Barbara was born at
White River Twp., Hamilton Co., Indiana, on 1 January 1849. She was the daughter of
John Hartley and
Catherine O. Spangler. She married
Brazilla Merritt at
White River Twp., Hamilton Co., Indiana, on 30 May 1866. Barbara was listed as a household member living with
Brazilla Merritt on the 1870 Census at
White River Twp., Hamilton Co., Indiana. Barbara was listed as
Brazilla Merritt's wife on the 1880 Census at
White River Twp., Hamilton Co., Indiana. Barbara died on 17 July 1919 at
Independence, Montgomery Co., Kansas, at age 70. She was New Tag Obituary for Barbara Jane Merritt in the Independence Daily Reporter, July 18, 1919:
Death of Mrs. B. Merritt. Wife of Court House Custodian, died at 4 PM yesterday, Mrs. Barbara Merritt, wife of B. Merritt, custodian at the court house, died suddenly at her home, 700 East Maple Street, late yesterday afternoon of acute indigestion. Mrs. Merritt has been a resident of Independence for the past thirty years and was well known over the county. She was a member of the Christian Church having belonded to that church since her girlhood. She has 71 years of age. Besideds her husband the deceased is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Harry Hoffman and Mrs. Homer Ervin of Independence; Mrs Addie Olive of Leavenworth, and Mrs. Alice Payne, of McAlister, Oklahoma. Three sons also survive, Oscar and Orville, of Independence and Charles of Kansas City, Missouri. On 18 July 1919 at
Independence, Montgomery Co., Kansas. Her body was interred in July 1919 at
Independence, Montgomery Co., Kansas, at Mt. Hope Cemetery.