Sunday, June 1, 2014

My Grandchildren

Since this is a family history blog I thought I would do some current family history. I love being a grandma.  My mother and father have been really great grandparents. And I spent alot of time with my grandma & grandpa Pierre. I hope that I also am a wonderful grandma and that all my grandchildren will have the great memories of me that I have of my grandparents. Here are my grandchildren.

Seth and Lisa's children:

Kim is 19 years old and goes to Normandale College and just finished her 1st year. Kim is very smart.

Ryan is 16 years old and going to be a junior. Jake really likes hang out with Ryan. 

Teagan is 15 years old and going to be a freshman. Last year Teagan went with the rest of the  family to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I believe she had a great time! She and the "big" girls cousins had a great time in the ocean and playing games on the porch. She also got to meet Bob's dad and Marilyn at the farm in Illinois. Teagan is a amazing student always on the honor roll.

Jesse and Laura's children:

Alexandra Marie is 15 years old. Alex will be a sophomore. Alex dances, reads and loves pinterest. She works at the Dance studio. She is getting her learners permit soon. Alex is a wonderful big sister and a great help. 

Hannah is 9 years old. Hannah is going to be in 4th grade. She is a performer. She dances and is going to be in a play with their community theater company. 

Jackson is 7 years old. He is going to be in 2nd grade. He loves video games. He likes to play with his cousins! Jackson likes sports. 

Robert is 5 years old. He is our youngest grandchild. Robert is our family comedian. Very happy and bouncy. Robert will be in kindergarten next school year.

Germaine and Joe's dogs:

Lia and Tyrion. They also have 3 cats.







Amanda's children:

Jacob is 15 years old. He is going to be a sophomore. He loves video games, both on his phone and x-box. He likes to figure out how things work. Jake wants to buy a boat. Jake is very kind and thoughtful. He likes to spend time with his grandpa.

Mila is 10 years old. She is going into 5th grade. Mila knows what she wants. She has her own sense of style. She likes to read but not girly books. Mila likes to read about vampires and scary stuff.





Suzanne and Daniel's children: 

Lillian is 13 years old, going into 8 grade. Lillian is fun. She always has fun ideas. Lillian is a leader at church and school. Loves to read and write and is a wonderful singer. Lillian has a blog and is really good at making videos. 

Elizabeth is 12 years old, going into 7th grade. Elizabeth is a wonderful student. Elizabeth keeps the Ward household in order. If you need something to be done ask Elizabeth. Elizabeth is also the most likely the one to take care of her grandparents in their old age. At least her grandpa.

Anna is 10 years old going into 5th grade. Anna is always happy. She now loves to read. Anna has her own sense of style, very girly. Anna is a middle child, which she will use to her advantage. Anna wants to be a nurse when she grows up like her mom.

Joseph is 8 years old going into 3rd grade. Joseph is a gentleman at school and home. He always opens the door for his grandmas. Joseph also always wants to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable. Joseph is a really good athlete. He loves Lego's and "Minecraft". His best friend is Sam.

Samuel is 7 years old going into 2nd grade. Sam loves his mom and his whole family including his grandparents. His best friend is Joseph. Sam has a wonderful sense of humor. Sam also hates soccer. Sam also loves Lego's and wants to be a "bug" scientist when he grows up. He also wants to live next door to his mom so she can take care of his kids.

Catherine Harshman Barnum (1828-1887)

Catherine Harshman Barnum
1828-1887
My Great Great Grandma

Catherine Harshman is my great-great grandmother. She was born in Washington, Pennsylvania on 23 February 1828 to John and Hannah (Smalley) Harshman.



John Harshman
1807-1885
Hannah Smalley
1810-1883

Her father John Harshman is listed in the 1830 Federal Census at Amwell, Washington County, Pennsylvania. The family is also listed on the 1840 Federal Census at Canton, Washington County, Pennsylvania.           1840 Federal Census

The family is listed living in Southington, Trumbull County, Ohio on the 1850 Federal Census.      1850 Federal Census


Catherine had 7 sisters and 6 brothers.



(1) Elizabeth Harshman West: 1829-1907, lived in California.




(2) Daniel Delbert Harshman: 1830-1905, lived in North Dakota.

(3) Limerick (Lemerick) Harshman: 1832-1920, lived in Wisconsin.







(4) Margaret Harshman Dickson: 1832-1922, lived in California.



(5) Martha Jane Harshman Aldrich: 1836-1913, lived in Nebraska.





(6) Mary Harshman Eubanks: 1837-1919, lived in Wisconsin.

(7) John O Harshman: 1839-1920, lived in Wisconsin.





(8) Hannah Lattimore Harshman Able: 1840-1923, lived in Iowa.






(9) Samuel McFarland Harshman: 1842-1915, lived in Montana.

(10) George W Harshman: 1844-1844, buried in Pennsylvania.

(11) William H Harshman: 1845-1864, served in the Civil War, buried in Wisconsin.





(12) Romania Amanda Harshman Yancey: 1847-1891, lived in Iowa and Kansas.

(13) Laura Matilda Harshman Wilcox: 1850-1927, lived in Idaho.



Catherine and Wheeler Barnum












Catherine and Wheeler Barnum were married 28 September 1852 in Willow Creek, Saint Croix, Wisconsin.












Wheeler and Catherine were living in the Township of Inter Grove, Dakota, Minnesota. 

Wheeler was listed as a Farmer, real estate value of $2000 and personal estate value of $500. Wheeler and Catherine had 5 children listed living with them.

Wheeler & Catherine had 5 sons and 4 daughters.




(1) Wentworth Barnum, 1853-1938, my great grandfather.








(2) Irvin Barnum, 1854-1918, Irvin shot himself. Lived in Spencer Brook, Isanti, Minnesota.  The Princeton Union, 21 February 1918, "Tragic death of Irvin Barnum"





(3) Medora Barnum, 1856-1874, died of consumption/tuberculosis. Buried 
in the Pine Bend Cemetery in Rosemount, Dakota, Minnesota.







(4) Rodney Barnum, 1858-1932, owned a grocery store in St. Paul, Minnesota.
7 October 1903: St. Paul Globe 7 October 1903
14 October 1903: The Saint Paul Globe 14 October 1903

(5) Warren Barnum, 1860-1948, lived in Texas. Never married. Warren visited Cuba in 1923 Florida Passenger List - 24 Feb 1923 - Arrival in Key West, Florida.

(6) Laura H Barnum, 1864-1868, buried in Baldwin Cemetery in Princeton, Minnesota.

(7) Estella J Barnum, 1867-1882, buried in Baldwin Cemtery in Princeton, Minnesota.

(8) Olive H Barnum, 1869-1888, buried in Baldwin Cemetery in Princeton, Minnesota.
The Princeton Union, 18 September 1913,


(9) William John Barnum, 1871-1957, lived in Texas with his family.





1865 Minnesota State Census  Wheeler and Catherine were living at Princeton, Meeker, Minnesota with their 6 children. Wheeler is listed as a soldier.

1870 Federal Census   Wheeler and Catherine were living at Spencer Brook, Isanti, Minnesota with their 7 children. Wheeler is listed as a Farmer with real estate value of $700 and personal estates value of $175. Son's Wentworth and Irvin are also listed as famers.

1880 Federal Census   Wheeler and Catherine were living at Spencer Brook, Isanti, Minnesota with their 7 children. Wheeler listed as a farmer. Wentworth is listed as farmer, Irvin, Rodney and Warren are listed as a farm laborer.  

Wheeler died on 29 August 1880. 



Catherine Barnum bought land on 31 May 1884, 36.7 acre's, 
4th PM - 1831 MN/WI 
State:Minnesota
County:Itasca
Township:58-N
Range:26-W
Section:22

Catherine died on 11 April 1887. She is buried with her husband Wheeler in the Baldwin Cemetery.  Find A Grave


Mom's Letter to Grandpa

 March 20, 1952

Dear Daddy,
 
I hope your enjoying
your self. I been very busy
with Micky. She has been
going to bed early as you'll
see in her letter. the snow
is melling and is alful
slussy but the weather is
fine. Did Mommy tell
you that Sonny got on
the honer roll. Sonny been
mad because he has to
walk four blocks to catch
the bus and get off. That
night he was hitting
everybody who sat close






to him at the table.
Yvonne was not home
so I got all the hitting.
And of corse you know
when Yvonne is not home
who has to do the dishes.
Mommy says in her
opion that we should
move because of Sonny
and Yvonne. Sonny, and
Yvonne, Micky she said
no whe we asked her. and

me don't want to move.
Robert, Germaine, and Jeanette
do want to move. But
your the boss and you
diside wheater we do or
not move. We diside we if move
we want a 9 bedroom house
which is imposoble unless
we would live in a casole.
Please excuse my spelling.
By I'll write again "If
you want me to." From
                           Suzanne


This is a letter that my mom wrote to my grandpa. It cracks me up that Sonny, my uncle was hitting because he had to walk 4 blocks!



(oldest to youngest)

Elmer (Sonny) Pierre, b. 1936
Yvonne Pierre, b. 1938
Suzanne Pierre (my mom), b. 1941
Suzanne Pierre (my mom), b. 1941
Robert Pierre, b. 1943
Germaine Pierre, b. 1944, d. 1989
Jeanette Pierre, b. 1947
Michele Pierre, b. 1949

Charles Wheeler Barnum (1900 - 1975)

Charles Wheeler Barnum
23 Sept 1900 - 21 Mar 1975
My Grandpa