James R. Abernathy

James R. Abernathy (February 25, 1795 – January 29, 1886), also known as "Old Abby," was a prominent 19th-century school teacher, Attorney at law, district attorney, Justice of the peace, and politician in Monroe County, Missouri. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. At the time of his death, he was the oldest man in Monroe County. He was a resident of Monroe County for over half a century, prior to its organization as a county on January 6, 1831. He was an early settler of Paris, Missouri and Madison, Missouri. Early life and education Abernathy was born in Lunenburg, Virginia, on February 25, 1795, a native of the Old Dominion. He was the son of Blackstone Abernathy (1767-1850) and Elizabeth Peterson Locke (1771-1849). His ancestors on both sides settled in Virginia prior to the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). His father was one of the early pioneer settlers of Fayette County, Kentucky where they moved in 1797 and where Abernathy was raised. They and moved to Howard County, Missouri in 1817. Abernathy was married three times and had four sons and eight daughters. He was the father of Nancy Harrison Abernathy who married Dr. Hugh James Glenn, a wealthy California rancher and politician. He was the father of Mary Wynn Abernathy who married Jacob Harrison Ford, which were the parents of attorney general of the State of California Tirey L. Ford.