John B. Halsted

John B. Halsted (November 7, 1798 – unknown) was an American merchant and politician from New York who served as a member of the New York State Senate from 1856 to 1859.

Background
Halstead was born in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania in 1798. His parents removed in 1795 from Orange County, New York to Pittston, and returned in 1817 to New York, settling in Ontario County.

He attended the common district school, and then taught school during the winter, and became a carpenter and joiner. Around 1822, he began the study of medicine, but abandoned this after a short time and became a merchant. In 1827, he moved to Castile, New York. On October 26, 1832, he married Eunice Talcott (b. 1807).

Halsted was a Whig, and joined the Republican Party upon its foundation in 1855. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1856 to 1859, sitting in the 79th, 80th, 81st and 82nd New York State Legislature, and was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate in 1858 (81st Session). He was Collector of Internal Revenue for New York's 29th District, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln.