Barlow was born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 17, 1858, the son of Merrill Barlow and Ann Frances Barlow. The Barlow family, including Barlow's three brothers and sisters, moved to Ventura, California in 1875. Barlow was educated in the public schools of Cleveland and Ventura, and after completing his education he supported himself by working as a harness maker and farm laborer.
Career
Barlow became a businessman. He purchased an interest in his employer's harness making business, and then invested in other ventures, including a business drying and shipping fruit grown in California. Barlow moved to San Luis Obispo in the early 1880s, where he grew wheat and with a partner began a weekly newspaper, the Reasoner. He became interested in reform causes including the Free Silver movement that led him to join the Populist Party, and the Reasoner became a major pro-Populist outlet. Barlow was elected to the California State Assembly as a Populist, and served one term, 1892 to 1893. He served as chairman of the People's Party state convention in 1896. Later that year, Barlow was elected to the 55th Congress, and he served one term, March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1899. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898. After leaving Congress, Barlow turned his attention to business and moved to Bakersfield. He was one of the major shareholders in and a board of directors member of Bakersfield's Security Trust Company. He was also a partner in Barlow & Hill, a company that dealt in land for oil exploration, and helped found several successful oil companies, some of which they continued to operate, and some of which they sold to other investors. Barlow served as president of the Kern CountyBoard of Trade and was active in several civic organizations, including Modern Woodmen, Elks, and Odd Fellows. He joined the Democratic Party after the end of the Populist movement, and served as a delegate to the 1912 and 1920 Democratic National Conventions.
Personal life
Barlow's wife was Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDonnell of Ventura. After the death of Barlow's first wife, he married Julia Lillis Caldwell of Santa Rosa, his wife's nurse. They adopted a daughter, Mamie. On October 3, 1927, Barlow died in Bakersfield, California. Barlow is interred at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, California.
