barber was born in simsbury, connecticut on october 7, 1806. he graduated from amherst college and the perelman school of medicine at the university of pennsylvania. in 1835, he moved to what would become the wisconsin territory, which at that time was part of the michigan territory, settling in milwaukee, wisconsin. he later moved to jefferson county, wisconsin in 1839. barber died on february 16, 1889 in simsbury, connecticut.