She was born on January 25, 1825 to Jacob Rugh & Margaret (nee Brinker) of Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Jacob Rugh being a son of Peter Rugh and Margaret Keister of Hempfield.

She married William Barnhart in Westmoreland County on October 15, 1844.

They lived on a farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. William was a Farmer and a Republican. They were members of the German Reformed Church.

They had children: Lucinda, Caroline, Cyrus, Simon, Sarah, Maria Anna, William, Margaret, Edward, Jacob, Emma, Lizzie, Mary, John Albert, and Sophie.

William died on June 15, 1893 and was buried at St. John's Union Church in Mt. Pleasant Township. Sarah Elizabeth died in 1919 in Greensburg.