A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
As a foster son of Lewis Barnum, Thomas Freeguard adopted the surname Barnum as his own. He was a cavalry veteran of the Civil War and later went to Wyoming and helped to settle the northwest corner of that state.
In December 1916, while living in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Thomas was admitted to the veterans’ home in Little Rock, Arkansas, with tuberculosis, and discharged the following March. Named as next-of-kin was his foster brother Guy P. Barnum, also of Siloam Springs. By 1920, Thomas had left Arkansas and was living in Elbert, Colorado, with Guy and his family.
From the Brown County World, Hiawatha, Kansas:
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 27 April 1887, p. 9: Thomas Freeguard, of Kennedy’s outfit—one of the best-known range men in the country, visited Douglas on Tuesday.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming,17 October 1888, p. 8: ELECTION PROCLAMATION . . . The following persons are appointed judges of the election in the precincts designated . . . Upper La Prêle {Precinct] C. Rice’s ranch [Voting Place] C. Rice, T. Freeguard, H. B. Arrowsmith [Judges]
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 4 March 1891: George H. Cross, Dennis Lemon, J. H. Kennedy, Thomas Freeguard and Archie Falkner were in from Upper La Prêle country last Thursday.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 5 August 1891: Thomas Freeguard, of Beaver, called yesterday.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 7 October 1891: Notice for Publication, Land Office, Douglas, Wyoming, August 29,1891.
Notice is hereby given that thefollowing-named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proofin support of his claim and that said proof will be made before the Register andReceiver at Douglas, Wyoming, on Tuesday, October 20, 1891, viz:
Thomas Freeguard, of Beaver, Wyo., whomade P. E. No. 20 for the NE¼ SE¼; S¼ NE¼, section 12, township 31, range 74.
He names the following witnesses toprove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land viz:
Joseph H. Kennedy, George H. Cross,Charles L. Fox, Guy P. Barnum, all of Beaver, Wyo.
13-18 J.E. Evans, Register.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 24 August 1892, p. 5: Thomas Freeguard was in from the ranch Thursday. He reports universal prosperity and splendid crops in that neck o’ woods.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 22 May 1895, p. 5: Tom Freeguard was shaking hands with Douglas friends Monday.
From the Buffalo Voice, Buffalo, Wyoming, 8 January 1898, p. 3: Thomas Freeguard was up from Griggs Tuesday.
From the Laramie Republican, Laramie, Wyoming, 28 March 1902, p. 4: P. P. Freeman has been appointed postmaster of Barnum,Johnson county, vice Thomas Freeguard, resigned.
From the Wyoming Tribune, Cheyenne, Wyoming,18 March 1904, p. 2: The following bulletin is issued by the weather bureau: . . .Eastern Slope Big Horn Mountains. Barnum—Only about two-thirds usual depth, and very little water in the snow.—Thomas Freeguard.
From the Wyoming Tribune, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 22 March 1904, p. 3: The following bulletin is issued by the weather bureau: . . . Eastern Slope Big Horn Mountains. Barnum—Only about two-thirds usual depth, and very little water in the snow.—Thomas Freeguard.
From the Buffalo Voice, Buffalo, Wyoming, 20 January 1906, p. 3: Thos. Freeguard, the Barnum postmaster, is in need of a bookkeeper. His business has increased so that it takes Uncle Tom about three-fourths of his time to keep his books straight. Barnum is getting to be quite a place now. Two families are living in one house.
From the Buffalo Bulletin, Buffalo, Wyoming, 6 February 1908, p. 3: Hon. F. W. Mondell informs us the [t]he pension of Thomas F. Barnum, of Barnum, this county, has been increased to $12 per month.
Bill Barlow's Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 8 August 1912, p. 2: 24 Years Ago Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1888 . . . A buffalo bull was seen within five miles from Douglas Monday morning by Thomas Freeguard—who passed within two hundred yards of the beast, but unfortunately had no gun with him.
From the Laramie Daily Boomerang, Laramie,Wyoming, 28 January 1913, p. 3: SNOWFALL REPORT FOR DECEMBER, 1912 . . . Powder River Watershed. Barnum—Not more than twelve inches of snow have fallen up to December 31, and it has nearly disappeared.—Thomas Freeguard.
From the Laramie Republican (Weekly ed.) Laramie, Wyoming, 1 February 1913, p. 6: SNOWFALL REPORT FOR DECEMBER . . . Powder River Watershed. Barnum—Not more than twelve inches of snow have fallen up to December 31, and it has nearly disappeared.—Thomas Freeguard.
From the Laramie Boomerang, Laramie, Wyoming, 24 April 1913, p. 4: Powder River Watershed. Barnum—Accumulation of snow in last two months makes amount about normal. An average [fl]ow of water is expected.—Thomas Freeguard.
From the Douglas Enterprise, Douglas, Wyoming, 23 June 1936, p. 3: [Article by Pauline E. Smith Peyton re organization of school system . . . Mar. 8, 1887: Thomas Freeguard among those signing the petition to form the school district.]
From the Douglas Budget, Douglas, Wyoming, 18 August 1949: Repeats information from 1936 article.
According to Veterans Administration records, he was a private in Company "I", 13th Kansas Volunteer Infantry and received a pension as an Army Invalid. He is said to have died unmarried. Oddly, on 15 September 1926 the Government paid a reimbursement from his pension account to Fannie P. Barnum of Limon, Colorado. This was undoubtedly Franziska Pauline "Fannie" Biesemeyer, who was the wife of Guy Percy Barnum, a foster brother of Thomas.
The date and location of his death are from his last Civil War pension payment record.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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