This Ira Barnum has frequently been confused with Ira Barnum b. 1799, who married Polly Fridenburg b. 1803.
Ira Barnum, his wife Polly, and their children moved west in 1844, settling in July of that year in Monmouth, Illinois. Later, they moved to a farm two miles east of Kirkwood, which came to be known as the Barnum Homestead.
In the 1850 US Census for Warren County, Illinois the family of Ira Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #1397; Family #1397
Ira Barnum, 51, M, Farmer, Real property $1,600, b. Connecticut
Polly Barnum, 47, F, b. New York
Paulina M. Barnum, 28, F, Schoolmistress, b. New York
Orlando S. Barnum, 20, M, Farmer, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Frances A. Barnum, 15, F, b. New York, Attended school within the year
George A. Barnum, 13, M, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Charles L. Barnum 11, M, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Edward F. Barnum , 9, M, b. New York, Attended school within the year
Ellen A. Barnum, 6, F, b. Illinois, Attended school within the year
Martha Miller, 74, F, b. Massachusetts