A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From: Curley, Edward F. Old Monticello; A Series of Short Stories and Historical Sketches. Monticello, N.Y.: Printed by the Republican Watchman, 1930:
A Word Picture of Old Monticello. George Barnum Owned Large Interests. Residence Was on Red Lane; Barnum's Station Was Named in His Honor, Barnum Owning Hundreds of Acres of Territory There With Saw Mills - Martin Toohey Later Became the Owner of the Red Lane Barnum Property. (Chapter Thirty-Seven). [pp 157-159].
... Next to the Fairchild property on Red Lane, southerly, were vacant lots until I arrive at a small frame dwelling, painted red, and in years long passed, was tenanted by Henry Yeager, and later by John Reynolds. Next to this little red dwelling was the residence of George W. Barnum. To the older residents of Monticello Mr. Barnum needs no introduction, as he was a prominent figure throughout years gone by. In the vicinity of where Barnum's Station was located, on the Port Jervis and Monticello Railroad, Mr. Barnum was the owner of a large tract of timber land, comprising some 500 or 600 acres. A large saw mill was erected on this tract, and for several years under the ownership of Mr. Barnum, millions of feet of choice lumber, utilized for building purposes was sawed. It was through Mr. Barnum's prominence that the Port Jervis and Monticello Railroad, when it was constructed in 1872, honored him by naming the station, where his mill plant was located, Barnum's Station. This station was on the main line, and was four miles from the Monticello terminal.
Mr. Barnum had large timberland holdings in the west, and associated with him in this enterprise was one of Monticello's old time and respected citizens, Richard Oakley.
Mr. Barnum was united in marriage to Caroline Clowes, a highly educated and wealthy lady of New York. Mr. Barnum was in the employ of Mr. Clowes and it was due to this fact that he first met the lady, who afterwards became his wife. Mr. Barnum had the distinction of being the father of two sons, who became prominent practicing dentists, namely: Sanford C. and Joseph Barnum. Dr. Sanford C. Barnum became a noted dentist. He was a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Dentistry, and it was through his marked ability that his discovery regarding what is known today in dentistry as the "rubber dam" was discovered, and is now in practical use by dentists throughout the world.
In honor of this great Invention he was presented with a diamond medal, by the Tennessee Dental Association. One of the books published, and which is authority on dentistry, has the following to say regarding Dr. Barnum's wonderful invention:
"For one of the most simple, yet effective appliances, for controlling the flow of saliva and protecting cavities from moisture, we are indebted to Dr. Sanford C. Barnum. It consists of nothing more than a thin sheet of Indian rubber, of good quality that it may possess sufficient strength, and not tear easily, and of a thickness double that of letter paper."
Dr. Sanford C. Barnum was located in New York City where he was professionally engaged for some years, and departed this life on December 24th, 1895, at the age of 47 years. Dr. Joseph Barnum located at Monticello. His dental office was in his father's residence on Oakley Avenue, (Red Lane). He was considered an excellent dentist, and had a large practice. It was in the office of Dr. Joseph Barnum that our present townsman, Dr. Russell W. Allan entered the dental profession, as a student, remaining with him for some time before entering college. It is a strange co-incidence that Dr. Joseph Barnum died April 18th, 1890, at the age of 42 years, and that his former student, Dr. Allan, who had became a graduate dentist, opened his present dental parlors in Monticello the same year.
Miss Maude Boneham, a niece of George W. Barnum, was united in marriage to David E. Lane, a resident of Westtown, Orange county, N. Y., and at the present time they are residents of Bellingham, State of Washington. Many years ago Mr. Barnum bought a plot of land on Oakley Ave., (At that period Red Lane) of Richard Oakley, as a residential site, and upon which he erected a beautiful home.
Mr. Barnum and family resided there for many years. Mrs. Barnum passed away on December 13th, 1883. Mr. Barnum, owing to illness, was compelled to retire to private life, and was an invalid for several years, and for a long time was cared for by Thomas Garner, who acted as private nurse. Mr. Garner entered the employ of Mr. Barnum in 1873, and materially helped him in developing his large tract of timber land, at that period located at Barnum's Station, on the Port Jervis and Monticello Railroad. After some years he relinquished his position with Mr. Barnum and purchased a farm in the town of Forestburgh where he remained until Mr. Barnum's health failed, when he again entered his employ as nurse, and was continuously employed by him in that capacity, until Mr. Barnum obeyed the summons which called him home on December 20th, 1900. Mr. Barnum was born October 10th, 1815 and was therefore aged 85 years at the time of his demise.
Mr. Garner erected a family residence on a lot adjoining the Barnum homestead, on the site where the little red house stood, as referred to, and resided there until January 1923, when he too answered the summons, at the age of 79 years. Mrs. Garner departed this life, in 1908.
The Barnum residence was taken over by Richard S. Oakley, who at that. time was the owner of most of the lands, which were fields in the vicinity of the Barnum residence. Oakley Avenue (Red Lane) terminated at the Barnum residence by a fence and bar-way. Fulton Street which at the present time connects with Oakley Ave., at this point was not heard of.
About thirty years ago, Martin Toohey, then a resident of the town of Thompson and the owner of the farm south of Monticello, known as Mountain Spring Farm, purchased the Barnum residence from Richard Oakley, the owner. Mr. Toohey disposed of the Mountain Spring Farm, to Ambrose Monell, who at that time was buying all lands available in that vicinity, for a private game preserve. Mr. and Mrs. Toohey came to Monticello and took possession of the Barnum residence. It was opened by them as a select private boarding house, and known as Sunset Villa, for the accommodation of city guests.
From The New York Times, December 21, 1900, Wednesday, Page 9: George W. Barnum, aged eighty-three, died at Monticello, N. Y., yesterday. He was the oldest native resident in the town, and was at one time one of the wealthiest men in Sullivan County, but lost heavily in speculation. For the past thirteen years he has been in a private asylum in Monticello.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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