A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From The Hamilton Telegraph, Hamilton, Ohio, Thursday, March 11, 1897: An acquaintance with the virtues of our fellow men stimulates us to more noble endeavors and therefore every person's life is more or less instructive. There perhaps never lived an individual whatever his station, whose biography might not be rendered greatly productive of good to mankind. Some lives seem to be so completely made up of good deeds and kind words that when death seals the lips in silence, it also canonizes a great name. Such characterized the life of the subject of our sketch, the late deceased old pioneer Mr. Caleb Barnum. His ancestors Pliny and Lydia Barnum together with their children, Delazon Dibble, Joseph Orlando, Caleb Lorenzo, Archelaus Homer and Mary Madelia, emigrated from Conn., in 1818, overland to Pittsburgh thence down the Ohio River by flat boat to Illinois where he preempted a farm. The climate there proved very unhealthy and at that place, the mother took sick and died. Owing to the swampy country the funeral cortege made the trip to the cemetery in skiffs. Mr. Barnum returned with his children to near Cincinnati, Ohio in 1820. In 1821, he married for his second wife Miss Rachel Bennett and by this union nine more children, Lydia Saloma, Noah A. Ward, Martha A., Benj. F., Eunice Aurilla, Lorena Priscilla, Rebecca Ann, William Parker and Martin Van B. were added to the family. Of this large family of children but four are now living. The oldest one Mr. Delazon D. is a well known and highly respected citizen of the near vicinity and will be the subject of a near future sketch. After this brief genealogical preface we will now introduce the subject of this sketch. Mr. Caleb Lorenzo Barnum was born in Connecticut August 18, 1813. He was early in life united in marriage to Sarah Jane Flint February 2, 1843.
Twelve children resulted from this union, Adelia, Harriet Ann, Riley, Julia A., Ira, Fannie, Philena, Sarah [N.B., probably should be Anna, b. abt. 1849], Elizabeth, Lida (Lydia), Joseph and Mary. Shortly after their marriage Mr. Barnum purchased the old Flint homestead and with the exception of about two years, lived there ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Barnum united with the Old Indian Creek Primitive Baptist church in their early married life but later transferred their membership to Bethlehem. For thirty-three years Mr. Barnum was a deacon in the church. Mrs. Barnum died January 8, 1888, and since then Mr. Barnum has lived at the old homestead in company with his daughters, Misses Fannie and Lydia. After a prolonged illness of about a year, Mr. Barnum passed over the river of life and joined his awaiting loved ones on the other shore. He died February 14, 1897, aged about 81 years. The near relatives consist of eight children, twenty-two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The cheery salutation "Good morning! Good morning! How's all the folks," which the kind old gentleman always extended to his many friends will never more be heard, while the family circle there is a vacant chair that never can he filled.
From the Primitive Monitor and Church Advocate, 1897, page 382: Caleb Lorenzo Barnum was born in Connecticut August 18, 1813. He removed with his parents to the state of Illinois in the year 1818, and the following year his mother died. In 1820, his father moved with his family to Butler County, Ohio, where he lived until his marriage to Sarah Jane Flint, February 2, 1843. In-the same year he settled on the farm in Franklin County, Indiana, where he resided until his death. He united with the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist church May 23, 1829, and was baptized by Elder Wm. Tyner. In January 1863, he moved his membership to Bethlehem Church near his late home. He filled the office of deacon for thirty-three years. He was a zealous Christian, an earnest student of the Bible, and a lover of peace. To him and his wife were born twelve children—three sons and nine daughters; four of whom, with his beloved wife, preceded him in death. His Christian character was manifested in all the walks of life in his home, with his precious Christian family, and in the capacity of a citizen. His face and speech, which were so familiar to the Baptists of Eastern Indiana, will be missed by them, and will be long cherished in their memory. The immediate cause of his death, which took place February 14, 1897, was pneumonia. He leaves eight children, many relatives, the church, and a host of friends to mourn his death. His body was interred in the ground back of the meeting house where he so often met and worshiped with the saints.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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