Filling in some blanks in the family tree thanks to a big boost from a John McFadyen descendant, Michael D., who provided the text below:
John McFadyen, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, was vice-president of the Vandalia Coal Co. of Indiana at the time of his death (1910). Prior to moving to Indianapolis, Mr. John McFadyen was affiliated with the Cambria Iron Co., the Keystone Manganese Iron Co., the Hostetter Coke Co., the Puritan Coke Co. and the Fort Pitt Coke & Coal Company. He also was an influential factor in connection with the organization of the American Steel & Wire Company …, which eventually became a part of the United Steel Company. [History of Greater Indianapolis, by Dunn, 1910, Pages 945-946 as extracted by Michael D. from HeritageQuest].
“John McFadyen is a scion of stanch Scottish stock in both paternal and maternal lines, and he himself a native of the land of hills and heather, as he was born in Kilburnie, Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 18th of October, 1849. He is the youngest child of Michael and Margaret (Craig) McFadyen and his father was a skilled and successful mining engineer. When John McFadyen was a lad of about seven years his widowed mother came with her five children to the United States, settling in the State of Maryland, where she remained until after the close of the Civil War. She then removed to Pennsylvania, where she passed the remainder of her life. She died at the age of sixty-five years and her memory is revered by her children, to whose welfare she was ever devoted. Of the five children two are now living.” [History of Greater Indianapolis].
Since Michael D. sent this great info to me, I’ve been able to identify Katherine McFadyen Duckworth and Annie McFadyen Welsh as siblings of John and of our James Craig McFadyen. See the Powers & Palm database [see link in another post below]. Looking forward to some follow-up research while taking the scenic route from Florida to Michigan via the Pittsburgh area in May.
James C. McFadyen was listed as a “coke handler” in the 1900 PA census taken in Pittsburgh. He worked in mining industry and sold mining equipment in China, Mexico, etc. Amelia Cinderella (McFadyen) White (James McFadyen’s daughter) carried the handkerchief used in her wedding, which was brought by her father from China, at her 50th wedding anniversary party in Orlando, Florida.
Fernando (Fred) & Amelia (McFadyen) White moved from the Pittsburgh area to Detroit, Michigan. In the 1930 census taken in Detroit, Fernando is listed as a “steel expert.”
Brother-in-law Tom recently sent this e-mail:
[A friend sent a joke] that reminded me of the story my mother used to tell: Her younger brother Al would tell new teachers that his parent's names were Fernando and Cinderella, and his father's occupation was "troublemaker". The teachers were always skeptical and Mom got called in to verify the facts (Fernando was a "troubleshooter" in the steel industry).
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