George Stone Barnum (September 26, 1819November 20, 1893) was an American businessman,

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He served in both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature, representing Winnebago County in the

Wisconsin Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...

during the

1865 Events January–March * January 4 – The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at Broad Street (Manhattan), 10-12 Broad near Wall Street, in New York City. * January 13 – American Civil War : Sec ...

and

1866 Events January–March * January 1 ** Fisk University, a historically black university, is established in Nashville, Tennessee. ** The last issue of the abolitionist magazine '' The Liberator'' is published. * January 6 – Ottoman tr ...

sessions, and in the

State Assembly State Assembly is the name given to various legislatures, especially lower houses or full legislatures in states in federal systems of government. Channel Islands States Assembly is the name of the legislature of the Bailiwick of Jersey. The Baili ...

during the

1860 Events January–March * January 2 – The discovery of a hypothetical planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France. * January 10 – The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusett ...

and

1864 Events January–March * January 13 – American songwriter Stephen Foster ("Oh! Susanna", "Old Folks at Home") dies aged 37 in New York City, leaving a scrap of paper reading "Dear friends and gentle hearts". His parlor song " ...

sessions.

Biography

George S. Barnum was born in

Monkton, Vermont Monkton, also known as Monkton Boro, is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,079 at the 2020 census. Geography Monkton is located in northern Addison County at . It is situated on the eastern edge of the Champla ...

, in September 1819. He moved west to the

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was ...

in the mid-1840s, settling initially in

Fond du Lac County Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du La ...

. He established a farm, but soon gave up that work to start a merchant business. He moved to a nearby settlement in the vicinity of what is now Waukau, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1868. For most of that time he was involved in milling in partnership with several other investors. Shortly after his arrival, in 1847, this area was set off as the town of Rushford. At the first election of the town of Rushford, Barnum was elected as the first town assessor. He held the office again in 1848. In 1850, the territory was further divided, and the area of Barnum's residence became part of the new town of Nepeuskun. At the first election of the town of Nepeuskun, Barnum was elected the first town clerk and assessor, and was also elected the first superintendent of schools. Barnum first ran for state office in 1859, running on the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

ticket for

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

in Winnebago County's 3rd Assembly district. At the time his district comprised most of the southern half of Winnebago County. He faced no Democratic opponent in the general election and went on to represent the district in the 1860 legislative session. After his term in the Assembly, he was appointed to the board of the State Reform School, but resigned after a year. He was elected to another term in the Assembly in 1863, running on the National Union ticket. He ran again in the same district and again faced no Democratic opposition. In 1864, he was elected to the

, running on the National Union ticket. He represented the 21st Senate district in the

and

legislative sessions. His Senate district then comprised all of Winnebago County. After his term in the Senate, Barnum moved to the nearby village of

Winneconne, Wisconsin Winneconne is a village in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. The population was 2,383 at the time of the 2010 census. The village is located within the Town of Winneconne. Developed along the Wolf River, the city is in the middle of the Wolf Chain ...

, where he remained for the rest of his life. There he was involved in dealing real estate and mortgages.

Personal life and family

George S. Barnum was the sixth of seven known children of Job Vassell Barnum and his first wife Zillah (' Van Horne). The Barnum family were descended from Thomas Barnum, who came to the

Connecticut Colony The ''Connecticut Colony'' or ''Colony of Connecticut'', originally known as the Connecticut River Colony or simply the River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became Connecticut. It was organized on March 3, 1636 as a settl ...

from England in the 1600s. George S. Barnum was a fifth cousin of

P. T. Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum (; July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871–2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He was ...

, with the colonist Thomas Barnum being their last common ancestor. George S. Barnum married Mary P. Kinsley on January 6, 1842, at Monkton, Vermont. They had two children together. George S. Barnum died at Winneconne, Wisconsin, on November 20, 1893.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnum, George S. 1819 births 1893 deaths People from Addison County, Vermont People from Winnebago County, Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Party Wisconsin state senators Wisconsin pioneers