Barber was born in Brantford, Ontario, in 1873. She was the daughter of John and Jennie Muir.

In
1889, she attended Moulton College Baptist Boarding School in Toronto, where she took classes in
art, French, and German.[2] She married Fred Barber on June 18, 1896.[2] The couple lived in
various locations throughout Canada, including Regina (1912-1945), Vancouver (1945-1954), and
Regina Beach (1954-1966).[2] She and Fred had two sons, Gordon and Muir.[2] She continued to
live in Regina Beach after her husband's death in 1956.[3]