Born in Kempston in Bedfordshire, Barton began working in a library at the age of twelve.

He joined the Socialist League at some point in the 1880s, then in about 1890, he moved to Manchester, where he quickly found work at the John Rylands Library.

He joined the Shop Assistants' Union and was its delegate to Sheffield Federated Trades Council, and within it campaigned for it to affiliate to the Labour Representation Committee.

The Labour Party would not endorse him in that year's local elections, so he instead ran for the SDF in Heeley, and was not successful.

[1] Barton supported British involvement in World War I, but he remained in the BSP rather than joining one of its pro-war splits.