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Joseph Barcume
Bloomer Advance, [died 4 Jul 1915]
Busy Life Ended
Joseph Barcume, for many yrs. a res. of Bloomer, died at his late home there at 4:50 a.m. Sunday, July 4th, the anniversary of the birth of his deceased wife, after a siege of nearly a year from cancer of the stomach.
The deceased was born in York state 68 years ago, but came to WI. when very young. His parents died when he was but a child and he was thrown on the world to battle alone. At the age of 15, he enlisted as drummer boy in the Civil War & served his country faithfully.
On March 22, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Chase, who preceded him to the spirit world on May 25, 1908. They settled on a farm in Cooks Valley in early days, & by hard work, opened up 1 of the finest farms in Northern WI. but, tiring of farm life, he rented the farm and moved to the village of Bloomer in 1889, where for many yrs. he conducted a farm produce warehouse & met with [single] success; but, after the death of his wife he relinquished active business life by degrees, but still kept seeking to aid others in their efforts to succeed, and many a man can recall his helpfulness in a time of need.
Mr. Barcume was a bro.-in-law of the Editor of this paper & we have no hesitancy in saying that a truer & more faithful friend never occupied a place in our list of acquaintances, and our acquaintance covers a period of more than forty years.
The funeral was held Tuesday at Bloomer, & the many tokens of esteem evident at the time spoke in silent but true reverence of his sacred memory by hundreds who sought to lend a final token of respect to a departed friend.
Bloomer Advance, July 8, 1915
In the death of Jos. Barcume, the whole community suffers an irretrievable loss. Few people have the business, the social, the religious & the neighborly place in a community as had Mr. Barcume. As a business man, he was actively connected with many of our business institutions in such a way that he was a vital force in our business life. In a social way, his happy face & cheerful disposition helped to make the community life the more worth while. In church circles & religious activities of every kind, he had a big share, while as a neighbor & friend none were of a higher order than was Mr. Barcume. In all of his relations with the world, he was an example of the very best & truest manhood--a christian first, last & all the time. The success that has crowned his life financially and the love and esteem cherished for him by all, proves conclusively the fallacy of the old idea that Christianity & business won't go together.
After an illness of sev. mos., Jos. Barcume passed to his reward on the morning of July 4th, death being due to cancer of the stomach. How fitting that the old soldier, the drummer boy, the christian citizen, should pass away on the birthday of our nation! The day was also the birthday of his beloved wife, who preceded him in death.
Joseph Barcume was b. at Bangor, Franklin Co., NY. on Nov. 19, 1846. In 1853, he came to WI. with his parents, first to Port Washington, where they lived for a year, & then they moved to Dane Co. In 1856, his father d. & 3 yrs. later his mother died, leaving him an orphan at the age of thirteen years.
A year after the death of his mother--Nov. 22, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 2nd WI. Vol. & was honorably discharged on Dec. 13, 1863. The foll. day, he re-enlisted in Co. H, 6th WI., the famous old Iron Bragade, and served to the close of the war, being discharged on July 18, 1865. Enlisting when a small boy, he enrolled as a drummer boy and carried his drum through many of the biggest battles of the war. He was present when Lee surrendered and one of his most cherished keepsakes was a small book carved from a root of the tree under which Lee surrendered.
Following the war, Mr. Barcume came to Chippewa County where he has since resided. He was joined in marriage on March 8, 1868 to Mary E. Chase. He took up a homestead in what is now Cooks Valley. After several years of successful farming, he moved into town in 1887 and entered the farm produce business. He retired from this business several years ago and has been looking after his various other interests since. He was president of the Bank of Bloomer and of the Bloomer Machine Works and was interested in various other business enterprises in Bloomer and Duluth.
Mr. Barcume was a most loyal and devoted church man. In an early day, he was instrumental in the org. & bldg. of the Meth. Church in Cook's Valley & has always retained his mbrship. in that church. Upon coming to Bloomer, he affiliated with the Cong. Church, but never joined it. For sev. yrs., he was Supt. of the Cong. Sunday School & was at the time of his death a deacon & trustee of that church. His liberality & loyalty have done much to keep the church in Bloomer going & in its councils he will be greatly missed.
He is survived by 5 sisters, as follows: Mrs. Margaret Riker of Grand Island, Neb., Mrs. Mary Patterson of Park Falls, WI., Mrs. Aurilla Page of Baraboo, WI., Mrs. Filinda Levine of St. Lawrence Co., NY. & Mrs. Olive Guiliford of Reedsburg, WI. A sister, Mrs. Esther Bitney, d. at her home in this village last winter. His niece, Miss Lula Ellis, has made her home with Mr. & Mrs. Barcume nearly all her life & since the death of Mrs. Barcume on May 25 1907, she's been his housekeeper & companion.
The funeral was held on Tues. afternoon at the Cong. Church, Rev. F. W. Heberlein officiating. Six nephews of the deceased acted as pall bearers. Interment was made in the village cem. Among those at the funeral from out of town were Mrs. Page of Baraboo, Mrs. Gulliford of Reedsburg, A. O. LeBell of Chicago, Mr. & Mrs. A. C. Chase of Colfax, Mrs. Henry LeBell of New Auburn and E. N. Bowers of Rice Lake.
Contributed by Music Lady
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