[1] He studied law and science at Creighton University,[2] and worked as a postal employee at the same time.

During World War I, Barrett joined the Balloon Corps of the United States Army for a two-year enlistment.

After arriving in Lusk, Barrett put his law degree to good use, acting as county attorney for Niobrara from 1922 until 1934.

In 1959 he was appointed Chief Counsel of the Department of Agriculture and sat on the board of directors of the Commodity Credit Corporation.

His son, James E. Barrett, was a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit and former judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review in Washington, D.C. Barrett was diagnosed with leukemia on May 15, 1962, and died just fifteen days later, at the age of 69.