In the 1910 US Census for Middletown, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania Leonard was enumerated as Leonard Van Housen, a boarder and the son of Edna M. Van Housen. Edna was enumerated in that census return as the servant of Sylvester H. Barnum, Sr., a widower and the head of the household. In the 1920 US Census for Apoloson, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania Edna was enumerated as the second wife of Sylvester and Leonard was shown with the surname Barnum. It is not known whether he was legally adopted by his stepfather.