John Adams Halderman was born on April 15, 1833, in Fayette County, Kentucky, United State, the son of Dr. John A. and Susan Henderson (Rogers) Halderman. After the death of his mother in 1843 his father moved to Carlinville, and later remarried, leaving his son to live with his mother’s family in Kentucky.
Halderman read law in the office of Colonel C. C. Rogers of Louisville, Kentucky, and was admitted to the bar.
In 1854 John Halderman went to Kansas and served as private secretary to the first governor of the territory. Later he was appointed judge of the probate court of Leavenworth County.
During the Civil War he served as major of the 1st Regiment of Kansas Infantry, being mustered in at Fort Leavenworth on May 31, 1861. In July 1861 he was appointed provost-marshal-general of the Army of the West by General Nathaniel Lyon. At the battle of Wilson’s Creek, August 10, 1861, after Colonel Deitzler was wounded and disabled, Halderman succeeded to the command of the regiment and was mentioned in general orders and the official report for soldierly conduct. On April 30, 1862, he resigned and was honorably discharged at Lawrence, Kansas, in order to organize the northern division of the Kansas state troops. He was appointed major-general of the new unit and served from 1862 to 1864.
After the war Halderman lived in Leavenworth and was mayor of the city for two terms. He also served in both houses of the legislature and was a regent of the state university.
On April 16, 1880, Halderman was appointed consul at Bangkok, Siam. A year later he was advanced to consul-general, and on July 13, 1882, his rank was raised to minister resident and consul-general. Owing to the change of administration, he resigned on June 17, 1885. His closing years were spent in Washington, D. C. He died at Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was interred in Arlington Cemetery.
John Halderman is best remembered as consul-general at Bangkok, Siam. While there he succeeded in introducing postal and telegraphic systems, and in recognition of his efforts he received a vote of thanks from the International Postal Union and was made a commander of the Royal Order of Cambodia by King Norodom and the French government.
Tall, broadshouldered, and deep-chested, John Halderman was a splendid specimen of manhood. It has been said that “no General in the Southwest was more admired by his compeers, or more beloved by his soldiers. ” In civil life, his personal charm, keen intelligence, and high sense of honor won for him many friends.
On October 20, 1861, at St. Louis, Missouri, John Halderman married Anna Dorrien, but his married life proved unhappy, and he was later divorced.
