Notes for: David MCFADDIN
David volunteered and served in the Mexican-American War as a very young man from September 1846. He was with the Second Regiment of the Missouri Mounted Volunteers commanded by Colonel (later General) Sterling ("Old Pap") Price, whose forces served under Colonel Alexander Doniphan in the Western Campaign through Santa Fe and into Chihuahua, Mexico. David participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz. Following the release of many of the volunteers, David may have remained as a part of Major Robert Walker's reformed Santa Fe Batallion since he is said to have been mustered out at Independence, Missouri, in 1848. With the earnings received from his service, David departed for Texas.
Along with his brother, Jonathan, he served for a period of time around 1850 in the Texas Rangers at Goliad, Texas, under the command of Captain James D. Bailey to settle what was called "The Cart War." This was an episode which quelled a major disturbance by bandits who were attacking wagons and carts hauling freight from the port of Indianola to SanAntonio. A number of the bandits were killed or publically hanged by the Rangers in the town square to put an end to the danger.
Following his marriage, David purchased 320 acres on Hog Creek at Crawford, McLennan Co., said to have been "on the extreme frontier there being no white settler west of him." Although he is said to have had considerable trouble with raiding parties of Indians, David increased his farming and ranching operation to 695 acres with 135 acres under cultivation.
During the Civil War, David served in Parson's Brigade of the Confederate Army for an indeterminate period beginning in 1862 and fought with the brigade in battles in Arkansas. Later, as a member of McCord's Frontier Regiment, he participated in the Battle of Dove Creek against the Kickapoo Indians and in many other skirmishes against the Indians and, at the time of the surrender, was at Camp Colorado.
David McFadin died quietly at the home of a daughter in 1910, and is buried in the family cemetery on Hog Creek. Celina is likely buried in the same cemetery.
Sources:
Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, by John Henry Brown, pub. L.E. Daniell Publisher, Austin, Texas (1978, Reprint from 1880).
The Handbook of McLennan County, Texas, Dayton Kelley, Editor, Texas Press, Waco, Texas (1972).
United States Census of 1850 (Goliad County, Texas). [email DavidMcFadden]