Franklin

HALBERT, Vernon W.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part III, 
p 12 of 20 unnumbered leaves.

Vernon W. HALBERT, of Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts], was born 03 
March 1843 at Fairfax, Franklin County [Vermont], son of John Russell and 
Eunice W. HALBERT. Mr. HALBERT, Sr. [John Russell HALBERT] was one of the 
prominent men in that section and for sixteen years filled the office of 
postmaster at Fairfax, where the son [Vernon W. HALBERT] received his early 
education in the district school, finishing in the New Hampton Institute, in 
the same town [Boston], then a Baptist school of prominence. Mr. [Vernon W.] 
HALBERT left home at the age of seventeen and went to Galesburg [Knox 
County], Illinois.

At the breaking out of the Civil War [April 1861] the young Vermonter [Vernon 
W. HALBERT] enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois regiment and served with 
this command during the first fourteen months of the rebellion. His regiment 
joined the first expedition down the Mississippi River, under command of Gen. 
John C. FREMONT, participated in the battles of Fort Henry and [Fort] 
Donaldson, Shiloh, and was with the victors at the evacuation of Corinth. At 
the end of fourteen months of service he was mustered out and returned east. 
In 1863 he re-enlisted in the gallant Sixth Vermont regiment, and was 
detailed into the old Vermont Brigade band. In this regiment he served 
throughout the war, his entire war record covering a period of three years 
and two months.

At the close of the war Mr. [Vernon W.] HALBERT returned to Vermont and 
entered the employ of the Vermont Central railroad. Beginning as brakeman, 
he worked up through the various departments of railroading to the position 
of conductor, and in the seven years that he served in this capacity he ran 
trains upon every division of the Central Vermont and consequently became 
well known to thousands of Vermont people. From conductor Mr. HALBERT was 
promoted to the office of eastern passenger agent of the Northern Transit 
company, which operated steamers on the Great Lakes between Ogdensburg [St. 
Lawrence County], New York, and Chicago [Cook County], Illinois, and later 
became general passenger agent, altogether serving five years with this 
company. In 1881 Mr. HALBERT went to Boston and has since been connected 
with the Fitchburg railroad as eastern passenger agent to the Hoosac Tunnel 
route [northwestern Massachusetts; runs under Hoosac Mountain in the 
Berkshires], a position of rank and responsibility.

On 04 November Mr. [Vernon W.] HALBERT married [Miss] Olive A. RANDALL, 
fourth daughter of Samuel and Olive RANDALL, of Richmond [Chittenden County], 
Vermont. Mrs. HALBERT [Olive A. (RANDALL) HALBERT] is a member of the 
Daughters of Vermont Association. Mr. HALBERT still retains a warm interest 
in Vermont and its affairs. He has long been a member of the Vermont 
Association of Boston, and is eligible to membership in the Sons of the 
Revolution, his great grandfather, James HALBERT of Pelham [Hampshire 
County], Massachusetts, having fought for independence in the Revolutionary 
War.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly