A single grave, belonging to John Abernathy, was discovered by Duke Power in 1958 as they began clearing land for the construction of the Cowan’s Ford Dam and the creation of Lake Norman. The gravestone bore the following inscription: “Sacred to the memory of John Abernathy who died May 12, AD 1816. Age 63 years. Joyfully I lay this body down and leave this lifeless clay; without a single thought or groan, and sing and soar away.” Duke Power advertised the gravesite in the Charlotte Observer starting on November 3, 1958 in an effort to locate a descendant. On November 23, 1958, the gravestone was removed from the gravesite by an unknown person without the consent of Duke Power. The removal of the gravestone was reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff, Frank Heavner, in a letter dated December 4, 1958 from George Hall of the Duke Power Forestry Department. There is no record of the gravestone being recovered. On December 22, 1959, a self-professed descendant of John Abernathy consented to allow Duke Power to relocate Abernathy’s remains to the Hills Chapel Cemetery in Stanley, NC. The original gravestone had not been recovered at that time, so Duke Power paid for a new gravestone to be made and installed at the Hills Chapel Cemetery.
A number of years later, the original gravestone turned up in the possession of an Abernathy descendant. The unnamed member of the Abernathy family contacted a genealogy researcher associated with the Lincoln County Public Library to inquire where the original gravestone for John Abernathy should be placed. The genealogy researcher suggested the Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Catawba Springs, NC, and that is where the original gravestone stands today. This places John Abernathy in the unusual position of having two separate gravesites and two headstones.
Location (approximate): 35.4355, -80.9624
Sources:
Duke Power Co. 19–? (nd). Relocation of Various Cemetery from Area Inundated by the Waters of Lake Norman. Published by Duke Power Co.