William Hebard (November 29, 1800 – October 20, 1875) was an American attorney and politician from Vermont. He served in several elected offices, and was most notable for representing Vermont in the United States House of Representatives for two terms (1849-1853).

William Hebard
Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 2nd congressional district
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byJacob Collamer
Succeeded byAndrew Tracy
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Chelsea
In office
1858–1860
Preceded byBurnham Martin
Succeeded byWilliam F. Dickinson
In office
1864–1866
Preceded byLyman G. Hinckley
Succeeded byCarlos Moore
In office
1872–1874
Preceded byLyman G. Hinckley
Succeeded byAsa A. Goodwin
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office
1842–1842
Preceded byJacob Collamer
Succeeded byDaniel Kellogg
In office
1844–1844
Preceded byDaniel Kellogg
Succeeded byDaniel Kellogg
Judge of Probate for the Randolph District of Orange County, Vermont
In office
1839–1839
Preceded byCalvin Blodgett
Succeeded byCalvin Blodgett
In office
1840–1842
Preceded byCalvin Blodgett
Succeeded byJohn Colby
Member of the Vermont Senate from Orange County
In office
1836–1837
Preceded byNone (position created)
Succeeded byDaniel Cobb
In office
1838–1839
Preceded byDaniel Cobb
Succeeded byJonathan Jenness
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Randolph
In office
1835–1836
Preceded byMartin Flint
Succeeded bySylvanus Blodgett
In office
1840–1843
Preceded byLoren Griswold
Succeeded byNone (Position left vacant)
State's Attorney of Orange County, Vermont
In office
1832–1833
Preceded byDaniel Azro Ashley Buck
Succeeded byDaniel Azro Ashley Buck
In office
1834–1835
Preceded byDaniel Azro Ashley Buck
Succeeded byEdmond Wrston
In office
1836–1837
Preceded byEdmond Weston
Succeeded byEdmond Weston
Personal details
BornNovember 29, 1800
Windham, Connecticut
DiedOctober 20, 1875 (aged 74)
Chelsea, Orange County, Vermont
Resting placeOld Cemetery, Randolph Center, Vermont
Political partyWhig (prior to 1855)
Republican (after 1855)
SpouseElizabeth Starkwether Brown (m. 1830-1875, his death)
Children5
ProfessionAttorney

Born in Hebard Windham, Connecticut, Hebard was raised in Randolph, Vermont. He taught school before attaining admission to the bar in 1827. While practicing in Randolph, Hebard was active in politics and government as a Whig, and the offices he held included state's attorney, probate judge, member of the Vermont House and Senate, and associate justice of the state supreme court. In 1845, Hebard moved to Chelsea, Vermont, where he continued to practice law. He was elected to Congress in 1848, and served two terms, 1849 to 1853. Hebard became a Republican when the party was founded in the 1850s, and represented Chelsea in the Vermont House several times in the 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s. He was also a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1857, and the 1860 Republican National Convention.

Hebard continued to practice law almost until his death. He died in Chelsea, and was buried in Randolph Center's Old Cemetery.

Early life

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Hebard was born in Windham, Connecticut, one of seven children born to Diah Hebard (1757-1841) and Zerviah Hebert (or Ebert) (d. 1850).[1] His parents moved to Randolph, Vermont when Hebard was a boy, and he was raised on the family farm in West Randolph.[1] He attended the local schools of Randolph, and Randolph's Orange County Grammar School.[1] Hebard taught school while he studied law with attorney William Nutting of Randolph, was admitted to the bar in 1827, and commenced practice in East Randolph, Vermont.[1]

Start of career

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Hebard was long active in politics and government, and the offices he held while residing in Randolph included:

U.S. Congressman

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Hebard moved to Chelsea, Vermont in 1845.[1] In 1848, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Whig, and he served two terms, March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1853.[1] In 1849, Hebard served on the state Council of Censors, the body which met every seven years to review actions of Vermont's government and ensure their constitutionality.[6] While he practiced in Chelsea, the students who learned under Hebard's tutelage in preparation for legal careers of their own included Jonathan Ross.[7]

Later career

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After leaving Congress, Hebard practiced law in partnership with Burnham Martin.[1] By now a Republican, he was a delegate to the 1857 state constitutional convention, and served in the Vermont House of Representatives from Chelsea from 1858 to 1860, 1864 to 1866, and 1872 to 1874.[8] He was also delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention.[6]

Death

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Hebard died in Chelsea on October 20, 1875.[1] He was interred in Randolph Center's Old Cemetery.[9]

Family

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In 1830, Hebard married Elizabeth Starkwether Brown (d. 1880), a niece and adopted daughter of Olivia Brown Chase and Dudley Chase.[1] They were the parents of five children: Olivia (b. 1832), William (died at age seven), Salmon (1835-1894), George (1840-1879), and another son who was named William (b. 1845) following the death of his elder brother.[1]

References

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Sources

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Books

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  • Carleton, Hiram (1903). Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont. Vol. I. New York, NY: Lewis Publishing Company. ISBN 9780806347943.
  • Child, Hamilton (1888). Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888. Vol. Part I. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Journal Company.
  • Deming, Leonard (1851). Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont. Middlebury, VT: L. Deming.
  • Hemenway, Abby Maria (1871). The Vermont Historical Gazetteer. Vol. II. Burlington, VT: A. M. Hemenway.

Newspapers

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Internet

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 2nd congressional district

1849-1853
Succeeded by