THOMAS SMITH ABERNATHY, Methodist minister, was born Mar. 26, 1803, in Brunswick County, Va., and died Apr. 13, 1882, in Dayton; son of Henry and Rebecca (Firth) Abernathy, of Brunswick and Dinwiddie Counties, respectively; grandson of John Abernathy, a native of Scotland who emigrated to Virginia.  Thomas Smith Abernathy, was one of five preachers to organize the First Methodist Conference in Alabama.  He entered the ministry in 1872 and rendered great service to religion and to civilization during the pioneer period of the state.  He was a Mason.  Last Residence: Dayton.
Source: History of Alabama & Dictionary of Alabama Biography by Thomas McAdory Owen, LL.D. - Vol. 3 of 4 - Published: Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1921 ~ Vol. 3, Page 3