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He became a minister in the Methodist church in 1840, preaching in the South Carolina conference, 1840-'43. In 1850 John Rutherford founded Rutherford college in Burke county, N.C., and the young Methodist preacher was made its first president. The building used, a log cabin, was built by Abernethy, and was used until the college was chartered and new buildings erected. In forty years he educated 10,000 boys and girls, 2200 of these being given free instruction through his personal liberality. In 1890 the college buildings were burned, the loss being $50,000. President Abernethy, although nearly seventy years old, took the lecture field and raised a sum sufficient to rebuild, making the college buildings among the first in the south. He received the degree of A.M. from Trinity college, N.C., in 1869, and that of D.D. from Alfred university, N.Y. He died at Rutherford College, N.C., Nov. 28, 1894.
ABERNETHY, William Ellis, educator, was born at Rutherford College, N.C., May 28, 1860; son of the Rev. Dr. Robert Labon and Mary Ann (Hayes) Abernethy. His first ancestor in America, Robert Abernethy, came from Scotland, settled in North Carolina, and was a prominent member of the Halifax state constitutional convention of 1776. .png)
William Ellis was graduated at Rutherford college, of which his father was president, in 1877. He studied law under Col. George N. Folk, of Lanier, N.C., in 1880; was county superintendent of public instruction 1890-'93; twice declined the nomination of the dominant party for state senator; and served as professor of law and English literature in Rutherford college, 1881-'94, and succeeded to the presidency of the college on the death of his father in 1894.
ACHESON, Alexander Wilson, lawyer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 14, 1809. After his graduation from Washington college in 1827 he studied law, gaining admission to the bar in 1832. He established himself in practice in Washington county, Pa., and in 1835 was elected deputy attorney-general for the county. To this office he was re-elected in 1836, and again elected in 1839, 1845, and 1846. In 1866 he was president judge of the 27th judicial district of Pennsylvania, holding the office eleven years. In 1885 Parson's college, Iowa, conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. He died at Washington, Pa., July 10, 1890.
ACHESON, Ernest Francis, representative, was born in Washington, Pa., Sept. 19, 1855; son of Alexander W. and Jane (Wishart) Acheson. He was an honorary graduate of Washington and Jefferson college in 1875; studied law with M. C. Acheson at Washington, Pa., was admitted to the bar in 1877, and practised his profession there until 1879, when he purchased the Washington Observer and was its editor from that date. He was a member of the Republican state committee; a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1884 and 1896, and a representative from the 24th Pennsylvania district in the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th and 58th congresses. He became president of the Pennsylvania editorial association in January, 1893, and recording secretary of the National editorial association in June, 1893. He was married Nov. 22, 1882, to Jannie B., daughter of Galbraith Stewart. He received the honorary degree of A.M., from Washington and Jefferson college in 1889.
ACHESON, Marcus Wilson, jurist, was born in Washington, Pa., June 7, 1828, son of David and Mary (Wilson) Acheson. He was graduated at Washington college now Washington and Jefferson college, in 1845. He studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1852, and commenced to practise in Pittsburg, Pa., where he was married June 9, 1859, to Sophie Reiter. He was appointed U.S. district judge for the western district of Pennsylvania, Jan. 14, 1880, by President Hayes, U.S. circuit judge for the 3d judicial district, composed of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, by President Harrison Feb. 9, 1891. He received the degree LL.D. from Washington and Jefferson college in 1881.
ACTON, Thomas Coxon, banker, was born in New York city, Feb. 23, 1823. He acquired a common school education and took a course at a law school, gaining admission to the bar. He at once entered upon the duties of assistant deputy county clerk, which office he held from 1850 to 1853. On the expiration of his term he entered the surrogate's office, and remained there three years. In 1860 he was placed on the board of New York police commissioners, and by his
