A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname

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Notes for William Solon BARNUM

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Oddly, in the 1900 US Census for Oregon the family of William S. Barnum was enumerated twice. William S. Barnum and two sons were enumerated in Jacksonville, Jackson County on June 7, and the entire family was enumerated in Medford, also Jackson County, on June 14. It is assumed that the earlier record was created while the boys and their father (enumerated as Engineer, Fireman and Conductor) were in Jacksonville on a regular run of the Rogue Valley Railroad.

The 1900 census record for District 98, Jacksonville shows:
Dwelling #137; Family #144
Barnum, William S.; Head; W; M; b. July 1855; 44; Married 22 years; b. Canada-English; Father b. New York; Mother b. Canada-English; Immigrated to US in 1856; 43 years in US; R.R. Engineer; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English; Owns non-farm home with mortgage
Barnum, John C.; Son; W; M; b. Sep 1879; 20; Single; b. New York; Father b. Canada-English; Mother b. New York; R.R. Conductor; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum, William H.; Son; W; M; b. Oct 1883; 16; Single; b. New York; Father b. Canada-English; Mother b. New York; R.R. Fireman; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English

The 1900 census record for District 99, Medford shows:
Dwelling #279; Family #288
Barnum, William S.; Head; W; M; b. July 1855; 44; Married 21 years; b. Canada-English; Father b. New York; Mother b. Canada-English; Engineer R.R.; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English; Owns non-farm home free of mortgage
Barnum, Bertha S.; Wife; W; F; b. Sep 1854; 44; Married 21 years; Mother of 4 children; 3 children living; b. New York; Both parents b. new York; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum, John C.; Son; W; M; b. Sep 1879; 20; Single; b. New York; Father b. Canada-English; Mother b. New York; Conductor R.R.; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum, William H.; Son; W; M; b. Oct 1883; 16; Single; b. New York; Father b. Canada-English; Mother b. New York; Fireman R.R.; Employed full census year; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum, George A.; Son; W; M; b. Feb 1891; 9; Single; b. Oregon; Father b. Canada-English; Mother b. New York

William S. Barnum was founder of the Rogue Valley Railroad between Medford and Jacksonville, Oregon and built the Grand Hotel in Medford, Oregon in 1915.

"Just listen to that pee-ower" was a phrase used by William Barnum for years around the towns of Medford and Jacksonville, Oregon. Barnum owned and operated the Rogue River Valley Railroad that ran between the two places. But the wheezy old wood-burning locomotive he used on the railroad was not the "pee-ower" Barnum was referring to. That distinction belonged to the big Black-Crow gasoline-powered automobile that he bought sometime after 1909. Barnum was a local character who always wore a faded green swallowtail coat. Though he knew how to operate every aspect of the railroad, apparently he didn't know much about running an automobile. To illustrate the point, a local newspaper reported the following incident. One day Barnum was parked next to the tracks in front of his son Will's home. He started up the Black-Crow, climbed in and adjusted the tails of his coat. Putting the vehicle in reverse, he stepped on the accelerator. Well, that car picked up speed and plowed right into the corner of Will's house. No one was hurt and the house and car were repaired. But, right then and there he was heard to say: "She's sure got a lot of pee-ower, ain't she?"

From the Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune of March 1, 1928: Old Days of Rogue River Rail Line Recalled. Death of Capitalist Brings Back Well-Known Short Road. Jacksonville, Or., March 1 - (Special)-The recent death of William Solon Barnum, a retired capitalist and pioneer of Rogue river at his late home in Medford recalls the days of the old Rogue River Valley railway plying between the old pioneer town of Jackson and the new town of Medford two decades ago. Barnum came to Medford in 1884 and operated the first planing mills in the area, which he later sold and organized the present Medford Iron Works at Medford.
It was during 1904 he sold his interest in the Iron Works and purchased the Jacksonville-Medford railway, which was well equipped with rolling stock and roadbed, but on the verge of bankruptcy, due to overhead expenses in operation.
On taking the road over Barnum made it strictly a family affair. He looked after the mechanical part of the road himself, while he installed his son George, a youth of 12, as engineer, and a younger son, Johnny, as conductor and train crew marshalling the passenger and freight trains over the line.
Then the boys grew to manhood in the railroad service, until the road was sold some years later by the family. [N.B.: In 1904 George Barnum, the engineer, would have been 13 years old, while John "Johnny", the fireman, and William, the conductor, would have been 25 and 21, respectively].

History of the Rogue River Valley Railway Company, from a typewritten sheet in the possession of descendant William Matthew Barnum: On October 19, 1890, according to the Democratic Times, Jacksonville newspaper, Crawford, Howell & Company, builders of the depot and warehouse, let a contract to Henry Klippel and W.E. Steel for ties. On October 31st, the following story was published in the same newspaper. "Work is progressing nicely on construction of the Jacksonville and Medford Railroad. A large number of ties have already been scattered along the route. The right of way has been cleared, and some grading done. The depot site has not been located as yet, but from the present appearance the road will run up C Street past the Times office, and all buildings will be put upon the block now owned by W.J. Plymale. A large majority of our people favor this site, as it will be convenient for the mails, express and parties receiving goods, to say nothing of those who wish to embark to other points. The road will be in operation by the first of the year. The weather is favorable for this work."
At the beginning of 1891 a New Year's Eve Railroad Ball was given at the United States Hotel in Jacksonville, which proved most enjoyable. However, the train scheduled to make its first run the next day did not arrive. The borrowed engine proved to be too heavy and bogged down, and an extension of time was asked. On January 23rd a load of Masons were brought from Medford by the Jacksonville Medford Railroad. They attended the regular meeting of Warren Lodge Wednesday evening, to which many of them belonged. Regular trains commence running February 12, 1891.
In 1884 William S. Barnum and his wife and sons John and Bill came to Medford from New York. A third son, George, was born in Medford. Mr. Barnum started a sash and door factory in Medford, later adding a machine shop. In 1904 he acquired the railroad and it was re-incorporated under the name of the Rogue River Valley Railway Company. The sash and door factory and the machine shop were sold, and the family moved to Jacksonville, where the roundhouse and headquarters were located. Mr. Barnum and his three sons ran the railroad for many years. John, the eldest, at 14 was the youngest accredited railroad conductor in the United States. [N.B.: this statement is a bit confusing, since John would have been 25 years old in 1904. Perhaps the reference is to George Barnum, who was an engineer on the railroad and was 13 years old during that same year].
At first one engine and coach made one roundtrip per day, later more powerful engines were added, capable of pulling freight cars, and as many as five round trips per day were made. One year practically the entire town of Jacksonville made a Fourth of July excursion to Ashland. The little railroad played an important part in the business of the period. The Blue Ledge Mine hauled material by wagon to Jacksonville, and the shipments went to Medford by the railroad. About 1910 a gasoline powered passenger car was added. It had a Wells Fargo Express and US Mail compartment at one end, and made several round trips per day. this was in addition to other railroad service.
Mr. Barnum and his sons operated the railroad until 1916, when it was sold to the Southern Oregon Traction Company. By this time automobiles were coming into general use, and the railroad was no longer profitable. The Traction Company went bankrupt and could not meet its payments, so the title reverted to Mr. Barnum. The rails were taken up and sold to the city of Medford, the engine and cars were sold and hauled away, and the right of way property reverted to the original owners. Today little remains of the colorful early day railroad except pictures, and fond memories in the minds of former Jacksonville boys who used to grease the rails so that the little engine couldn't make the grade past the schoolhouse windows, and who hid .44 caliber pistol cartridges under her wheels.

From the Schenectady Gazette (Schenectady, NY)-Saturday Morning, July 24, 1915: Oregon One-Family Railw'y is No More. After Eventful 25 Years Road is Absorbed by Trolley System. (New York Sun). "In all the world no railroad like this" might well apply to the Barnum railroad running from Medford, Oregon, to Jacksonville, in the same state, which on July 1 was transferred to S. S. Bullis, owner of the Southern Oregon Traction Company. For here is a steam railroad recognized by the railroads of the United States, whose president has run the railroad's one locomotive for the last fifteen years, whose vice president is chief foreman and master mechanic. In short the Barnum railroad is a strictly family Institution, not only owned but operated by the J. C. Barnum family. A history of this road throws an interesting sidelight upon the history of the Rogue River Valley, particularly Medford and Jacksonville. Twenty-five years ago two breezy promoters came to the sleepy town
of Jacksonville, and after various conferences with the city council and street gatherings persuaded the city to raise $25,000 for a railroad to Medford. Jacksonville was the county seat and nothing more, and Medford was barely a postoffice, but tales of Southern Pacific development and opportunity to sell out at a handsome figure turned the trick and the deal was put through. As soon as the
promoters obtained the cash they flew to parts of the world unknown and never have been heard of since. Checking up accounts, Jacksonville found It had some worthless bonds, five miles of track and the humiliation of being sold. It was also discovered that the steel rails secured from the Honeyman Hardware Company of Portland had not been paid for and the road consequently fell into the hands of this Portland concern. Here J. C. Barnum, then a young mechanic engaged in the sash and door business, stepped in and in 1893 leased the property and proceeded to
operate a daily train between Medford and Jacksonville. Mr. Barnum bought a second hand locomotive from the Southern Pacific and with a special permit drove it himself from Portland to Medford. From that time he gradually collected more equipment until at the time of the recent sale there were on hand ten flat cars, three locomotives, two box cars and two passenger coaches. Extensions of two miles which can be used in reaching the Applegate Valley have been built, so that the total mileage is now about seven miles.

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