Morgan King Barnum was born 1861 in Fairfield, Connecticut but grew up in Jamesville, New York, where his father had been born. Like his father and younger brother, he was an Army officer. He was also the author of a book about the birds of Onondaga County (New York). He died in 1919.
Morgan is listed in the Memorials of Deceased Companions of the Commandery of the State of Illinois, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. From January 1, 1912 to December 31, 1922, Volume 8, in a list of memorial sketches and photos of deceased members from 1912 to 1922. Also listed is William Lewis Barnum, a third cousin.
Morgan King Barnum. Hereditary Companion of the First Class. Died at Baltimore, Maryland, October 26, 1919. Morgan King Barnum, a Companion of the First Glass Hereditary in the Illinois Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U. S., was born in Syracuse, New York, April 6, 1861. He died Sunday, October 26, 1919, in Baltimore, Md., at the age of 58 years, and was buried at New Albany, Indiana.
He was the eldest son of Major General Henry A. Barnum, U.S.V., and a brother of Brigadier General Malvern Hill Barnum, U.S.A. Companion Barnum graduated at Syracuse University in 1884,and then engaged in professional work with the Erie Railroad. About three years later he was married to Emily Rice Maginness in New Albany, Ind., October 18, 1887. He remained in the railroad business to the time of his death, having been associated with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Illinois Central, Chicago, Burlington Quincy, and Baltimore & Ohio railroads. At the time of his death he was acting as expert Mechanical Engineer to Mr. [Daniel] Willard, President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnum moved to La Grange from Chicago nearly twenty years ago and their children were raised and went through school in that village. He was Past Commander of the Knights Templar of North Platte, Nebraska. Besides his widow,he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Theodore Bearse of La Grange, and two sons, Major E. M. Barnum, U.S.A., and Richard F. Barnum, both of whom served in the Word War.
Companion Barnum rose to eminence in his chosen profession. His duties brought him into immediate relations with the leading railway executives of the country, and in all these positions of trust and responsibility he quickly earned and always retained the affectionate regard of those with whom he was associated.
Charles S. Bentley,
Charles M. Robertson,
Charles S. McEntee,
Committee.
From the Newark (Ohio) Advocate of October 29, 1919: Baltimore, October 29, 1919: Morgan K. Barnum, Chief of Mechanical Engineering of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was taken ill on the golf links yesterday and later died in a hospital.
While the obituary indicates that Morgan K. Barnum died on October 28, 1919, the index of deaths in Baltimore, Maryland says that he died on October 26, 1919. The certificate number is D36174 and it is filed incorrectly under “Jorgan K. Barnum”.
Morgan and Emily Barnum had three children.
1900 Census: Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, ED 94, p. 145, lines 56-60:
Morgan Barnum; Emily Barnum; Josephine R. Barnum; Edmund M. Barnum; Richard F. Barnum
1910 Census: Lyons, Cook County, Illinois, ED 39, p. 129, lines 11-15:
Morgan Barnum, 49; Emily Barnum, 44; Josephine R. Barnum, 21; Edmund M. Barnum, 18; Richard F. Barnum, 16.
Following Morgan’s death, his widow Emily lived with her daughter Josephine, who had married Theodore Bearse.
1920 Census: Lyons, Cook County, Illinois, ED 107, p. 138, lines 65-70:
Theodore Bearse, 31; Josephine Bearse, 31 (SSDI birth 7/25/1888, died 10/1971); Emily Bearse; Loring Bearse; Frances Bearse; Emily Barnum, 53.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham
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