According to Wayne Carl, writing in 1976 to Harold Barnum, Abram Barnum was born in Greene County, New York. The Carls and Barnums became acquainted when the two families moved to Rockland Township, Sullivan County, New York. Abram Barnum and Julia Carl married at Downsville, Delaware, New York. After they married, they moved to Pennsylvania. It is claimed that their oldest child, Laura, was born here. When Adam Carl lived in Rockland Township, Abram's father Levi Barnum lived with them in their boarding house. He was employed at the tannery nearby.
According to pension records on file at the National Archives, Abram enlisted in the army on 3 Jan 1864 from Liberty, New York, for a period of three-years. He was a Private with Company "E", 15th Regiment [another source says 145th Regt], New York Cavalry. He contracted chronic diarrhea during winter of 1863/64 while serving in West Virginia, and received a discharge as a result. A Muster Roll dated 15 May 1865 reports him mustered out at the US General Hospital, Cumberland, Maryland. The illness continued to plague him for the rest of his life, and was the apparent cause of his death. Julia and children, with much difficulty were finally able to get a small government pension because of it.
Abram and Julia moved in 1866 from Marston, New York to Bradford, Pennsylvania, and in 1871 to Carpenter, Pennsylvania.
in the 1880 US Census for McNett, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania the family of Abram Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #221; Family #325
Abram Barnum, Self, M, Married, W, 42, b. New York, Farmer, Both parents b. New York
Julia Barnum, Wife, F, Married, W, 32, b. New York, Keeps House, Both parents b. New York
Laura Barnum, Daughter, F, Single, W, 12, b. New York, Both parents b. New York
Isaac Barnum, Son, M, Single, W, 10, b. Pennsylvania, both parents b. New York
Myrtin Barnum, Son, M, Single, W, 7, b. Pennsylvania, Both parents b. New York
Lee Barnum, Son, M, Single, W, 5, Pennsylvania, Both parents b. New York
Grace Barnum, Daughter, F, Single, W, 3, b. Pennsylvania, Both parents b. New York
Harriet Barnum, Daughter, F, Single, W, 10 months, b. Pennsylvania, Both parents b. New York
Some information came from Melody Bredbenner Schloss, who got it from her grandmother Margaret E (Barnum) Bredbenner. The Barnum Family calls him Abriham Barnum. At least one other source spells his given name as Abraham.
From Rosters of the New York Volunteers during the Civil War, 15th NY Cavalry Regiment. Barnum, Abram.-Age, 25 years. Enlisted January 3, 1864 at Rockland; mustered in as private, Co. E, January 14, 1864, to serve three years; mustered out, May 15, 1865, at United States General Hospital, Cumberland, MD.
At least one source gives his birthplace as Greene County, New York.
He was buried in Rutty Cemetery.