In the 1900 US Census for District 37, Castleton, Barry County, Michigan Verna E. Barnum was enumerated with the family of his stepfather, Stephen Sprinkett, as follows:
Dwelling #308; Family #316
Sprinkett, Stephen; Head; W; M; b. July 1869; 30; Married 3 years; b. England; Both parents b. England; Immigrated 1871; 29 years in US; Naturalized citizen; Mail carrier; Can read, write and speak English; Owns non-farm home with mortgage
Sprinkett, Mary; Wife; W; F; b. Dec 1864; 35; Married 3 years; Mother of 3 children; 3 children living; b. Ohio; Father b. Ohio; Mother b. Pennsylvania; No occupation; Can read, write and speak English
Sprinkett, Verna; Son; W; M; b. Dec 1883; 16; Single; b. Michigan; Father b. Michigan; Mother b. Ohio; Farm laborer; Can read, write and speak English
Sprinkett, Perry; Son; W; M; b. April 1887; 13; Single; b. Michigan; Father b. Michigan; Mother b. Ohio; At school; Attended school 9 months during the census year; Can read, write and speak English
Sprinkett, Homer; Son; W; M; b. Mar 1891; 9; Single; b. Michigan; Father b. Michigan; Mother b. Ohio; At school; Attended school 9 months during the census year; Can read, write and speak English
From US Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 > 1906-1907 > A-K: Barnum, Verna E.; Enlisted at Grand Rapids, Michigan; 21 March 1906; by Lt. Wells, Jr.; b. Woodland, Mich.; Age 22 yrs 3 mos; Farmer; Eyes Brown; Hair Dark Brown; Complexion Muddy; Height 5 ft 8-1/2 in.
In the 1910 US Census, Military and Naval Forces, US Navy, Aboard USS Louisiana, District 140, Verna E. Barnum was enumerated together with 58 other soldiers and 835 sailors, as follows:
Barnum, Verna Edward; Private; M; W; 27; Single; b. Michigan; Father b. Michigan; Mother b. Ohio; Able to Speak English; Marine; Wage earner; Can read, write and speak English
In June 1911, Verna E. Barnum was convicted by a Court Martial, and he received a Bad Conduct Discharge on July 13 of that year. He died on 24 June 1912, at the age of 28, and was buried in Woodland Memorial Cemetery, Barry County, Michigan.
According to the death certificate for Verna Edward Barnum, he died in the Lansing (Michigan) City Hospital, of Tetanus. Per the death certificate, he had been hospitalized from June 10 until his death on June 24, 1912. The injury was to a finger, involving the bone and joint. His line of work was listed as laborer, and his address as Sunfield, Michigan, where he lived with his mother and step-father.