Barbara Ann Evans was born March 15. 1855. in Lehi, Utah to David and Barbara Ann Ewell Evans.

When she was fifteen years of age (1870), a representative of the Deseret Telegraph Line was sent to Lehi to install the system. The office was set up in Barbara's father's home with a Miss Ina Johnson of Springville in charge. The company offered to teach telegraphy to any of the local young women and promised to place the office in their charge when they had reached a stage of sufficient proficiency. Barbara was among three young ladies who undertook to solve the mysteries of dots and dashes under the tutorship of Miss Johnson at the rate of $5.00 per month. Since the office was in her home, Barbara rapidly outstripped her rivals and obtained the position. The telegraph continued in operation until May of 1872, when on account of insufficient receipts, it was abandoned. She then accepted a similar position in Farmington, Utah, where she worked until she returned to Lehi to take charge of the telegraph system in the Utah Southern Railroad Station, the first train having arrived in Lehi on
September 23, 1872.

On August 9, 1875, Barbara was married to John Pettit Bush of Farmington, Davis, Utah. To this union six children were born: Virginia Adelle, John Paul, Richard LeRoy, Barbara Marie, Leah Vivian and Elfie Lenore. She was widowed on September 5, 1893.

When her children were in their teens, Barbara moved to Clover Creek. The boys worked the farm. Virginia was in college at the University of Utah when she took a position as matron at a residence hall at the Agricultural College (Utah State University) taking the three younger girls to Logan with her.

At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, her second son, Richard, enlisted and Barbara took the rest of her family and moved to Lehi. The Bush family made their home in various locations in Utah during the early period: Rush Valley, Millard County, Beaver County as well as Lehi. They experienced the privations, hardships and pleasures of pioneer life. The children learned to plow the soil, milk the cows, care for the horses, pick the fruit and do the other things necessary for the preservation of life, thus developing the traits of self-reliance and independence.

Barbara lived to become seventy years of age when on July 22, 1925, she passed away at Salt Lake City, Utah.