In the 1850 US Census for Boardman Township, Clayton, Iowa the family of Russell Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Household #461; Family #461
Barnum, Russel E.; 47; M; Farmer; Real property $1,500; b. Vermont
Barnum, Deborah; 48; F; b. Vermont
Living next door was the family of their son Elihu. Two houses away lived Russell's younger brother Harlow and Harlow's son Levi. Russell and Deborah's son Hiram appears to have been enumerated with the family of Russell's son Elihu.