Notes for: Andrew MCFADIN
Andrew McFadin, Sr., was the sixth son of John McFadin. Like his brothers, Andrew took some part in the Revolutionary War but the exact dates, places, and unit of Andrew's service are not known. He is listed, however, in the Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina, Revolutionary War Army Accounts, Vol. XI, p. 18, Folio 1, as having been paid "for services."
As early as 1782, Andrew had initially settled on the Cumberland River of Tennessee. Beginning about 1783, he took a series of trading trips to New Orleans. By 1784, he was with his brothers James, John, and possibly William on Sulpher Creek. He also had land on Silver Creek, a branch of the Red River in Logan County in what is now Kentucky. In 1785, Andrew established McFadin's Station on the Big Barren River in Warren County, Kentucky, about four miles above the present city of Bowling Green. There, he also operated a ferry across the river. Families of several of the McFadin brothers appear to have lived at McFadin's Station.
Governor James Garrard called out the Kentucky Militia in 1798 to address Indian troubles. On 8 February he appointed Andrew McFadin a Major in the 25th Warren County Regiment. These units were known as the Cornstalk Militia. Later, he was in the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 along with his son, "Slim Andy," and War of 1812.
His first marriage was before 1793 and she died 1798, probably in Tennessee where they had gone for the birth of their third child. He then married Volly Hogan Burleson, a widow of Aaron Burleson III.
Sometime in the late 1790's, Andrew and his older brother, William, on a hunting trip across the Ohio River into Indian country, found a high bluff on the north bank where they planned to move their families as soon as it was safe to do so. In 1803 the United States opened up this Northwest Territory to settlement. During the winter of 1805 and 1806, William and Andrew lived on the bluff and built stone cabins for their families who were still in Kentucky. Late in the spring of 1806 the families came in wagons bringing their belongings and livestock. The Ohio River was low and the boats crossed at Diamond Island. General William Henry Harrison and some officers camped on the north shore surprised the McFadins by welcoming them ashore. General Harrison, as he helped Mary, William's daughter ashore, told her she was the first white woman to land in that part of Indiana. In subsequent year near McFadin's Bluff the Indian danger grew, yet the community progressed.
Late one night in the spring of 1811 at McFadin's Bluff, settlers were awakened by a throbbing noise on the river. Sparks and flames were belching from a smokestack. It was going at an incredible rate of speed. Some settlers fled, braver ones watched. It was a steamboat, the New Orleans, built at Pittsburgh, and the first one to navigate the entire stretch of river to New Orleans.
Andrew owned a boat wharf and a store for supplying boats on the Ohio River.
McFadin's Bluff later became the city of Mount Vernon, Indiana. Andrew McFadin, Sr. is buried in the center of Mount Vernon. Volley, who lived to be more than ninety years of age, is believed to be buried at Franklin near one of her sons.