A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Frank Barnum was the business manager of The Evening Star newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri, and an associate proprietor of the Barnum Hotel in St. Joseph, Missouri. Upon his mysterious death, his body was discovered near Brownsville Missouri. The mystery of his death was never solved. Although his grave marker indicates "Murdered", some believed he committed suicide.
His parentage has not been determined.
From The St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, Missouri, Thursday, October 12, 1876: A Deed of Blood. Murder of Frank Barnum of Barnum's Hotel. The Strange Circumstances Connected With His Tragic Death. The Murder Committed at Sweet Springs, Near Brownsville, Mo. From the Kansas City Times. The intelligence received here yesterday afternoon of the murder at Sweet Springs of Mr. Frank Barnum of Barnum's Hotel in this city, created intense excitement and surprise. Mr. Barnum has been a resident of this city for many years, was very generally known, and had a host of warm and devoted friends.
For some time he has been in feeble health. In the hope of receiving benefit and repairing his wasted strength, he took his departure some weeks since for the "Sweet Springs" at Brownsville, in this state. Letters received from time to time by Mrs. Barnum gave the information that he was getting stronger and felt encouraged to believe that he would receive permanent benefit from his visit to the springs. Recently, however, Mrs. Barnum received from him a letter in which he said he had of late been suffering from some terrible dreams. He had dreamed of being attacked by two men, who struck him savagely upon the head.
He had also suffered much from sleeplessness. The letter also detailed the strange appearance, the phantom or apparition that had appeared at his bedside, of a young Spanish lady whom he knew when he lived in South America. In one hand she held a cross, in the other a photograph with drops of blood on it. She spoke to him in Spanish, saying, "Francis, your life is in danger! May God help you!"
She then dropped the photograph upon the floor and vanished from sight. He rose from his bed, attempted to pick up the blood-sprinkled photograph, when it disappeared from view. Mr. Barnum, after narrating the above, proceeded to say in his letter that he did not feel alarmed at what he had seen or fancied he had seen. He felt, he wrote, no fear of coming danger. His health was steadily improving, and he spoke of coming home at the last of the week, meaning last Friday or Saturday. Mrs. Barnum, therefore, on Friday went to Lexington to meet her husband and accompany him home.
Not meeting him there, she thought he night have come by way of the Missouri Pacific. She telegraphed while at Lexington to the proprietor of the hotel at Brownsville, and received in reply a dispatch stating that Mr. Barnum had started for Kansas City that morning. Mrs. Barnum returned to this city, and as her husband had not arrived, she felt anxious concerning him, and at her request Mr. Broach, a boarder at the hotel, left on the first rain for Brownsville.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Barnum received the following letter, written by her husband the day before, Friday, and as it has sadly proved, the last letter he was ever to write to her for whom he entertained such fond and faithful affection:
Office of the Brownsville Herald
Brownsville, Oct. 6, 1876
Mr Dear, Darling Wife, I expect now to leave here tomorrow morning, although all my friends are trying to make me stay over, and perhaps I may do so until Monday. I would not do so but for one reason, which, as I am so much better, I will tell you. On the night I had those terrible dreams I had a slight nervous attack like I had the night I was first taken sick., and since that time until to-day I have been troubled a great deal with my head. Today I feel a great deal better, and I think by Monday I will be all right again. I would hate to return with so little or no improvement from what I was when I left. Don't worry about me, I will be all right in a day or two.
You will get this on Saturday morning, and if I am not on the train Saturday don't be the least alarmed, but look for me certain on Monday. Till then believe me your loving Frank.
P.S. - I am feeling so much better today and am so anxious to see you, that unless I feel quite different in the morning I shall put out. But yet, if I don't you must not worry or think there is anything serious happened, it will only be because I think it will be better for me to stay. A good kiss for you and Emma, and my undying love for you both, I am, forever, your loving Frank.
Terrible Tidings. During yesterday afternoon in rapid succession came the following dispatches, addressed to Mr. C. G. Hopkins, Mr. Barnum's partner in the hotel business and to Mrs. Barnum. On receipt of the dreadful news, Mrs. Barnum hurried to the depot, but was too late for the train to Lexington.
A Foul Murder. From a special dispatch from Brownsville, published on the first page, it appears that Mr. Barnum was murdered by blows inflicted upon his head - a strange fulfillment of the "terrible dream" narrated in his letter. His watch, a very valuable one, had been taken form his person, together with other articles of jewelry, and his pistol. It is hoped that the perpetrators of the horrible crime will be quickly captured, and their just punishment speedily follow.
It is needless to state that Mrs. Barnum and her amiable daughter are overwhelmed with grief over the tragic occurrence. Mr. Barnum constantly exhibited towards them the deep and strong affection he felt for them. Their sorrow and great grief at this death is intensified by the terrible circumstances connected with it. To them the sincere sympathies of the community will be given, in this time of overwhelming affliction.
Mr. Barnum was born in Syracuse, New York, where his boyhood days were spent. In his young manhood he went to Chili (sic), and was made secretary of legation there. Afterwards he became interested there in business enterprises, and established the first stage route from Chili to Bolivia. Returning to this country he became the correspondent of several newspaper, and subsequently went into the railroad business.
For some time he was the general freight agent of the Chattanooga and Atlantic railroad. Six years ago he came to Kansas City and was associated for a long time with the Daily News as its business manager.
Afterwards he became associate manager of the hotel in this city which bears his name. He was well-known in this community and very generally esteemed. Mr. Barnum was a man of rare talent as musician, playing upon several instruments with fine skill. He spoke several languages fluently. He was a gentleman of fine mind and many excellent traits of character His death is generally deplored.
It was three years ago last Friday - the day on which he penned his letter to his wife, a letter full of hope and brimming with affection - three years ago that day he was married to the amiable lady who so deeply sorrows his untimely and tragic death. Of Mr. Barnum it can be truthfully said he was a man of kindly impulses and excellent traits of character. Peace to his ashes.
A partial record from an unknown contemporary newspaper: The dead body of Mr. Frank Barnum, proprietor of Barnum's Hotel, Kansas City, was found near the Sulphur Springs, Brownsville, on the 7th. Deceased had been for some time in bad health, and had gone to the Springs to recuperate. His body was horribly mutilated, and he was undoubtedly murdered and thrown into a pool of water where his remains were found. His watch, jewelry and money were all missing. Deceased was an old newspaper man, Formerly business manger of the Kansas City Evening News. The citizens of Brownsville have offered a reward of $500 for the apprehension of the murderers, and three parties were arrested upon suspicion.
On the same day, a girl of bad repute, named Mollie Sneed, committed suicide at the same place, and it was while holding an inquest upon her remains that the body of Barnum was discovered. There was some attempt made to connect the two affairs together, but no evidence was adduced upon which to base such a conclusion.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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