A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
He was a son of Heman Allen Barnum (1831-1913) and Caroline Preisch (1837-1905).
Rev. Barnum graduated Rochester University, Class of 1896, with an M.A. in Religion. He was Phi Beta Kappa.
From the records of Eley's Ford Baptist Church, Spotsylvania County, Virginia: In 1911, Rev. E. G. Barnum was pastor of a congregation of some forty members. Mr. Barnum was also pastor of Wilderness, Flat Run, Zoan, Salem and Goshen Churches. The worship services at Eley's Ford were conducted on the Saturday afternoon before the first Sunday of each month. Later on, some services were held on Sunday. Rev. and Mrs. Barnum and daughter Mildred came to Church by horse and buggy. When the roads were particularly bad Rev. Barnum rode on horseback. According to the Church minutes, Rev. Barnum faithfully carried out his duties. He was pastor until 1916. Shortly afterward, he went overseas as Chaplain of the YMCA in World War I. From 1916 to 1924 several ministers filled in. From 1925 to 1947, there are no church history records to be found.
From The Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, Wednesday, August 16, 1911: [Special to the Times-Dispatch.] Fredericksburg, Va., August 15.―Rev. Elmer G. Barnum, of this city, has received and accepted a call to a circuit of Baptist Churches in Spotsylvania County, and will take charge of these churches October 1. The churches included in the circuit are Salem, Goshen, Wilderness and Eley's Ford Baptist Churches. Mr. Barnum, who has been serving as pastor of Falmouth and Bethel Baptist Churches, in Stafford County, has resigned to accept the new call.
The following notice appeared in the North Tonawanda (New York) Evening News of Saturday, March 28, 1914: Reverend Elmer G. Barnum, a former resident of North Tonawanda and a graduate of the North Tonawanda High School, who is pastor of a Baptist church in Virginia, is visiting his sister, Mrs. E. E. Mahannah of 261 Sommer Street. Reverend Barnum will occupy the Pulpit of the First Baptist Church tomorrow morning.
U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925. Name: Elmer Grant Barnum; Birth Date: 14 Oct 1868; Birth Place: Sanborn, New York; Age: 49; Residence: Fredericksburg, Virginia; Occupation: Pastor & Farmer; Purpose of Passport: To go to France & England for YMCA Work; Passport Issue Date: 29 Aug 1918; Father's Name: H. A. Barnum; Father's Birth Location: Sanborn, NY; Father's Residence: Deceased (1913 In Sanborn NY); Passport Includes a Photo: Yes.
Four days after the declaration of war on Germany, the YMCA had convened a Conference on Army Work in Garden City, New York. The conference created the National War Work Council to carry out their aims, which they defined as "to promote the physical, mental and social and spiritual welfare of the more than one million men of the military forces of the United States, to strengthen the hands of the Chaplain's Corps and to serve the Churches." This was the service for which Rev. Barnum volunteered. The alacrity with which the YMCA had responded to the declaration of war so impressed government officials that the War Department ultimately put the organization officially in charge of all camp recreational activities, and President Wilson recognized it as "a valuable adjunct and asset to the service."
Record of arrival at New York: First Name: Elmer Grant; Last Name: Barnum; Ethnicity: USA; Last Place of Residence: Fredericksburg, Va; Date of Arrival: May 27, 1919; Age at Arrival: 50y; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Married; Ship of Travel: Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm; Port of Departure: Brest, France; Manifest Line Number: 0027.
Rev. Barnum's alma mater published the following in the Rochester Alumni Review, October-November 1928: '96. Sympathy is extended to Rev. Elmer G. Barnum, of Chancellor, Va., over the sudden death of his wife, Mrs. Edna Westfall Barnum, who was at one time librarian of the Rochester Theological Seminary.
In the Rochester Alumni Review, February 1952 appeared the following: In Memoriam. The Rev. Elmer G. Barnum, '96, member of Phi Beta Kappa, died September 5 at his home is Spotsylvania County, Va. He was 82 years old. The Rev. Mr. Barnum went to Virginia in 1909 and served as pastor of seven Baptist churches there before his retirement some 15 years ago. At one time he served six of the churches simultaneously. He also taught in Chancellor High School there and served as its principal for 12 years. Surviving are his daughter, Miss Mildred Barnum, two sisters, Mrs. Laura Parrish and Mrs. Edith B. Jacobus and a brother, R. C. Barnum of Lockport, N.Y.
From The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 6 September 1951: E.G. Barnum, Retired Minister, Dead in County. Served 7 Churches, Was School Principal. The Rev. E. G. Barnum, 82, retied Baptist minister and teacher, who had served as pastor of seven churches since coming to Virginia 40 years ago, died last night at his home in Spotsylvania County. He had retired some 15 years ago and had been bed-ridden the past five years. While in this area he had been minister of Bethel, Salem, Goshen, Wilderness, Eley's Ford, Flat Run and Zoan Baptist Churches. At one time, he served six of the churches simultaneously. He also taught in the old Chancellor High School and served as its principal for 12 years. Native of N. Y. Born in Niagara County, N.Y., on Oct. 14, 1868, Rev. Barnum was graduated from the Rochester Theological Seminary. After his marriage to Miss Edna Westfall, he served as a home missionary at Republic, Wash. Later he returned to the East to become a pastor and teacher in Maryland, before coming to Virginia. Mrs. Barnum was killed about 25 years ago in an automobile accident. Surviving are one daughter, Miss Mildred Barnum; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Parrish, of Fredericksburg, Mrs. Edith B. Jacobus, of Millrook, N.Y.; one brother, R. C. Barnum, of Lockport, N. Y.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral Friday. Dr. E. V. Peyton, of Locklies, pastor of Harmony Grove Baptist Church, will conduct the funeral service at 2 p.m. Friday, at the Wheeler and Thompson Funeral Home. Dr. F. C. Riley, pastor of the Salem Baptist Church, will assist. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Boyd Chewning, C. L. Davenport, W. A. Gordon, F. A. Hudson, R. L. Thomas and G. M. Thorburn. Honorary pallbearers will be the Rev. C. J. Ashley, C. D. Binns, A. B. Chewning, W. Cary Crismond, B. S. Dickinson, C. A. Gordon, John A. Gordon, R. O. Gordon, B.T. Hall, J. C. Hawkins, L. C. Mitchell, E. O. Pates and D. L. Stoner.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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