DOB:  November 8, 1838 DOD:  October 24, 1921 Age at Enlistment: 22 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  None Comments:  Abner grew up in District 5 of Williamson County, the area West and Southwest of Franklin but by the time of the 1860 Census he was working for Parsons Moss in District 1 as a laborer.  He enlisted with the Williamson Grays at their formation along with his younger brother Moses.  He was listed as sick in Franklin, TN in August 1861 and again at Hot Springs, VA in September and October of 1861.  Moses died in Virginia in August of 1861, so Abner may not have been there for the death of his brother.  Abner was discharged December 16, 1861 for typhoid fever.  His discharge papers describe him as Height: 5'9", Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Black, Hair: Black, and Occupation: Farmer.  He later joined the 4th Tennessee Cavalry Company F on October 1, 1862.  On May 9, 1865 he was captured at Washington, GA and took the oath of allegiance at Nashville, TN on July 18, 1865.  After his return home he married a girl named Ann Eliza Richardson (the half sister of Robert Richardson of the Williamson Grays) about 1868 and had at least four children.  In the 1880 Census they are living in District 7 of Williamson County, the area just west of Hillsboro Road between Franklin and Brentwood.  By 1910, he had moved to the City of Franklin and states he is working on his own account.  In 1916, he wife passed away and he moved in with his son Johnson in Franklin.  Abner died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in 1921.  He is buried in Section A of Mount Hope Cemetery.

Left:  Abner’s grave in Mount Hope Cemetery

Right:  Post war photograph of Abner courtesy of the

Williamson County Heritage Foundation