Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-03-27


he Is now entitled TO be called, is az
active leader Of the Tobacco Board o.
Trade bis father helped to organize
In some capacity or other, he ha'
been in the tobacco business ever since
1875 For many years he was in The
old-fashioned warehouse business
afterwards became a broker, later ar
inspector and now is interested in the
operation of a loose floor warehouse.
He has been President Of the Tobacco
Board of Trade and has for the last
few years been secretary Of the
Board. For the duties Of this place
he is remarkably well fitted. He is
what you might call born secre-
tary."
Some years ago, as secretary of the
Commercial Club, he did some hust-
ling that is still remembered as a
history-making epoch in Hopkinsville.
lie went to st. Louis as one of COM
mittee that got the first reduction in
railroad rates on coal-from so cents
to rs cents. He was the chief instru-
ment in getting the late Col. Jere
Baxter interested in Hopkinsville and
in bringing his Tennessee Central
Railroad to the city. He worked sue
cessfully to bring to the city The Mar
tin Tobacco Manufacturing Co., the
Deering-Frank Lumber Co., and other
enterprises that helped to start the
present prosperity of the city.
About 80 years ago Mr.. Alternately
was snatched from the jaws of death
by mere accident. He was fishing
in Hooser's pond, near the city, with
a seine, in company with Joel d. Nc
Pherson, M. D. Boales, A. G. Boales
and one or two others. The seine
became fastened in deep water and
Mr.. Alternately swan out to it and
was seen struggling in the water by
his companions and before they could
render any assistance he sank and
remained under water. Giving him
up for lost, they slowly hauled in the
seine to go home, tearing it loose
from the snag upon which it was
hung, and when it was drawn to the
bank Mr.. Abernathy's body was seen
to be fastened in the seine by one leg.
him out, to all appearances
dead, he was left, fortunately, with his
head lying down hill, much lower
than his body. The water in his lungs
ran ont and after about forty-five
minutes from the time he sank, his
companions saw signs of returning
life, and by vigorous rubbing they
soon had him out of danger.
Mr.. Alternately has long been
member of the knights of Pythias
and has filled the Office of Grand
Chancellor of the State Lodge.
He is prominent member of the
First Baptist church. He was church
clerk for ten years and is now a men,
Der of the Board of DeaconS and AS
;istant Superintendent of the Sunday
School,. Until he missed two Sun
lays from illness last year, he held
he attendance record for the entire
school, and perhaps for the entire
city, not having missed a single Sun
day in more than 8 years. He has
not missed half a dozen times in IS
years. He has been an officer in the
Sunday School for rs years.
Mr.. Alternately has been twice mar
ried and his family consists of his
wife, two sons and daughter. He
lives in pretty home on South Vir-
yinia street.
Along with his other duties, he has
found time TO be leader in educa-
tional affairs and for six years has
been member of the Board of Trus-
tees of the City Schools.
In all that ne does, Mr.. Abernathy
is careful, correct and thorough. He
is a fine accountant and is frequently
called upon by the banks to do cleri-
cal work, sometimes for months at a
time, but his heart has always been
in the tobacco trade, where he made
his business start.