Barton W. Dooley was born on June 4, 1844, in Indiana to Silas and Sarah Dooley. His father was a farmer who owned $3,320 of real estate and $800 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Washington, Indiana, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer.
He enlisted in the Union army on August 1, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 78th Indiana Infantry. He mustered out on October 3, 1862. He returned to the Union army in August 1863, mustering into Company B of the 115th Indiana Infantry. The regiment mustered out on February 25, 1864. He remained devoted to the Union, telling his mother that she "ought to be glad that you have sons that can go and fight for their country and not morn because they are gon for this is a jus cause and this infernal rebelion must be put down." He added that “this war must be put down and why mightent yore son as well help to do it as any boddy else.”
He denounced northern Peace Democrats, writing that "them Butternuts in the north ought to be kill evry one of them." He returned to the army a final time in May 1864, and he mustered in as a private in Company G of the 133rd Indiana Infantry. The regiment served on guard duty in Alabama, and Dooley mustered out on September 5, 1864.
He settled in Howard, Indiana, after leaving the army. He married Harriet E. Miller on November 5, 1866, and they had at least three children: Ida, born around 1869; Courtie, born around 1871; and Silas, born around 1873. He worked as a farmer, and by 1870, he owned $2,500 of real estate and $500 of personal property. He applied for a federal pension in September 1889 and eventually received one. He received an appointment as a postmaster in May 1901. His wife died in 1901. By 1920, he was living in his son Silas’s household in Howard. He died on January 13, 1934.