Born to a prominent family in Grafton, J. Sarah Barney graduated valedictorian from Boston University with degrees in medicine and surgery in 1896. A founding doctor at Franklin Hospital, where she practiced from 1910 to her retirement, Dr. Barney was remembered for her grit, humor, and involvement with women's suffrage. Upon her death, newspapers called her a pioneer and urged young readers to “gather a little inspiration from the life of Dr. Barney to face up to the problem of the hour.”