A.J. HALBERT
History of Arizona, 1896

There is not a more prominent citizen and official in Pima 
County, Arizona than A.J. Halbert who was born in St. Francis 
County, Arkansas, July 2, 1842.  He is at present clerk of the 
District Court of Pima County and his conduct of the affairs 
of that office has been such as to commend him to the good 
opinion of the general public, irrespective of party 
affiliation.  His father, James M. Halbert, was a successful 
farmer and a prominent politician, holding for a number of 
years the office of Sheriff of St. Francis County.  He died 
with cholera in 1849.  In Mississippi, opposite Helena, 
Arkansas, our subject was left motherless at the age of 
sixteen months and his father died when he was but seven 
years old.  From that time on until he was able to look out 
for himself, young Halbert had the usual hard luck of an 
orphan.  He had limited chances for an education and was 
obliged to take his lace among the Negroes in the cotton 
field until the war broke out.  At the fist call for troops, 
in 1861, he enlisted in Colonel Marmaduke's Regiment, Hindman's 
Brigade and was wounded in the battle of Shiloh the April 
following, a ball passing through his thigh on the evening 
of the seventh.  He was left on the battle field but later 
was taken to the field hospital, where he remained about 
three weeks.  There on account of his wound he was discharged 
from that branch of service and in the fall of that year 
re-enlisted in Dobbin's Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, with
which he remained until cessation of hostilities.  He was 
wounded the second time near Helena, Arkansas and still 
again at Fayetteville, Ark. on Price's last raid. However, 
these wounds did not prevent him from again enlisting and 
he joined his regiment but did not surrender with the rest 
of the company.  Instead he started out to join General 
Kirby Smith, but later surrendered and made his way to 
Arkansas where he was engaged in merchandising for a short 
time.  He held the rank of sergeant during the war and was 
a brave and faithful soldier. 

In the year 1870 he went to California and located in Kern 
County where he tilled the soil, and where he was later elected 
Supervisor of that county, serving until 1879.  He then came to 
Arizona and located at Tempe, where he still makes his home.  
Mr. Halbert is actively engaged in farming, is the owner of a 
small ranch and also some town property. He was Sheriff of 
Maricopa County one term, also Supervisor one term and under 
Judge Bethune was made district clerk of Pima County, August 
1894 which position he occupies at the present time.

Mr. Halbert was first married to Miss Nannie Calvert who died 
in 1876.  Three children were born to them, only one now 
living--Nettie Miller.  In the year 1888 Mr. Halbert married 
Miss Emma Criley and they have three children: Annie Walker, 
A.J. Jr. and Nina L.

USGenWeb Project NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free information 
on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as
long as this message remains on all copied material. These 
electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for
profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must 
obtain express written permission from the author, or 
the submitter and from the 
listed USGenWeb Project archivist. 

submitted by burns@asu.edu