A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
In the 1850 US Census for Middlefield, Otsego County, New York the family of Harry G. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #494; Family #501
Harry Barnum, 27 [sic], M, Farmer, Real property $5,520, b. New York
Clarinda Barnum, 23, F, b. New York
Daniel A. Barnum, 1, M, b. New York
Lewis Barnum, 20, M, Farmer, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Margaret Lent, 56, F, b. New York
Rudolph Lent, 18, M, Farmer, b. New York
Rebecca Granger, 35, F, b. New York
Note: Lewis Barnum was Harry's younger brother and Margaret Lent was his mother-in-law.
From the Biographical Review of Otsego County, New York (pub. 1893). Harry G. Barnum, of the town of Middlefield, Otsego County, was born December 4, 1821, on the farm upon which he now lives (1893). He is a son of Lewis and Lucy (Jones) Barnum, and a grandson of Abijah and Sybil (Roberts) Barnum. They were both of Connecticut, and came to Otsego County, where they lived some years, and then removed to Seneca County, and there died at about eighty years of age. Lewis Barnum was one of five children, and his wife was a daughter of Thomas Jones. He was the first Town Clerk of the town of Middlefield, and was one of the old time Justices of the Peace. He served in the Revolutionary War, came to this town when a young man, and lived here the rest of his life, dying when over eighty years of age. The elder members both the Barnum and the Jones families lived to be very old. Lewis Barnum died on his own farm February 31, 1847, the farm upon which- Harry G. Barnum now lives (1893). Miss Lucy Jones was born February 12, 1790, and died October 25, 1830. Her mother, Sarah Jones, died August 28, 1830, aged eighty-two.
Harry G. Barnum was one of seven children, two of whom still survive (1893). He remained at home until his father's death, when he bought the old homestead. December 29, 1847, he was married to Miss Clarinda Lent, who was born in Herkimer County, May 8, 1827. She was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Grosbeck) Lent, and her grandparents were Abram and Christina (Storms) Lent, of Washington County, and later of Herkimer County. They died in the latter county, he at the age of seventy-seven, and she at the age of ninety-two. They reared nine children, all of whom are dead. The Lents were from Holland, both of Mrs. Harry G. Barnum's grandparents coming from that country. They, too, were for the most part farmers. The Grosbecks were of English ancestry, and were also mostly farmers. The parents of Margaret Grosbeck were Nichols and Nancy A. (Collins) Grosbeck, the former of whom died at the age of sixty-five, and the latter at the age of eighty-two. Mrs. Harry G. Barnum was one of four children, two of whom are yet living (1893). Her father was born in 1791, in Washington County, and died December 13, 1847, aged fifty-six. Her mother died June 18, 1871, aged seventy-eight. Grandmother Lent died December 20, 1856, at the age of ninety-one, and Grandfather Lent died February 20, 1837, aged seventy-seven. Rudolph Lent, an uncle of Mrs. Barnum, lived thirty years in one place, and was a clothier, also a preacher for many years. Grandfather Grosbeck was born at Schaghticoke Point N. Y.
Harry G. Barnum and his wife have two children, viz: Daniel A., born February 18, 1849, married to Cora Smith, and has one son, Lewis, born May 15, 1883; and Harry E., born March 22, 1851 and living at home with his parents (1893). Mr. Barnum has always carried on general farming. Mrs. Barnum is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Barnum has served as Commissioner of Highways for twenty-five years and as Assessor for three years. He has always been a Democrat, and voted first for James K. Polk for President in 1844. The grandmother of Mrs. Barnum often had George Washington for a guest. After the death of Mr. Barnum's father, he bought out the eleven other heirs, and has erected all his present buildings. His present fine home took the place of the old house built in 1802, which was built on the only cleared spot on the farm. A tract of 300 acres was taken up by the parents of Mr. Barnum, and he now has a grandson on the farm, so that five generations of the same family have now lived upon this farm.
Bruce Pohl
From The Otsego Farmer, September 6, 1907: By the death of Harry G. Barnum from the effects of gangrene from which he was a great and uncomplaining sufferer for several weeks, there was removed from Middlefield Center, NY, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens in the town of Middlefield. Mr. Barnum who was of Revolutionary descent was born December 4, 1821 on the farm where he resided until his death September 2, 1907. His father spent the greater part of his long life on the same farm. In 1847, he married Clarinda Lent, who survives him, also two sons, Daniel Adelbert [sic] and Harry Eugene and one grandson, Lewis all residing on the homestead. In politics Mr. Barnum was a staunch Democrat serving his town as commissioner of highways twenty-five years; as assessor three years, and as railroad commissioner several years. He was a kind indulgent husband and father, respected neighbor much loved by those less prosperous than himself. Interment in the family plot in the village cemetery.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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