In the 1860 US Census for Bethel, Fairfield County, Connecticut the family of Bethel Barnum was enumerated living in the home of his widowed mother, Ruth, as follows:
Dwelling #80; Family #93
Bethel Barnum, 24, M, Hatter, b. Connecticut
Sarah Barnum, 20, F, b. Connecticut
Cassie S. Barnum, 1, F, b. Connecticut
The Barnum Family, 1517-1904 calls him Bethuel Barnum, and says that he was killed in the Civil War. Bethel S. Barnum, of Bethel, CT, Sergeant, enlisted 24 July 1862 in the 17th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry. His name appears on the Monument to Soldiers & Sailors of Bethel Who Gave Their Lives in Defense of the Union, which is located in Center Cemetery, Bethel, Connecticut. The inscription says, simply, Barnum, Bethel S. 17th Conn.
The 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was in the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XI Corps at Gettysburg. Sgt. Bethel S. Barnum was killed on July 1, 1863. He was a member of Company C, whose members came mostly from Danbury. The regiment lost 35 killed and 14 mortally wounded at Gettysburg. Eleven of them came from Company C, the highest number of any company in the regiment.
His wife Sarah received a widow's pension for his service; filing date 28 August 1863, Certificate No. 12436.