According to his World War I draft registration card, Richard Fyfe Barnum was born April 4, 1894 in New Albany, Indiana.
From the Grosse Point News of July 8, 1948: Richard Fyfe Barnum, 54, of 1012 Yorkshire Road, was fatally stricken with a heart attack Monday on the 18th green at the Detroit Country Club after finishing a round of golf. He had just picked his ball out of the cup when he collapsed.
Mr. Barnum, a widely-known business executive, was secretary-treasurer of the Detroit Automotive Products Corp. for the past 15 years. He served 12 years as treasurer for the R. H. Fyfe Co. founded by his uncle, prior to his association with Detroit Automotive Products.
Mr. Barnum served in the 281st Field Artillery in World War I.
He was born in New Albany, Indiana. A member of Delta Kappa Epsalon and the Omicron Literary Association, he was graduated from the University of Illinois in 1916. He was a member of the Detroit Country Club and the DAC.
He is survived by his wife, Jessie; a daughter Barbara Bartlet, 15; a son, Malcolm McGregor (sic), 21; and a sister, Mrs. T.H. Bearse of Barrington, Illinois.
Census Record: 1930, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, ED 62, p. 93, lines 67-69: Richard F. Barnum, 36, b. Indiana; Jessie M. Barnum, 29, b. Michigan; Malcolm Barnum, 3-3/12, b. Michigan.