Ralph was the youngest of the ten children of Heman Allen and Caroline (Preisch) Barnum. By 1920 he was living in Sanborn, New York with his wife Maude.
From the Union Sun & Journal, Lockport, New York, May 31, 1966: Ralph C. Barnum, a retired farmer, died unexpectedly this morning (May 31, 1966) at his home, 280 Grand St. Born in the Town of Wheatfield, he was the son of Heman and Carolyn Preisch Barnum, and had lived in Lockport for the past 50 years. He had worked on various farms in the county. Mr. Barnum was a member of the First Baptist Church. He is survived by his widow, Maud Unger Barnum. Friends may call at the Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St., where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Paul R. Gleason will officiate. Burial will be in Mount View Cemetery, Pekin.