Wesley J. Barnum Wesley J. Barnum, an enterprising and successful merchant of Velzy, Solon township, Kent county, Mich., was born in Lenawee county, March 30, 1855, and is the eldest in the family of three sons and two daughters that graced the union of Oliver S. and Luana (Morse) Barnum. Of these five children, Amelia, the next in order of birth to Wesley J., is the wife of Adam McNabb, general bridge superintendent for the C. & W. M. Railroad company; Alfred, brother of subject, is an engineer by profession, resides in Fremont, Mich., is married, and is one of the state deputies of the Modern Woodmen of America. Oliver S. Barnum was born in the state of New York, but early came to Michigan, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion enlisted in the Twenty-first Michigan volunteers, and died in a military hospital at Nashville, Tenn. His wife, also a native of New York, died in Newaygo county, Mich., in 1891, a consistent member of the Disciples’ church. Wesley J. Barnum was but five years old when his parents settled in Newaygo county, and at the early age of thirteen years he began the battle of life on his own account. He had received only limited education at school, but was naturally a close observer of men and things, and a lover of books, and through his own efforts secured a sound knowledge of practical business affairs. His earlier laboring years were passed in the manufacture of shingles and lumber in the lower Michigan peninsula, and March 3, 1876, he married Miss Loisa Eakright, a native of DeKalb county, Ind. To this marriage have been born two sons and one daughter, viz: Fred D., who has completed his eight grade in the public schools; Grace D., who has also finished the eight grade and is unusually talented in vocal and instrumental music, and Alex M., who is in the eight grade at school, and, like his brother, Fred D., is inclined toward merchandizing. Mrs. Barnum was born January 29, 1855, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Shaw) Eakright, of English nativity. On the maternal side there still exists a large unpartitioned estate in England, of which the American members of the family will doubtless, in course of time, fall heirs to a liberal portion. Besides Mrs. Barnum there are four children of this family still living, viz: Frances, wife of George Woods, a farmer of Muskegon county, Mich.; James, married, and living in the same county; William, an inventor and salesman, and now a resident of Butler, Ind.; John is a policeman at Caspell, Mont. The father of this family, who was a farmer by occupation, died at his home in Muskegon county in 1891. February 1, 1893, Wesley J. Barnum settled in Velzy and opened a general store, with stock that did not cost over $700, but his business tact, fair dealing and courteous treatment of his patrons soon placed him on the highway to prosperity, and now, within six years, he does a trade reaching $5,000 per annum, and carries a stock that is always fresh and sound. In politics Mr. Barnum is a republican, and about six years ago was appointed postmaster at Velzy. He has also served as a justice of the peace and as assessor of school district No. 2, at Velzy. Fraternally he is a member of lodge No. 131, F. & A. M., at Newaygo. He and wife are members of Harmony chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Cedar Springs. He is also clerk of Solon camp, No. 5671, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a gentleman of indisputable integrity and unblemished business reputation. He and his wife are members of the Adventists’ church of Grant, Newaygo county, and are strong advocates of temperance, and as residents of Velzy stand very high in the esteem of everybody, great and small.