Merritt H. Barnum, son of Frank W. and Emma Barnum, was born in Illinois on January 25, 1901 and died September 2, 1973. According to the SSDI and California Death Index, he died in Los Angeles, although his obituary says he died in San Francisco. He married Alberta Dodds who was born in Illinois November 30, 1898 and died in San Diego, California February 6, 1993. (California Death Index & 1930 Census).
From the Chicago Tribune, September 19, 1973: Merritt H. Barnum, 72, former men’s wear editor of the Tribune and former advertising manager of Marshall Field & Co.’s store for men in San Francisco.