Rev. Dr. Arthur Talmage Abernethy was the son of Rev. Dr. Robert Laban and Mary Anne (Hayes) Abernethy. He was the husband of Edna V. (Lachot) Abernethy. He was a minister in the Genesee (Western New York)/now Upper New York) Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church/The Methodist Church. He served Belmont, Allegany Co., Olean District, New York 1916-1917 - Cuba and Black Creek, Allegany Co., Olean Dist., New York 1918 - Discontinued 1919.
US CENSUS
1920
Chateau, Cincinnati, Ward 20, Hamilton Co., OH
Abernthy/ABERNETHY
Authur (Arthur) age 42, b1878 NC, clergyman
Edna V., age 35, b1885 PA
dau Anna May age 7, b1913 PA
Obituary
The News And Observer
May 17, 1956
Powell, William
Dictionary Of North Carolina Biography, Vol. 1, Page 4
Arthur Abernethy was appointed Poet Laureate in November of 1948, just before the end of Governor R. Gregg Cherry's administration. According to the official "fiat" conferring the honor on the poet, Abernathy's term was to expire with the end of Cherry's term. Abernethy was therefore officially Poet Laureate for only a few weeks, from November 28, 1948 through January 5th, 1949. However, because Governor William Scott did not appoint a successor, Abernethy remained the designated Poet Laureate until August 1953, when Governor William Umstead appointed James Larkin Pearson to the post. Abernethy's career was long and varied. At the age of 18, he was already a professor of Latin and Greek at Rutherford College, the school his father had founded. After a few years, during which he also attained his MA and PhD, Abernethy became a journalist, contributing columns to papers in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, as well as for the Charlotte Observer. On his return to the state, he became a magistrate and justice of the peace, and frequently filed annual reports in verse. In the meantime, Abernethy found time to write more than 50 books and 3000 poems (according to his own estimate). The books covered history and historic speculation (Did Washington Aspire To Be King?), regional and southern folklore (Moonshine: Being Appalachias's Arabian Nights), and evangelical subjects (Where Are Our Dead?). Surprisingly, he appears to have published none of his poetry in book form. According to the entry in The Heritage Of Burke County, Abernethy received recognition from both Governor Hoey (1937-1941) being made an "Honorary Citizen for Life of Charlotte, Hickory, Asheville and Valdese") and President Roosevelt, who named him an American Ambassador of Sunshine in 1938. He crowned his literary career by requesting and receiving the Laurel from Governor Cherry, with whom he was a close friend. Late in life, Abernethy made another career change, and followed his father and brothers into the clergy. He was pastor for several years in churches in Belmont, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent two years as minister in the Asheville Christian Church After retirement, he served as mayor of the Town of Rutherford College. He died in May 1956.
US CENSUS
1920
Chateau, Cincinnati, Ward 20, Hamilton Co., OH
Abernthy/ABERNETHY
Authur (Arthur) age 42, b1878 NC, clergyman
Edna V., age 35, b1885 PA
dau Anna May age 7, b1913 PA
Obituary
The News And Observer
May 17, 1956
Powell, William
Dictionary Of North Carolina Biography, Vol. 1, Page 4
Arthur Abernethy was appointed Poet Laureate in November of 1948, just before the end of Governor R. Gregg Cherry's administration. According to the official "fiat" conferring the honor on the poet, Abernathy's term was to expire with the end of Cherry's term. Abernethy was therefore officially Poet Laureate for only a few weeks, from November 28, 1948 through January 5th, 1949. However, because Governor William Scott did not appoint a successor, Abernethy remained the designated Poet Laureate until August 1953, when Governor William Umstead appointed James Larkin Pearson to the post. Abernethy's career was long and varied. At the age of 18, he was already a professor of Latin and Greek at Rutherford College, the school his father had founded. After a few years, during which he also attained his MA and PhD, Abernethy became a journalist, contributing columns to papers in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, as well as for the Charlotte Observer. On his return to the state, he became a magistrate and justice of the peace, and frequently filed annual reports in verse. In the meantime, Abernethy found time to write more than 50 books and 3000 poems (according to his own estimate). The books covered history and historic speculation (Did Washington Aspire To Be King?), regional and southern folklore (Moonshine: Being Appalachias's Arabian Nights), and evangelical subjects (Where Are Our Dead?). Surprisingly, he appears to have published none of his poetry in book form. According to the entry in The Heritage Of Burke County, Abernethy received recognition from both Governor Hoey (1937-1941) being made an "Honorary Citizen for Life of Charlotte, Hickory, Asheville and Valdese") and President Roosevelt, who named him an American Ambassador of Sunshine in 1938. He crowned his literary career by requesting and receiving the Laurel from Governor Cherry, with whom he was a close friend. Late in life, Abernethy made another career change, and followed his father and brothers into the clergy. He was pastor for several years in churches in Belmont, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent two years as minister in the Asheville Christian Church After retirement, he served as mayor of the Town of Rutherford College. He died in May 1956.
Rev. Dr. Arthur Talmage Abernethy was the son of Rev. Dr. Robert Laban and Mary Anne (Hayes) Abernethy. He was the husband of Edna V. (Lachot) Abernethy. He was a minister in the Genesee (Western New York)/now Upper New York) Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church/The Methodist Church. He served Belmont, Allegany Co., Olean District, New York 1916-1917 - Cuba and Black Creek, Allegany Co., Olean Dist., New York 1918 - Discontinued 1919.
US CENSUS
1920
Chateau, Cincinnati, Ward 20, Hamilton Co., OH
Abernthy/ABERNETHY
Authur (Arthur) age 42, b1878 NC, clergyman
Edna V., age 35, b1885 PA
dau Anna May age 7, b1913 PA
Obituary
The News And Observer
May 17, 1956
Powell, William
Dictionary Of North Carolina Biography, Vol. 1, Page 4
Arthur Abernethy was appointed Poet Laureate in November of 1948, just before the end of Governor R. Gregg Cherry's administration. According to the official "fiat" conferring the honor on the poet, Abernathy's term was to expire with the end of Cherry's term. Abernethy was therefore officially Poet Laureate for only a few weeks, from November 28, 1948 through January 5th, 1949. However, because Governor William Scott did not appoint a successor, Abernethy remained the designated Poet Laureate until August 1953, when Governor William Umstead appointed James Larkin Pearson to the post. Abernethy's career was long and varied. At the age of 18, he was already a professor of Latin and Greek at Rutherford College, the school his father had founded. After a few years, during which he also attained his MA and PhD, Abernethy became a journalist, contributing columns to papers in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, as well as for the Charlotte Observer. On his return to the state, he became a magistrate and justice of the peace, and frequently filed annual reports in verse. In the meantime, Abernethy found time to write more than 50 books and 3000 poems (according to his own estimate). The books covered history and historic speculation (Did Washington Aspire To Be King?), regional and southern folklore (Moonshine: Being Appalachias's Arabian Nights), and evangelical subjects (Where Are Our Dead?). Surprisingly, he appears to have published none of his poetry in book form. According to the entry in The Heritage Of Burke County, Abernethy received recognition from both Governor Hoey (1937-1941) being made an "Honorary Citizen for Life of Charlotte, Hickory, Asheville and Valdese") and President Roosevelt, who named him an American Ambassador of Sunshine in 1938. He crowned his literary career by requesting and receiving the Laurel from Governor Cherry, with whom he was a close friend. Late in life, Abernethy made another career change, and followed his father and brothers into the clergy. He was pastor for several years in churches in Belmont, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent two years as minister in the Asheville Christian Church After retirement, he served as mayor of the Town of Rutherford College. He died in May 1956.
US CENSUS
1920
Chateau, Cincinnati, Ward 20, Hamilton Co., OH
Abernthy/ABERNETHY
Authur (Arthur) age 42, b1878 NC, clergyman
Edna V., age 35, b1885 PA
dau Anna May age 7, b1913 PA
Obituary
The News And Observer
May 17, 1956
Powell, William
Dictionary Of North Carolina Biography, Vol. 1, Page 4
Arthur Abernethy was appointed Poet Laureate in November of 1948, just before the end of Governor R. Gregg Cherry's administration. According to the official "fiat" conferring the honor on the poet, Abernathy's term was to expire with the end of Cherry's term. Abernethy was therefore officially Poet Laureate for only a few weeks, from November 28, 1948 through January 5th, 1949. However, because Governor William Scott did not appoint a successor, Abernethy remained the designated Poet Laureate until August 1953, when Governor William Umstead appointed James Larkin Pearson to the post. Abernethy's career was long and varied. At the age of 18, he was already a professor of Latin and Greek at Rutherford College, the school his father had founded. After a few years, during which he also attained his MA and PhD, Abernethy became a journalist, contributing columns to papers in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, as well as for the Charlotte Observer. On his return to the state, he became a magistrate and justice of the peace, and frequently filed annual reports in verse. In the meantime, Abernethy found time to write more than 50 books and 3000 poems (according to his own estimate). The books covered history and historic speculation (Did Washington Aspire To Be King?), regional and southern folklore (Moonshine: Being Appalachias's Arabian Nights), and evangelical subjects (Where Are Our Dead?). Surprisingly, he appears to have published none of his poetry in book form. According to the entry in The Heritage Of Burke County, Abernethy received recognition from both Governor Hoey (1937-1941) being made an "Honorary Citizen for Life of Charlotte, Hickory, Asheville and Valdese") and President Roosevelt, who named him an American Ambassador of Sunshine in 1938. He crowned his literary career by requesting and receiving the Laurel from Governor Cherry, with whom he was a close friend. Late in life, Abernethy made another career change, and followed his father and brothers into the clergy. He was pastor for several years in churches in Belmont, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent two years as minister in the Asheville Christian Church After retirement, he served as mayor of the Town of Rutherford College. He died in May 1956.
Inscription
"Abernethy
Arthur Talmadge
Oct 10, 1872
May 5, 1956"
