[1] For twelve years, she served as treasurer of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

[4] "It is not often given to one woman to be as wise in the cabinet as she is invincible on the field, and as true and tender at heart as she is witty and eloquent of tongue, but Mrs. Barker fills the bill in all these particulars."

-Frances Willard[5] Accustomed from early childhood to assist, by singing and otherwise, in temperance meetings, she joined the WCTU upon its first introduction into her community.

[1] In 1892, she was appointed one of the two Board of Lady Managers representing South Dakota,[6] for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago.

Barker's business ability so impressed itself upon her colleagues that she was called to president Bertha Palmer's office as assistant and remained there for two years.