K. T., of the State, of which body he was Grand Master, 1835-41 inclusive together with several offices in the old Grand Council of High Priests. In 1838, Mr. Barnum's Masonic merits were further recognized by his election to the office of Very Eminent Grand Sword-Bearer in the General Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, at the Encampment held at Boston; which office he filled for six years, and was advanced to Junior Warden, in 1847 Senior Warden, and in 1853 Very Eminent Grand Captain-General. In all these positions it is recorded that Mr. Barnum served with distinguished ability and fidelity. Medals, certificates, and complimentary resolutions testify to the appreciation of his services by the various bodies. At the age of eighty-five he was an attendant at the meetings of the Masonic bodies of the city. His church connections were always with the Universalist denomination.
Ezra Barnum was conspicuous for his devotion to the interests of Masonry for a period of sixty years. During the anti-Masonic times, when storms and trials in dark and troublous days overshadowed the fraternity, Ezra S. Barnum was one of the few who remained steadfast and upheld the integrity of the craft. His funeral obsequies, which occurred in February, 1878, were attended by the highest Masonic dignitaries in the State. Later that year, the Ezra S. Barnum Chapter of Rose Croix was founded in his honor.
In the year 1815, May 6, he married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Jane Ostrom, of Utica. She was born March 5, 1793, and died July 2, 1875. Their children are: Stephen O., Richard (deceased), George (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Jane (deceased), wife of D. V. W. Golden (deceased), Samuel, Mary, Ezra (killed at Chicago during a fire), Eliza C., wife of I. C. McIntosh.
From: Genealogical and family history of western New York: a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the holding of a nation. William Richard Cutter, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1912, pages 520-521: Ezra Smith Barnum, son of Ezra and Jerusha Barnum, was born June 21, 1792 in Danbury, Connecticut and died in 1877. He settled in Utica, New York in 1809, and established an importing business known as Barnum’s Bazaar out of which grew the S. O. Barnum business of Buffalo. He was a man of importance in Utica. When Lafayette made his triumphal tour through the United States, Mr. Barnum was one of the prominent citizens of Utica appointed to meet him at Whitesboro and escort him into the city of Utica. He was prominent in the Masonic Order; was grand king of the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of New York State, and grand captain general of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the United States. He was made a Mason in 1817. He married, in 1815, Mary, only daughter of John and Jane Ostrom. Children: Stephen Ostrom, Richard, George, Sarah, Jane married David Golden, Mary, Ezra, Eliza married J.C. McIntosh.
On 5 Dec 1848 a US passport was issued to E. S. Barnum. His application described him as 56 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches tall, full forehead, blue eyes, large nose, medium mouth and chin, gray and dark brown hair, fair complexion, and oval face.
In the 1850 US Census for Utica Ward 1, Oneida County, New York the family of Ezra S. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #120; Family #135
Ezra S. Barnum, 58, M, Merchant, Real property $5,000, b. New York
Mary Barnum, 57, F, b. New York
George C. Barnum, 26, M, Clerk, b. New York
Samuel Barnum, 21, M, Clerk, b. New York
Ezra H. Barnum, 19, M, Clerk, b. New York
Mary A. Barnum, 16, F, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Eliza C. Barnum, 12, F, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Anna Slawson, 75, F, b. New York
Eliza Jones, 20, F, b. Wales
From: England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869. Name: Ezra L Barnum; Port of Arrival: London, England; Arrival Date: 24 Aug 1851; Port of Departure: Rotterdam, Netherlands; Ship: Apollo; Country of Origin/Native of: Connecticut USA
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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