Hernley - Abraham
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913, pp 898-900.
Fifty years ago, when the slaveholders rebellion broke out with all its fury at Fort Sumter and when it looked as if the Union that all loved so much would be dissolved, many households became divided, some members of a family going into the Federal army and others casting their lots with the Confederacy; some enlisted to save the federation of states, even though they had to free their slaves to do so. It was a time when there could be no temporizing and no halting,-no half-way position,-for all who were not for the Union were against it, and both sides hated the man who claimed to be neutral because he did not want to risk his life on the field of battle and had no principles to sustain. The Hernly family was alive to the gravity of the national conflict, and realized that the struggle impending was something more than a holiday undertaking and knew that it meant great hardship and the shedding of rivers of blood before the flag could again wave from Maine to Florida and from the Mexican Gulf to the states of the far Northwest. But they did not hesitate, be it said to their everlasting renown, both father and son, leaving their pleasant fireside and risking the vicissitudes of the great Rebellion, each making most creditable records of which their family should ever be proud.
Abraham H. Hernly, well known real estate dealer, was born at Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. July 22, 1843, and is a son of Henry S. and Anna Hernly. The father was born on a farm in Pennsylvania in 1808, and there he grew to manhood and devoted himself to general farming until 1843 when he moved to Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1844 to Delaware county, this state, where he continued to reside until his death in 1868. He was a type of the old-time, honest, sturdy, pioneer farmer, who believed in upholding the government, fashioned by Washington and other brave and self-sacrificing men. So when the Civil war broke out he gladly gave his services to his country, serving faithfully for a period of three years, in the Nineteenth Indiana Regiment. He was a Republican, and he belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife was also a native of Pennsylvania, born on a farm where she was reared to womanhood, the date of her birth being 1820. Her death occurred in 1856 when in the prime of life.
Abraham H. Hernly was reared on the home farm in Wayne and Delaware counties, Indiana, having been a mere babe when he was brought by his parents from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He worked hard assisting his father in getting a comfortable home established for the family in the Hoosier state, and that being the case and public schools few and poorly taught in his day he had very little chance to secure an education, but later in life he has made up for this deficiency by wide miscellaneous reading and by actual contact with the business world. However, when thirteen years of age he returned to his native state to live with a cousin and there went to school three winters. When a young man he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, becoming very proficient in the same with advancing years.
When the war between the States came on he laid down his tools and hastened to a recruiting station and enlisted in the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in which he saw much hard and trying service, but he never shirked duty no matter how arduous or dangerous, according to his comrades. Among the important battles he took part in were Yorktown, seven days before Richmond, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Winchester and Cedar Creek, being under the immortal Sheridan at the last two battles. He was on picket duty the day of Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. He was honorably discharged from the service of the Union on July 13, 1865.
After his career as a soldier Mr. Hernly returned to Indiana rather than the Keystone state from which he had gone to the seat of war. He located in Henry county, where he farmed for a few years, getting a new start in life. In 1872 he came to Crawfordsville and here followed the carpenters' trade and the contracting business with a large measure of success until 1898, when he went into the real estate business, which he has continued to the present day, in connection with the loan business, doing nicely in both, emjoying an ever increasing patronage owing to his honest and courteous dealings with his fellow men. His residence in Montgomery county of over forty years has been marked by duty faithfully performed as a business man and citizen and he has won the regard and confidence of all who know him. He is an excellent judge of real estate values, and he has a number of good city rentals.
Politically, he is a Republican and has been more or less influential in local party affairs. Naturally he belongs to McPherson Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic at Crawfordsville, having long taken an abiding interest in Grand Army affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Hernly was married on December 21, 1868, selecting as a life-partner Emeline Harvey, who was born in Henry County, Indiana, where she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. There her parents spent their lives engaged in farming. The death of Mrs. Hernly occurred on October 21, 1884. To this union four children were born, named as follows: Jessie, whose death occurred in 1894; Harry, who died in 1898; Kittie is the wife of Clarence Lawler and they live in Los Angeles, California; Lizzie is the wife of Paul Welty, and they are also residents of Los Angeles.
On October l9th, 1892, our subject was married a second time, his last wife being Elizabeth Blye, who was a native of Attica, Indiana. To this second union one child has been born, Mabel R., who was graduated from the Crawfordsville high school with the class of 1913. - typed by kbz