From the 1914 History of Wapello County, Iowa, parts of pages 462-468.
---John A. Abernathy was the son of John and Mary "Polly" (Brouse) Abernathy and was born in Virginia, October 9, 1796, and when seven years of age went to Ohio with his parents. He afterward made his way to Indiana and subsequently to Iowa, arriving in this state in 1848, the family home being established at Agency. In 1850 he removed to Richland township, settling upon the farm where the birth of his son J. M. occurred. There he continued to reside throughout his remaining days, passing away when in his seventy-fifth year. The mother was born in Virginia and died at the age of fifty-five. She came to Iowa with her parents about 1845 and settled in Richland township, where her remaining days were passed. On the 12th of October, 1851, she became the wife of John Abernathy, who had been previously married. His first wife was Catharine Nonkester, who he wedded on the 12th of May, 1818, and who died on the 2nd of August 1851. The children of his first marriage were: Catharine, William, George, John, Mary, Lydia, Martin, Martha, James, Henry and Andrew. By the second marriage there were born five children; J. M.; Elias, living in Washington; Mrs. Sarah Catharine Warren, of Missouri; Francis Marion, whose home is in Chariton, Iowa; and Randolph, living in Kansas.

John A. Abernathy married Catharine Nungesser on May 12, 1818 in Ross County, Ohio and they had the following children:
1) Catharine Abernathy
2) George Perry Abernathy
3) John Abernathy
4) Mary E. Abernathy Barnes
5) William Abernathy
6) Lydia Abernathy
7) Martin Abernathy
---sp. Elizabeth A. Summerloft
8) Martha Jane Abernathy Fullerton Rapallee Everett (1835-deceased)
---married #1) February 22, 1851 in Wapello County, Iowa
---spouse: James Fullerton (1829-1905)
---married #2) July 5, 1864 in Warren County, Illinois
---spouse: Lewis B. Rapallee/Rapalee (1828-1910)
---married #3) April 9, 1887 in Urbana Township, Monroe County, Iowa
---spouse: John Andrew Everett (1836-deceased)
9) James Abernathy
10) Henry Harrison Abernathy
11) Andrew B. Abernathy
John A. Abernathy married his second wife, Lucy Ann Shaffer, in Wapello County, Iowa and they had the following children:
12) James Madison Abernathy
13) Elias Abernathy
14) Sarah Catharine Abernathy Warren*
15) Francis Marion Abernathy
16) Randolph Abernathy