From The Daily Northwesterner, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, June 7, 1904: The Daughter of Clintonville Editor expires: Clintonville, Wis., June 7— Beatrice, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Barnum died last evening after an illness of about a week. The child was nine years of age and membraceous [sic] croup was the fatal ailment. The funeral will occur probably Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Barnum is the senior member of the firm of Barnum and Cotton, publishers of The Clintonville Tribune.
Note: Membranous croup is diphtheria of the lower part of the throat (larynx), in the region of the Adam’s apple. The membranous croup is an inflammation of the larynx with exudation forming a false membrane. Prognosis of membranous croup is grave, unless tracheostomy has been performed.