GILBERT BENJAMIN ABERNATHY. Prominent in the financial circles of Pulaski is Gilbert Benjamin Abernathy, assistant cashier of the Peoples Bank. He was born in Giles county, on the 28th of April, 1888, a member of an old and honored Tennessee family. His paternal grandfather, Colonel Alf H. Abernathy, served throughout the Civil war in defense of the Confederacy. His wife was Elizabeth Butler Abernathy and both were natives of this state. The parents of Gilbert Benjamin Abernathy are Jerome and Elizabeth (Eslick) Abernathy. The father, who was born in 1860, in early life began teaching in Giles county, and was engaged in educational work for some twenty-five years. Later he took up farming and for four years he was active as deputy registrar. Mrs. Abernathy was born in 1863.

In the acquirement of his preliminary education Gilbert Benjamin Abernathy attended the public schools of his native county and then entered the Abernathy Preparatory School at Pulaski. Upon the completion of his education he made his initial step into the business world as a clerk in a dry goods store. He was active in that capacity until 1908, when he entered the employ of the Peoples National Bank, which in 1916 was changed to the Peoples Bank. Upon its reorganization Mr. Abernathy was made assistant cashier, a position he has since acceptably filled. Aside from his duties at the bank, Mr. Abernathy is engaged in the insurance business. On the 25th of February, 1918, he put all personal interests aside and enlisted at Washington, D. C., in the chief ordnance department. In April he was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey, and there received a promotion to the rank of sergeant. He was subsequently assigned to the One Hundred and Second Ordnance Company and received his honorable discharge on the 8th of April, 1919. He immediately returned to Pulaski and resumed his duties at the bank.

At Dickson, on the 8th of September, 1920, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Abernathy to Miss Louise Johnson, a daughter of John and Oddie Johnson, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Abernathy is a young woman of much personal charm and she is socially prominent.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Abernathy has given his stanch support to the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He is essentially a publicspirited citizen and he is actively interested in the furtherance of any movement for the upbuilding of the town, county and state. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and he holds membership in the Junior Order, United American Mechanics of Pulaski. Socially he is identified with the Exchange Club. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. (Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 3, John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1923.)