Lauren Barker was born the 5th day of February, 1837 in Oswego, County of Jefferson, State of New York, the youngest son of William S. and Abigail Barker. His maternal grandfather was a Minuteman at the Battle of Lexington during the Revolutionary War. The family came to Brookfield, Wisconsin in June 1845 where they founded a long-standing farm in Section 17. Lauren spent his boyhood years helping his father clear and improve the farm.

He enlisted 21 August 1862 in Company A of the 28th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served with credit during the War of the Rebellion. The company was raised in Waukesha County under the command of Capt. John A. Williams, rendezvoused 13 September at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee. He was promoted from the ranks to Third Sergeant on 18 September 1862, to Recruiting Sergeant in November 1863, to Orderly Sergeant on 17 December 1864, and finally commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company A on 29 July 1865. Lt. Barker was honorably discharged at Madison, Wisconsin on 22 September 1865 with the rest of his regiment.

While on recruiting duty in Milwaukee during the winter of 1863-64, Sgt. Barker married a former schoolmate, Miss Isabella Scott, daughter of Pewaukee, Wisconsin pioneer Thomas Scott.

After the war, he served in many local political offices, including Supervisor, County Coroner, Assessor, and was the 1890 Census Enumerator for Brookfield Township. He was also Clerk, Director, and Treasurer of School District No.1 in Brookfield, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of William B. Cushing Post 19 of Waukesha. He was a member of the 28th Regiment Society, hosting a regimental reunion in 1903 and serving his war comrades as society president a few years before his death in 1917. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Brookfield, Wisconsin, overlooking the land which was once the Barker family farm.