 Sidney Barham received a private education, attending the Medical College of Virginia and the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College graduating in 1861, and became a physician.On February 5, 1863, he married Hannah Ann Davis (1839- ); daughter of John Lane Davis and his wife Sarah, who could trace her descent to Revolutionary war patriot Lt. James Davis Jr.They had son Thomas Barham the following year, followed by daughter Virginia Barham in 1866.