Orrin is said to have deserted his first wife, Josephine, and their daughter Grace, and the family found out much later that he had remarried and had several children.
In the 1900 US Census for District 546, Manhattan, New York, New York the family of Orrin S. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #8; Family #8 (128 Manhattan Avenue)
Barnum, Orrin; Head; White; Male; b. Feb. 1865; 35; Married 10 years; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; Hat manufacturer; Can read, write and speak English; Owns non-farm home free of mortgage
Barnum, Josephine P.; Wife; White; Female; b. Aug. 1870; 29; Married 10 years; Mother of 1 child; 1 child living; b. New York; Both parents b. New York; Can read, write and speak English
Barnum Grace F.; Daughter; White; Female; b. Mar. 1891; 9; Single; b. New York; Father b. Connecticut; Mother b. New York
In the 1910 US Census for District 1, Bethel, Fairfield , Connecticut the family of Orrin S. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #108; Family #116 (Crossroad Elmwood)
Barnum, Orin S.; Head; Male; White; 42; Second marriage; Married 4 years; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; Able to speak English; Hatter; Superintendent; Wage earner; Can read and write; Rents farm home; Farm schedule 68
Barnum, Edith; Wife; Female; White; 30; First marriage; Married 4 years; Mother of 0 children; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; Able to speak English; No trade or profession; Can read and write
Whitlock, Mary E.; Mother-in-law; Female; White; Widow; Mother of 1 child; 1 child living; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; Able to speak English; No trade or profession; Can read and write
In the 1920 US Census for District 546, Manhattan, New York, New York the family of Orrin S. Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #28; Family #47 (1719 East Main Street)
[Note: four separate families were living at this same address; Moriarty-44, Ferguson-45, Moriarty-46, and Barnum-47.]
Barnum, Orin; Head; Rents non-farm home; Male; White; 52; Married; Able to read and write; b. Connecticut; Father b. New York; Mother b. Connecticut; Able to speak English; Foreman; Brass factory; Wage earner
Barnum, Eda; Wife; Female; White; 39; Married; Able to read and write; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; Able to speak English; No trade or profession
Barnum, Bradley; Son; Male; White; 9; Single; Attended school within the census year; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; No trade or profession
Barnum, Sally; Daughter; Female; White; 6; Single; Attended school within the census year; b. Connecticut; Both parents b. Connecticut; No trade or profession