The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-10-08
DEATH OF COL.
ABERNETHY
Prominent National Guards
man and Police Official
Dies After a Long
Illness.
PILLAR OF REPUBLICANISM
Notable Career of One of Jer-
sey City's Best Known
Residents Funeral
Arrangements.
PILLAR OF REPUBLICANlSM.

Colonel Hugh II. Abernethy, one of
the best known residents of this city,
died this morning at his home, No. 11S
Mercer street, after lingering illness.l
The end came at seven o'clock At the
bedside were all the members of his fam
lily, including Mrs. Ahernethy and her
two daughters, Miss Florence and Mrs.
Il. K Fish.
Mr.. Abernethy was in a semi-uncon-
scious condition since Saturday night.
He had been in i'll health for more
than year and was obliged to take to
his bed FIVE weeks ago last Monday.
His death was due to cancer of the
liver.
Shortly after he was obliged to resign
from the Board of Finance on July s
last, owing to failing health, Mr. Aber-
nethy's condition became rapidly worse.
He spent part of the summer in the
Pocono mountains in an effort to regain
his health, but without success. On his
return home his condition became worse
and five weeks ago he was confined to
his bed. Doctors Bowman and Dodson
OF this city and DR.. Delafeld, specialist.
from New York, held consultation and
decided that the patient could not re-
cover. NThe end was then awaited
STAUNCH REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. Abernethy was staunch Republi-
can and took an active part in politics in
this city for many years. He was a.
member of the Board Of Governors Of the
Union League Club, and also a, member
of the Samuel D. Dickinson Association.
Aside from bis Ions military career lie
was in active business in this County for
more than thirty years. AT the time Of
his death he was Superintendent Of the
Communipaw Coal Company, having.
managed the affairs of the. firm since it
was organized twenty-five years ago.
Prior to this time he was for ten years
connected with the Hoboken Coal Com
pany. He was recognized as a pioneer
in the coal business, and was one of the
first to develop the present system of
coaling steamers ana tugboats. He has
not been able to attend to business for
the last two months.
FUNERAL SERVICES.
The funeral services will take place at
his home on Friday afternoon and even
ing. There will be a private service at
4 O'Clock to which only relatives and
immediate friends of the family will be
invited. In the evening, from Z to 8
o'clock, there will be another service for
the public. Both services will be con-
Quoted by the Rev. Mr.. Cronin, pastor of
the Second Presbyterian Church. Inter
ment will take place in the family plot
at Easton, Pa, ON Saturday morning.
COL. ABERNETHY'S CAREER.
Colonel Abernethy was born in Easton.
Pa, January 10, 1S43. He was the
fourth son of the late DR.. H. HI. and
Mary Maxwell Abernethy. At an early
age he went to Warren county, in this
State, where he engaged in teaching
school part of the time. In the year
1867 he came to Jersey City, where he
resided until death.
Colonel Abernethy came from military
stock, being a descendant, on his
mothers side, of General William Max
well, Brigadier General of the Conti-
mental Army, who Commanded the .Jer-
sey Line during his entire term of SER
vice as a general officer, and took an
active part in every battle in which his
brigade distinguished ITSELF" General
Maxwell conducted many important
movements in New Jersey. New York
and Pennsylvania, and history describes
him as "a man of great bravery, and
highly esteemed by Washington"
ENLISTMENT.
With this martial strain in his blood,
Colonel Abernethy was not long in Jer-
sey City, where opportunities were Of
fered to indulge this natural inclination,
before he joined Company e, Fourth
Regiment, New Jersey Rifle Corps, as
private. This was on April 8, 1868.
Company e of the Rifle Corps having
become Company E Of the National
Guard, he was mustered into the service
of the State on April 4, 1869. After
being in the company exactly fifteen
months he was elected to the responsible
position of first Sergeant, Jns7 8, 1869.
His soldierly qualities thus being brought
to the notice of GolonelsVan Buskirk, he
was selected BY him to be sergeant-major
Of the regiment, to which position he
was appointed October 20, 1869. But
Company & was not willing to lose the
services of so good an officer, and on
December %, 1860, he was unanimously
elected first lieutenant.
DRILLED WANSER.
At this time, Private p F. Wanser
(now Brigadier General enlisted in Com
pany E, and was instructed in the "awk
ward squaf1 hy Lieutenant Abernethy.