A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
In the 1860 US Census for Ashland Newaygo, Michigan the family of Urben Barnum was enumerated as follows;
Household #232; Family #152
Barnum, Urben; 28; M; Farmer; Real property $500; Personal property $300; b. New York
Barnum, Susannah; 27; F; b. Ohio
Barnum, Edgar; 2; M; b. Michigan
Barnum, Frank L.; 7/12; M; b. Michigan
Urben and three of his brothers fought in the Civil War. Urben was a private in Company "A", 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He received a pension as an Army Invalid.
In the 1880 US Census for Ashland Newaygo, Michigan the family of Urben Barnum was enumerated as follows;
Household #198; Family #219
Barnum, Urben; W; M; 48; Married; Farmer; b. New York; Father b. Connecticut; Mother b. New York
Barnum, Susannah; W; F; 47; Wife; Married; Keeping house; b. Ohio; Both parents b. Switzerland
Barnum, Edgar; W; M; 22; Son; Single; At home; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, Frank; W; M; 20; Son; Single; At home; Attended school within the year; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, Bertha; W; F; 17; Daughter; Single; At home; Attended school within the year; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio
Barnum, William; W; M; 7; Son; Single; At home; Attended school within the year; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio
In the Portrait and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Mich. appears the following entry: Urben Barnum, Farmer, section 33, Ashland Township, was born in Tomkins Co., N. Y., Dec. 22, 1832. His parents, Czar and Margaret (German) Barnum, were natives respectively of Connecticut and New York. In 1839 they moved to Lenawee Co., Mich., and the son remained at home aiding in the labors on the farm until he reached the age of 13, when he was engaged in the same capacity with a neighboring farmer, his father judging that the proceeds of his labors would further his own interests to better purpose than to retain him at home.
When he was 19 years of age, associated with one of his brothers, Mr. Barnum took a farm in Hillsdale County, which remained under their joint management three years, where he acquired a practical knowledge of all the details of successful agriculture and an understanding of its responsibilities in an independent sphere. To this purpose he purchased a farm of 80 acres in Ashland, Newaygo County.
Mr. Barnum was married Dec. 23, 1856, in Hillsdale County, to Susan, daughter of Nicholas and Barbara (Voat) Ish. The parents were born in Switzerland, and after their marriage came to the United States, locating in Stark Co., Ohio, where the daughter was born Oct. 15, 1832, and resided until she was 16 years old, when she came to Hillsdale County and lived until her marriage. About a year after that event Mr. Barnum settled on his farm in Newaygo County, which he had purchased as mentioned. It was situated in the midst of unbroken forest, with no neighbors in sight; but himself and wife entered cheerfully into the work of the "regulation" pioneer, encountering privation with hardihood, grappling courageously with toil and baffling circumstances, and emerging from all their conflicts with victory on their banners. The character of the spirit in which they have accomplished their life work is fully attested by the temper of their most prominent remembrance of those early days. Its fairest features and those which afforded relief and relaxation from cares are uppermost in thought and word, and their recitals are filled with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of times when small opportunities were eagerly seized upon to secure a brief tenure upon social ties; and a ride of five miles with an ox team over a forest trail to enjoy the festivities of a dance or the excitements of a revival meeting had attractions in no sense outdone by the more elegant accompaniments of a more perfect civilization. Mr. Barnum's farm now contains 200 acres, three-fourths of which is in a state of advanced and highly creditable cultivation.
Mr. Barnum enlisted Feb. 15, 1865, in Co. A, Ninth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was in active service but five months, becoming disabled by camp fever [typhus]. His regiment was discharged Sept. 13, 1865, but he was compelled to continue some time in the hospital to recover his health. In political faith Mr. Barnum is a Democrat, and has held various offices in the local government of the affairs of Ashland Township.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnum, as follows: Edgar M., Sept. 28, 1857; Frank L., Nov. 2, 1859; Bertha J., Aug. 19, 1862; William H., Feb. 3, 1872; Fred N., born March 1, 1870, died Aug. 25, 1872.
In the 1900 US Census for Ashland Newaygo, Michigan the family of Urben Barnum was enumerated as follows;
Household #269; Family #273
Barnum, Urben; Head; W; M; b. Dec 1831; 68; M; Married 44 years; b. New York; Father b. Connecticut; Mother b. New York; Farmer; Employed full year; Can read,write and speak English; Owns farm home free of mortgage; Farm Schedule 164
Barnum, Susan; Wife; W; F; b. Oct 1832; 67; M; Married 44 years; Mother of 5 children; 4 children living; b. Ohio; Both parents b. Switzerland; Can read,write and speak English
Barnum, Bertha J.; Daughter; W; F; b. Aug 1862; 37; S; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio; Can read,write and speak English
Barnum, William H.; Son; W; M; b. Feb 1872; 28; M; Married 3 years; b. Michigan; Father b. New York; Mother b. Ohio; At College; Attended college 8 months within the year; Can read,write and speak English
Barnum, Mabel; Daughter-in-law; W; F; b. Nov 1873; 26; M; Married 3 years; No children; b. Michigan; Both parents b. Canada; Can read,write and speak English
Hichur, Susan M.; Great Niece; W; F; b. Apr 1885; 15; S; b. Michigan; Father b. Ohio; Mother b. Michigan; At School; Attended school 9 months within the year; Can read,write and speak English
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
©1998, 2022. The format of this website and all original statements and narrative included on it are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Factual information may be freely quoted for use in private genealogical research when accompanied by a full source citation, including the date of acquisition. Click here to view the format of a citation for an Internet resource. The publication of large extracts from this site in any form requires prior written consent.
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 21 November 2024