Individual Details

I believe this may be the father of Sophronia Abernathy, first wife of William Wallace Fry. Probably from an earlier wife.

Alphonso Abernathy and wife Emily Abernathy [possibly a cousin] married 2 Apr 1835. Sophronia seems to have been the eldest child of that marriage. He may have an earlier marriage recorded in Perry Co MO because there is a marriage for "Alonzo" Abernathy to Perneely L. Abernathy on 21 May 1829. [Later information shows that there WAS an Alonzo, probably an uncle of this Alphonso, and this was his marriage.]

1850 Census. Alphonso and family were in Perry Co MO. He was age 41, Emily age 31. Children Sophronia 13, Statica 11, Lafayette 10, and Erastus 3. Given the years between Lafayette and Erastus, there was probably a child that died.

This 1850 census is significant in that a whole page of the census is devoted to Abernathys.
Household 641. Joseph A. Abernathy, age 30, b. MO, wife Angeline and 4 children, all b. MO
[MISSOURI MARRIAGES to 1850: Joseph A. Abernathy to Angaline Farrar, 23 Sep 1841, Perry Co MO]
Household 641. John H. Abernathy, age 40, b. NC, wife Eliza and 7 children all b. MO
[MISSOURI MARRIAGES to 1850. John H. Abernathy to Eliza Rutledge. 21 Jan 1830, Perry Co MO]
Household 643. Jeremiah Abernathy, age 70, b. NC. Wife Berenice age 65, also b. NC. What appears to be two grandchildren living with them Berenice age 14 and Cordelia age 6, b. MO
Household 644. Alphonso as above.
Household 645. Frances Abernathy, age 65 [female, likely a widow] b. NC with two young men Shadric age 11 an Uriel age 8. The boys last name was Caststeal and they were born in MO. [Maybe her grandsons]
[MISSOURI MARRIAGES to 1850. Martha Abernathy married Micah Casteel on 1 Oct 1837 in Perry Co MO]
Household 646. Sidney Abernathy, age 33, b. NC and wife Virginia age 24, with two small children b. MO.
[MISSOURI MARRIAGES to 1850. Sidney Abernathy to Virginia Winsett. 28 Jun 1845, Perry Co MO]
Household 647. Milley Abernathy, age 50 [probably another widow] b. NC. Sion Abernathy age 18, Paschal age 16, Susan age 15, and Sophia age 10, all b. MO, live with her. This would seem to be the widow of Battee Jr.

Of the above families, either Jeremiah & wife Bernice could be parents of Alphonso, or the widow Frances, could be his mother. I think the latter is the most likely, given that the names Jeremiah or Bernice do not show up among the children of Alphonso, but a Frances does. Online Abernathy databases do show a James Abernathy [b. bet 1770-1780] that married Frances Abernathy [1785-aft 1850], a daughter of Jones Abernathy & Elizabeth Ann Rutledge. Their children were: Alphonzo b. 1809, Martha who married Micha Casteal on 10 Oct 1837 in Perry Co MO, Sidney b. 1817, Fanny b.1818 who married Albert G. Abernathy on 26 Oct 1837 in Perry Co, and Louisa b. 1820 who married George Huff on 8 Nov 1842 in Perry Co MO.

1860. The family was in Fannin Co. TX. Alphonso now 51, Emily 40. Statyia [Stacia] was age 20, Lafayette 19, Erastus 14. Eli listed as age 11 but he was not present in 1850 so must not have been quite that old. Sarah E. age 7 and Albert B. age 3. [Both Sarah & Albert disappear. Sarah may be the Frances later but there are no possibilities for Albert. Given that there is a later child named Albert, probably this Albert died young.]

1870. Alphonso's wife was Martha [maybe Pattie Hawkins] age 38 by this census. Frances, age 15 was in the household - Sarah E. from 1860? Or was Frances omitted in 1860? Cicero was age 3 and Lonzo age 1. Lafayette, age 27, lived next door.

1880. Listed as "L. Abernatha" age 70, b. NC. M. E. [Martha] is age 48, his wife. Cicero now 13 and Lonzo 12. W. age 9 and Albert age 6. Living with the family is William Young age 20 and his wife "F. E." who is 23. This might be the Frances, age 15, in 1870.

Birth	12 Dec 1809	North Carolina
Marriage	2 Apr 1835	Perry County, Missouri - Emily Abernathy
Marriage	3 Jul 1866	Fannin County, Texas - Martha E. Hawkins
Death	25 Sep 1893	Fannin County, Texas

Spouse	Martha E. Hawkins (1832 - )
Child	Richard Cicero Abernathy (1868 - 1922)
Child	James Lorenzo Abernathy (1868 - )
Child	W. Abernathy (1871 - )
Child	Albert Monroe Abernathy (1876 - 1945)

Spouse	Emily Abernathy (1819 - 1867)
Child	Sophronia Abernathy (1838 - 1885)
Child	Stacia Abernathy (1839 - )
Child	Lafayette Abernathy (1840 - )
Child	Erastus Abernathy (1847 - )
Child	Eli C. Abernathy (1850 - )
Child	Sarah Frances Abernathy (1853 - )
Child	Albert B. Abernathy (1857 - )

Father

James Abernathy ( - 1850)