In the 1892 New York State Census he appears together with his parents and siblings but enumerated under this alternate name. For that reason he has sometimes been confused with a Herbert J. Barnum, son of Cyrus Isham Barnum and Nancy Barnes, who was born in Michigan in 1871. The Barnum Family, 1350-1907 calls him Harvy John Barnum. His middle name also appears as Henry. He was enumerated in the New York State Census of 1892, where he appears with his parents and siblings, as Herbert J. Barnum.