Arthur Talmage Abernethy
Arthur Talmage Abernethy | |
---|---|
Born | Rutherford College, NC | October 10, 1872
Died | May 15, 1956 Asheville, North Carolina | (aged 83)
Resting place | Rutherford College Cemetery |
Occupation | Writer, theologian, poet |
Language | English |
Alma mater | Rutherford College, A.B. Trinity College, A.M. Johns Hopkins University, PhD |
Genre | Theology, biography, poetry |
Notable awards | North Carolina Poet Laureate |
Spouse | Edna Beatty (Lachot) |
Relatives | Robert Labon Abernethy (father), Mary Ann Hayes (mother) |
Arthur Talmage Abernethy (October 10, 1872 – May 15, 1956) was a writer, theologian, and poet. He pastored several churches, contributed articles and poems to newspapers around the United States, and was named by Governor R. Gregg Cherry as the first North Carolina Poet Laureate in 1948.
Biography
Early life and education
Abernethy was born October 10, 1872, in
Journalism and activism
Abernethy soon turned his attention to journalism, becoming editor of
He married several times, the last time to widow Edna Beatty Lachot of Pennsylvania. She had two children and Abernethy adopted her daughter Anna Mary.[3] He met his wife while serving as business manager for the Philadelphia College of Commerce.[2]
Abernethy was active in politics and the Prohibition movement.[7] He ran for United States House of Representatives in 1928 as an anti-Al Smith candidate, losing in the Democratic primary to incumbent Alfred L. Bulwinkle.[8]
He was instrumental in helping establish a Carnegie library in Rutherford College, the first free public library in Burke County.[6]: 305
In 1938, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt named him an "American Ambassador of Sunshine."[9] That same year, Governor Clyde R. Hoey declared Abernethy to be an honorary citizen for life of Charlotte, Hickory, Asheville, and Valdese, North Carolina.[3]
Later life and poet laureateship
Abernethy turned to the ministry later in life, becoming pastor of several churches including First Methodist Church,
Throughout his life, Abernethy wrote many books and had many poems published. By his own account, he had written 50 books and over 3,000 poems.
Abernethy died in Asheville, North Carolina on May 15, 1956, and is buried at Rutherford College Cemetery.[2]
Notable relatives
He was a cousin to Charles Laban Abernethy, a Democratic congressman from North Carolina.[2]
Works
Abernethy wrote many books, generally of a religious nature, but was best known for his regional stories and sketches.[1][2]
- The Hell You Say!: A Novel (1893)[10]
- Mechanics and Practice of Electric Telegraph (1891)[4]
- Bertie and Clara (1896)[4]
- The Jew a Negro; Being a Study of the Jewish Ancestry from an Impartial Standpoint Dixie Publishing Company, Moravian Falls, North Carolina (1910)[11]
- Center-Shots at Sin (1918)
- Twenty-five Best Sermons (1920)[12]
- Moonshine: Being Appalachia's Arabian Nights (1924)
- The Apostles' Creed: A Romance in Religion (1925)
- Christian's Treasure Island: A Restoration Romance (1927)
- A Royal Southern Family (historical romance based on his family history; 1934)
- Where are Our Dead? (1935)[13]
Abernethy also authored pamphlets including:
- Did Washington Aspire to be King? (1910)
References
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard (1904). The twentieth century biographical dictionary of notable Americans. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8078-1329-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-89459-132-0.
- ^ a b c d e public domain: Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1906). "Abernethy, Arthur Talmage". The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. p. 32. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ a b c "Past North Carolina Poets Laureate". North Carolina Arts Council. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ a b Phifer, Edward W. Jr (1977). Burke: The History of a North Carolina County. Morganton, North Carolina.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "SAYS HE'S 'SWORN OFF' AS A PROHIBITIONIST; Rev. A.T. Abernethy, Who Prayed for Dry Law, Calls It Pathetic Disappointment". The New York Times. March 23, 1926.
- ^ "NC District 09 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ a b "Arthur Talmage Abernethy". NCpedia. North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ Abernethy, Arthur Talmage (1893). "The Hell You Say!: A Novel". Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ https:// books.google.com/books?id=i3PUAAAAMAAJ&q=Preface#v=snippet&q=Preface&f=false
- ^ Abernethy, Arthur Talmage (1920). "Twenty-five Best Sermons". Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ Abernethy, Arthur Talmage (1935). "Where are Our Dead?". Retrieved November 9, 2012.