barber was a member of the wisconsin territorial legislature from 1838 to 1839, serving as speaker of the wisconsin territorial house of representatives in 1839. he was again a member of the legislature serving in the wisconsin territorial council from 1840 to 1844. barber was a member of the whig party. he moved back to simsbury, connecticut. in 1850, he served in the connecticut house of representatives as a whig and was a probate judge. barber was also a historian and wrote books about the history of simsbury, connecticut.