John D. Abernathy
John D. Abernathy, retired farmer. Mount Sterling, was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, December 10,1813. He is the oldest son of Robert and Mary Abernathy, who came to Ohio, bringing their two oldest children, in the year 1815. The grandfather of this subject was from Scotland; the grandmother from Ireland.
Robert and Mary Abernathy first settled in Pickaway County, near Williamsport. About the year 1817, he bought a piece of land (one hundred and sixteen acres), where his son James now lives, in this county, on Deer Creek. Here he reared an honored family. His children were Mary Ann, born in 1809; John, in 1813; Eliza, in 1816; James, in 1819; Cynthia, in 1823; Marion, in 1831.
This subject has been twice married. His first wife, Nancy Sawyer, was bom June 20, 1808, and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Sawyer. Their union took place October 27, 1836. She died April 10, 1868. They had born to them two sons: John C, born October 1, 1837; Smith, born June 7, 1840. For his second wife, he married the widow of W. D. Wood. Her maiden name was Lucinda Brown. She was born June 22, 1828, and their marriage took place April 20, 1869. The Browns were Virginians, and came to Ohio in 1820.
Mr. Abernathy has been a man of great energy and business capacity. He has dealt largely in live stock, and in the years of his prime manhood, he had an extensive business acquaintance. He was a resident of this township for thirty-five years, and now owns and keeps oversight of a farm near White Oak.
On account of bodily affliction, he retired from the farm a number of years ago. He now resides in Mount Sterling. His father was, at one time, a hotel-keeper of this village, but it was very many years ago. Mr. Abernathy remembers the village of Mount Sterling when there were not more than three houses in it.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County