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Portrait and biographical album of Newayco (sp) County, Mich.
containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Michigan and of the presidents
of the United States: also containing a complete history of the county,
from its earliest settlement to the present time.

Published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL, 1884

Transcribed and submitted by Joyce Pearson
May 10, 2011

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BARNUM, Stephen D.
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Stephen D. Barnum, farmer, section 33, Ashland Township, was born in
Hector, Schuyler Co., N.Y., July 29, 1829. His parents, Czar and Margaret
(German) Barnum, were natives respectively of Connecticut and New York, and
were of mixed Scotch, French and German ancestry. In 1839 they located on a
farm in Lenawee Co., Mich., where Stephen attained to the age of 19 years,
attending the district school and working on his father’s farm.

Mr. Barnum early resolved to obtain as good a degree of education as was in
his power. In 1848 he set out to accomplish his plans and engaged as a farm
laborer. He was industrious and economical, saving his earnings to secure
his education and attended the High School at Tecumseh, Lenawee County,
where he studied two years. He put his stock of learning to practical use
in teaching, which profession he followed until 1855. The confinement of
the school-room shattered his health, and he was compelled to abandon his
favorite pursuit and seek the woods of Northern Michigan. He came to
Newaygo County and located on 80 acres of land in Ashland Township. The
place was in its original state, and since he has been its proprietor he
has devoted his best energies to its improvement, and has placed 50 acres
in the best condition for successful farming.

Mr. Barnum was married Aug. 19, 1855, in Muskegon County, to Roby A.,
daughter of Michael and Hannah (Carpenter) Kriger, natives of Massachusetts
and New York respectively. The daughter was born in Angola, Ind., July 16,
1840. Her parents settled in Hillsdale Co., Mich., when she was in infancy,
and afterward removed to Casnovia, Muskegon County, where she resided until
her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnum have been the parents of six children, two only of whom
survive: Ai, born April 11, 1857, and Adella, March 23, 1869. Adelsia was
born April 16, 1860, and died Nov. 29, in the same year; Almond, born Dec.
6, 1862, died March 25, 1863; Arthur, born July 11, 1871, died Sept. 21,
1873; Decatur, born Aug. 18, 1873, died March 6, 1874.

Mr. Barnum is a zealous and active Democrat. He has been School Inspector
ten years, Justice of the Peace, 12 years, and Superintendent of Schools
several terms. He is also Clerk of the Baptist Society, of which Church
himself and wife are members.

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