Representative Charles Laban Abernethy

Charles Laban Abernethy served as a Representative from North Carolina in the United States Congress from 1921 to 1935. A member of the Democratic Party, Charles Laban Abernethy contributed to the legislative process during 7 terms in office.

Charles Laban Abernethy’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Charles Laban Abernethy participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Charles Laban Abernethy (March 18, 1872 – February 23, 1955) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1922 and 1935. Born in Rutherford College, North Carolina, Abernethy attended local public schools in Rutherford College before moving to Beaufort, North Carolina in 1893. There, he founded the Beaufort Herald newspaper. Abernethy studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was admitted to the bar in 1895. Practicing law in Beaufort, he was solicitor of the third (later the fifth) judicial circuit for twelve years, and a member of the executive committee of the North Carolina Democratic Party between 1898 and 1900. Abernethy moved to New Bern, North Carolina in 1913, and continued to practice law there. In 1922, he was chosen, in a special election, to fill the seat vacated by the death of Rep. Samuel M. Brinson; he was re-elected to five more terms, serving between November 7, 1922 and January 3, 1935, before being defeated for re-election in 1934. After leaving Congress, he resumed his law practice, retiring in 1938. Abernethy died in 1955 in New Bern and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. He was a cousin to North Carolina’s first Poet Laureate Arthur Talmage Abernethy.