Born in Hartford, Barbara Murray moved to South Windsor permanently when she married Robert Murray in 1942. They lived in a house that had been in the Murray family since 1870, and initially shared with her in-laws and a hired hand. They owned a small farm with horses, cows, chickens, “one miserable goat who ate the flowers,” and about 75 acres, 21 for their main crop of tobacco. During the Second World War, it was difficult to find extra help and so, when no one else was available to plant the tobacco crop, this newly wed, city-girl volunteered. Though some doubted her grit, she did indeed plant the 21 acres.
Despite the demands of the farm and raising three children, Barbara had a long career of working outside the home. She was employed in various departments of the South Windsor Town Hall, and followed her civic interests through the Democratic Town Committee. She campaigned for election to the Town Council with the help of (then Mayor, Jim Throwe): “He barely got home from his office and I’d be up there to get him, and we went from house to house.” Her effort paid off. Though being shy as the first woman with eight male Councilors, whom she regarded as “eloquent,” she often sought a surrogate to express her opinion. Jim Throwe again was the facilitator: “I’d bend his [ear] all the way over to the meeting; and he’d get there and he’d have to talk a while instead of me.”