My Genealogy Hound

DR. MARCELLUS L. HALBERT is the oldest practicing physician of the town of Cincinnatus, and as such enjoys the patronage of a large clientele. His professional ability is recognized on all hands, and entitles him to a high place in the estimation of his fellow-associates and also of the general public. Dr. Halbert is a son of Lee and Savalla J. (Smith) Halbert, and was born March 16, 1849, in the town of Taylor, this county.

His great-grandfather, John Halbert, was born in New England, and lived the most of his life in what is now Morris, Otsego County, whither he removed when a young man. His son, Seth, was born in New England, and brought to Otsego County with the rest of the family. When a young man, just after his marriage, Seth Halbert removed to the town of Taylor, this county, and settled there when it was a wilderness. There were no roads in the section, and the only aid to the traveler on his way were the lines of “blazed” trees through the forest. Seth Halbert lived in Taylor township the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-nine years. Religiously he was a strong Baptist. He was twice united in marriage. First to Sallie Alden, and they had these children: Hannah; Lee, the father of our subject; Mary; Desire; Sylvester. His second wife, Sophia Holmes, bore him three more children, namely: John; Sallie; and Enos.

Lee Halbert was born in 1822, June 22, in Otsego County, and was but a baby when his father and mother removed to what was their later home in the town of Taylor. In the latter town he was reared, and there he grew to a healthy manhood. He engaged in farming until the Civil War broke out. In September, 1861, he became a member of Co. A, 76th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was killed at the front August 28, 1862. He was a Republican in politics, and was enthusiastic in his support of Abraham Lincoln. On April 26, 1848, occurred his nuptials with the mother of our subject, who was a daughter of Marcellus Smith, and a granddaughter of Elias Smith, who died in Saratoga County, this state. Her father was born in that county, and came to the town of Taylor after his marriage, and lived there all his life engaged in the occupation of a farmer. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was present at the engagements with the British at Plattsburg and Oswego. He married Wealthy Allen, and their union resulted in the birth of ten children, as follows: Marcellus; Elias; Elvira; Elzina; Ruby; Pruella; Savalla J., the mother of our subject; Electa; Alexander; and Salina.

Dr. Marcellus L. Halbert is one of the following family of children, born to his parents: Marcellus L.; Elias, deceased; Eugene, a dealer in meats of Georgetown, Madison County, N. Y.; Cornelia, deceased; Franklin, deceased; Alice; and Julia, the wife of C. G. Stevens of Georgetown. Dr. Halbert was educated in Cincinnatus Academy, and studied medicine in the office of Dr. M. R. Smith. He then pursued a course at a medical college at Geneva, N. Y., and, graduating in 1872, at once located in Cincinnatus, where he has since been engaged industriously in building up and attending to the demands of an ever-increasing practice. He has had more than the usual success, and therefore has considerable prestige over his fellow-practitioners. He is highly regarded, and is a very popular man in all circles of society.

August 7, 1889, our subject was married to Delia E. Colegrove, a daughter of Edward Colegrove, and their home has been blessed with the birth of three children: Rachel, born October 9, 1890; Victor M., born May 4, 1892; and Alice Lee, born October 22, 1895. Dr. Halbert is a Republican in his political preferences, and has always taken an active part in the affairs of his party, being rewarded by being honored with many offices at the hands of his fellow-townsmen. He served as justice of the peace at least three terms, was town clerk a number of terms, and as coroner of the county officiated three terms. He has represented his district in county, senatorial, and congressional conventions. Another office that he held for a period approximating ten years was that of trustee of the Cincinnatus Academy, which office was semi-public in its character. Dr. Halbert is a member of the Cortland County Medical Society, and has served as its vice-president. He is also a member of the New York State Medical Association. In connection with his professional business, it remains to say that for the fifteen years past he has been the agent of the Aetna Fire Insurance Company.