Abner was born in Thetford, Vermont and raised in Orford, New Hampshire. He had a twin sister, Annie. Abner first married Elizabeth Beard Drew of Boston Massachusetts and had three children, all born in Louisiana. Only Edwin lived to an adult. Abner had become active in civic affairs in Lafayette, LA. In 1842 he was elected Mayor of Lafayette. His two youngest children and wife died while in Louisiana. Edwin was sent to live with an uncle in Vermont and resided there during the time his father was involved in the Mexican War. It had long been thought that Abner had been to West Point and had attained the rank of Colonel. But he was not connected to West Point and his involvement in the Mexican War was that he had actually become an interpreter and secretary to General Joseph Lane. By 1851 Abner had remarried and built what was supposed to be the first prefab house, It was sent to San Francisco and built on Divisidero Street, moved twice and finally ending up at 1111 Oak Street where it now stands in beautiful condition. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Abner had seven more children by Charlotte Augusta Roussel, 6 living to adults. In 1860 they are living there with five children and he was a member of the California State Assembly, 5th District in 1860-61. He is again found in San Francisco living with his family and occupation is that of a retired lawyer. His office address was once listed as 537 Washington. The original burial location of Abner, Charlotte and Edwin was in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in San Francisco. However due to an order by the Board of Supervisors, over 39,300 burials were transferred to Holy Cross, Colma, Section H. The burial location of five members of this family is unknown.
Their children were:
Joseph Samuel;George Falgout DeBeaumont; Walter Joseph; Mary Augusta;Ynez Octavia and Louis Justamond Phelps.