The following notes were supplied by descendant Duane Howard: John Watkins Barnum was born in Athens Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania and lived there until 1850. There is unverified information that says his father died in the Washington Territory in 1855. If so, the whole family went...they did a big loop, as most/all of the sons lived in Wisconsin in the 1860s. On 5 Dec 1862, John W. enlisted as a private, at Durand, Wisconsin, in Company "G", 25th Wisconsin Infantry. He was discharged on 16 Jul 1865. The 1880 US Census shows this family living in Pepin County, Wisconsin. [Note: Veterans Administration pension records show that he also served in Company "F", 25th Wisconsin Infantry].
He died on a farm, where he is buried.