GEORGE M. HALBERSTADT, for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Sullivan county, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, January 26, 1837, a son of William Harrison and Elizabeth (Manwarring) Halberstadt. It was in 1837 that the father, William H. Halberstadt, established his home in Jackson township, Sullivan county, where he entered land from the government and at one time was the owner of a fine estate of three hundred acres. He spent the remainder of his life on this homestead, and was engaged in farming throughout his entire business career. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church, and he was a prominent and active worker in its cause. His life in Sullivan county covered the span of fifty-five years, and he became one of its best known and most honored residents.
Mr. Halberstadt was first married in 1833 to Elizabeth Manwarring, who died in 1883, after becoming the mother of five children: Charlotte, deceased; John T., whose home is in Jackson township; George M., the subject of this review; and Elijah T. and Daniel H., both of whom reside in Jackson township. For his second wife Mr. Halberstadt wedded Elizabeth Register, who died in 1905, but there was no issue by the second union.
During the period of the Civil war, in October. 1864, George M. Halberstadt enlisted in Company G, Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served until the close of the conflict, and he now receives a pension of fifteen dollars a month in compensation for his services. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, and after that event he came to the farm where he now lives, a valuable homestead of one hundred and fifty-eight acres. He has been a successful farmer throughout the years of his business life, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.
On the 28th of November, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Mahan, who died in April of 1908. They had three children: Ethel Romine, of Vigo county, Indiana; George, who is married and living with his father; and Stella Forbes, also of Jackson township. Mr. Halberstadt has been three times married, first wedding Margaret J. Mahan, a sister of his present wife, and she died without issue. His second wife was Mary E. Phillips, who left three children at her death, namely: William H., a minister at Robinson, Illinois; Louetta Bennett, of Farmersburg; and Maria Romine, of Jackson township. Mr. Halberstadt is a member of the Methodist church.