A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
In the 1850 US Census for Mamakating, Sullivan County, New York Henry Barnum was enumerated with the family of Jonathan O. Dunning, as follows:
Dwelling #440; Family #482
Henry Barnum, 16, M, Clerk, b. New York
In the 1860 US Census for McMinnville, Yamhill County, Oregon Henry Barnum was enumerated with the family of D. J. Yeargain, as follows:
Dwelling #4340; Family #3720
Henry Barnum, 24, M, Master painter, Personal property $100, b. New York
It is generally believed that Henry Barnum was the first resident of Grass Valley, Oregon. That town is ten miles south of Moro, the county seat of Sherman County, and was so named, according to the early pioneers, because the rye grass was so high it was over a man's head – even when he was mounted on horseback. In fact, it is in an area of rolling hills which became a rich wheat-growing area when the later homesteaders came in the 1880's. Henry Barnum settled there in 1868 and established a trading post some 11 years later.
In the 1870 US Census for the Area East of the Deschutes River, Wasco County, Oregon Henry Barnum was enumerated with the family of Charles H. Black, as follows:
Dwelling #6; Family #5
Barnum, Henry; 35; M; W; Farmer; Real property $1,200; Personal property $4,014; b. New York; Male citizen of the US of 21 years of age and upwards
In the 1880 US Census for District 121, The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon the family of Henry Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Dwelling #116; Family #116
Barnum, Henry; W; M; 45; Head of family; Married; Farmer; b. New York; Does not know birthplaces of parents
Barnum, Elmira; W; F; 26; Wife; Married; Keeping house; b. Oregon; Both parents b. New York
Barnum, Elmer; W; M; 5; b. Oregon; Father b. New York; Mother b. Oregon
Barnum, Leedrew; W; M; 3; b. Oregon; Father b. New York; Mother b. Oregon
Barnum, Artemus; W; M; 2; b. Oregon; Father b. New York; Mother b. Oregon
Smith, Mary; W; F; 16; Living with; Single; At home; b. Oregon; Father b. Canada; Mother b. Iowa
From Sherman County (Oregon) Newspaper Clippings, submitted by Sherry Kaseberg, Sherman County Historical Museum. Undated clippings from Sherman County Journal, Moro, OR: The Barnum Family. Henry Barnum, who came from New England, was among the first settlers in what is now Sherman County. He filed on the land that is now the site of Moro in 1869 and built the ditch fences that may still be seen in parts of town. He has been in Wasco County since 1857 and in Oregon since the forties. He was the founder of the Barnum family that has been well known here since pioneer days.
He had horses and cattle, being one of the first stockmen who took up land and located permanently. He built a home and brought his wife, Elmira Masiker, from the old Price place to share it with him.
His sons, Elvin, Ladru and Art, are still residents of this section of the state, as is his daughter, Mrs. L.L. Peetz. All have been identified with the development of the county that has taken place since the first settlement. For years they owned and operated stock ranches in Grass Valley canyon and they still own them. Ladru entered the banking business early in the century, later moved to The Dalles and is living there at present. Art was the first breeder of purebred Herefords in the county and for a number of years showed his stock over the west at fairs and stock shows. Ladru was councilman and mayor of Moro during his residence here and was head of the Liberty loan campaigns during the world war. Art was president of the fair board for twenty-five years, retiring but a year or so ago.
Frank Fulton was a splendid judge of range cattle. When eastern buyers bought cattle in Eastern Oregon in those early days, they paid different prices for cows and calves, and dry cows, yearlings, two and three year-olds. The buyers and the sellers usually chose Frank to judge the age, and kind as they passed through the “chute” and seldom was his judgement questioned. Once a “critter” was going through the “chute” that belonged to Henry Barnum. Frank called it a two-year-old steer, although he knew it was a long yearling. The buyers were satisfied, but Barnum claimed it was a three-year old. Frank told him he had better let it go as a two, but he would not. So it was examined and passed as a yearling. Barnum, who could have had the price of a two, wanted the price of a three, and had to take the price of a yearling, and the joke was on him.
Henry is said to have committed suicide.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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