John Mabe Autrey, second child of Absalom and Elizabeth (Norris) Autrey, was born 12 December 1828 in Perry County, Alabama. He married Dianacy (Dicy) A. Wallace, daughter of John Wallace, 3 October 1851 in Union Parish, Louisiana. Dicy was born 10 February 1829 in Mississippi.

John and Dicy Autrey settled in Union Parish in the section that is now northern Lincoln Parish. He purchased land in this area.

In 1858 Donaldson Day gave land for the Harmony Chapel Methodist Church. John Autrey was one of the trustees of the church.

On 11 May 1862 John enlisted in the Confederate Army at Monroe, Louisiana. He was a private in Company D, 28th (Gray's) Louisiana Infantry. The 28th Louisiana Infantry fought in Mississippi and Louisiana. he was in northwestern Louisiana in the summer of 1862 and then was transferred east of the Mississippi River in the Vicksburg area. he saw action against Sherman's Expedition at the Yazoo River and against Vicksburg, Mississippi. He fought at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, Chickasaw Bluff, Mississippi, Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana, Fort Bisland, Bethel Place and Bayou Teche, Louisiana. He was captured at Bayou Teche, Louisiana in 1863. He was sent to U.S.A. General Hospital on 14 April 1863 and was paroled at Prophets Island, below Port Hudson on 5 May 1863. He returned to his regiment and fought on the western side of the Mississippi River for the remainder of the war. He saw action in these battles: LaFourche Crossing, Opelousas, Barre Landing, Washington, Grand Coteau, Camp Pratt, Banks' Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine Cross Roads, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing, Alexandria, Belle Prairie, Marksville, Yellow Bayou and Morganza. he was discharged on 8 June 1865 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

On 4 July 1878, an Autrey Family Reunion was held at the home of John Autrey. There were ninety-six of the descendants of Absalom Autrey in attendance and seventy-six members of the family were unable to attend.

John M. and Dianacy (Wallace) Autrey had eleven children: Mary Frances, Jane P., Thomas Marion, Ephram Pennington, Carrie Elizabeth, John Absalom, Martha Judy, Diannah, Sarah E., Charles Wesley and Tereanna.

No record has been found for the death and burial of John Autrey. Dicy Autrey died 17 September 1925 in Waco, Texas. She was buried in the Park Lawn Cemetery in Waco, Texas.