 Hebard was born in Windham, Connecticut, one of seven children born to Diah Hebard (1757-1841) and Zerviah Hebert (or Ebert) (d. 1850).His parents moved to Randolph, Vermont when Hebard was a boy, and he was raised on the family farm in West Randolph.He attended the local schools of Randolph, and Randolph's Orange County Grammar School.