Apparently Andrew "Jackson" McWhirter, son of Andrew Ferrier McWhirter enlisted in the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV on July 24, 1862, in Huntsville, Alabama with his father and two brothers, Thomas A. McWhirter and George W. McWhirter. A Muster roll stated he had been released from the Adams USA General Hospital in Memphis, TN, and stated he was returned to duty. He was recorded as a Servant (Orderly) in Company K of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV, however.
After joining the Union Army, the men were immediately shipped to Nashville, TN on boxcars, where they were merged with the 1st Middle TN Cav., US and the 5th TN Cav., US. "Jackson", as he was called, and his brother, Thomas A., were with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea,
Jackson was an orderly for Captain Joseph Hornback, however, after ordering his pension records, I found an affidavit written by George Washington Whitehead stating that during the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads, Andrew Jackson acted as artilleryman. It might have been that he was sleeping next to some large artillery, since they were sleeping all over the yard, and when the Confederates stormed them early in the morning, Jackson jumped up and started firing. There was no information as to Hornback's illness or reason for being hospitalized. Jackson and his brother Thomas, had left their father and brother buried in Nashville, when the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, TN where they witnessed the horrific battle of Stone's River, and the aftermath of the destruction. The grounds were crimson with blood, not to mention the blue coats of dead soldiers, the bodies of horses and mules scattered for acres while the temperature was dropping and the rain was mixed with sleet. It was so foggy they had difficulty seeing where they were going. The relatives had begun to gather to see if they could find their son, father, brother or other kin among the dead. As they looked on the other side of the hill, it was almost the exact same scene except the ground was covered with wounded and dead soldiers in gray rather than blue. The wounded were carried into the makeshift hospitals in Murfreesboro, TN while others lined up the dead soldiers side by side in long rows with barely room to walk between them. They pinned a piece of paper on their breast with their names, regiment and state they were from which had been written on the paper.
During the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads in NC, Lt. Hornback was wounded. Jackson McWhirter asked for permission to escort Hornback home and stay with him until he was able to be on his own, which was approved.
Andrew Jackson McWhirter was born June 23, 1847, in Marion County, Alabama to Andrew Ferrier and Sarah Harper McWhirter. He had just turned 15 years of age, two months before he enlisted. His parents, needless to say, were upset with his decision to go off to fight in the war, and tried to talk him into staying home, but he was determined to go along with them and do what he could to help protect his country like his ancestors before him had done. He was in Nashville when his father, Andrew Ferrier and brother, George Washington McWhirter, died less than two weeks apart. These deaths devastated young Andrew, but he was determined more than ever to continue the fight for his country.
Although Andrew J. McWhirter was young when he enlisted in the army, he proudly served out his time and after several close calls he was able to return home to his mother and siblings. He applied for a pension but it was denied. After he died, his widow, Nancy Jane, applied for a pension but it was also denied stating Andrew was not eligible due to him being a public servant of the government (orderly).
On November 29, 1867, Andrew Jackson McWhirter married Nancy Jane Whitehead in Glen Allen, Alabama. The marriage was performed by John Beasley, Justice of the Peace. Andrew & Nancy had the following children: George Franklin, born January 11, 1868, and died in 1953; Alice Arcenia, died February 15, 1930; Mary Emaline, born April 1870; Jasper Green, born November 16, 1872, died July 20, 1920; Lemuel Burnett, grandfather of the author, born September 21, 1873, died March 11, 1941; Rosa Belle, born March 12, 1876, died January 22, 1956; Martha Elizabeth, born August 1878, died in 1936; John Crow, born February 7, 1883, died August 11, 1896 (kicked in the head by a horse and killed); Jessie Houston, born September 1884; and Vernetta Lona McWhirter, born November 7, 1888, and died May 30, 1976.
Nancy Jane Whitehead was the daughter of Archibald Whitehead, Jr. and Martha G. "Patsy" Anthony. Archibald, Jr. died an untimely death on August 8, 1861, and it is thought he was killed by what was called the "Confederate Dog Cavalry" because of his loyalty to the Union. Archibald's brother, Drury "Drew" Henry Cox Whitehead, was also a Unionist.
After the war, Andrew Jackson McWhirter became a Primitive Baptist Circuit Rider, preaching in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. He supposedly preached in each county in Texas with the exception of three. His sister, Mary Caroline McWhirter, had married George Washington Harbin November 29, 1873, and they had previously moved to Wood County, Texas. George W. Harbin served in the 2nd Georgia CSA Cavalry in Cherokee County, Georgia. However, there must not have been any animosity between the families with him having served in the Confederacy and the McWhirters having served in the Union Army because Andrew visited them quite frequently. Andrew enjoyed riding the train to Texas to visit them and preaching along the way. He was the minister of the Old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Rock City, Marion County, Alabama and also preached in the old New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Hatley, Mississippi on alternate Sundays, riding his horse back and forth from Rock City in Marion County, Alabama to Hatley, in Monroe County, Mississippi. Sometimes he would take his wagon if one of his grandchildren went with him. He moved to Eagleville in Rutherford County, Tennessee sometime before 1900 and preached at the Eagleville Primitive Baptist Church until shortly after he suffered a debilitating stroke. He requested to be buried in his garden on his farm about a mile east of Eagleville, TN and has a large beautiful tombstone with a dove on top. After his death, his widow, Nancy Jane, went back to Marion County, AL to live with her son, George Franklin McWhirter, where she died March 12, 1936. She is buried in the old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Rock City, Marion County, AL along with their son, John Crow McWhirter, who died at the age of 13 after being kicked in the head by a horse. Andrew's brother, Thomas A. McWhirter and his wife, Mary Jane Hallmark, are also buried there as well as several other relatives. One of Andrew's granddaughters stated he was preaching in church one Sunday when a baby began crying and its mother stood up to take it outside. Rev. McWhirter asked her to sit back down stating he could preach louder than any baby could cry.(GMT)
An article published in the Marion County Herald on 30 May 1889, entitled "A REMARKABLE FAMILY", stated:
Marion County has one of the most remarkable families within her borders, probably, that exists within the limits of the State. It is the family of Andrew F. McWhirter.
Some 50 years ago Mr. McWhirter moved to Marion County, from Tennessee, and settled near Goldmine, where he lived to the date of his death which occurred during the war. At the time of his death he had 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The daughter married Mr. Harbin and lives near the old homestead. The boys are all temperate men, two of them never even drank a cup of coffee and not one of them use tobacco. The combined weight of the four men is over 800 pounds. The four have 22 living children and 7 dead. Three of them are farmers and one a preacher. The oldest, T.A. (Thomas Andrew) is a farmer and is 47 years of age; W.H. is a farmer and 35 years old; and A.J. (Andrew Jackson), who is the baby, is 30 years old and weighs 211 pounds. He also is a farmer (and preacher) and holds the office of county commissioner, and by the way he is one of the best commissioners in the State. The are highly respected, and gentlemen of moral worth, and men of which any county might well be proud.(GMT)
After joining the Union Army, the men were immediately shipped to Nashville, TN on boxcars, where they were merged with the 1st Middle TN Cav., US and the 5th TN Cav., US. "Jackson", as he was called, and his brother, Thomas A., were with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea,
Jackson was an orderly for Captain Joseph Hornback, however, after ordering his pension records, I found an affidavit written by George Washington Whitehead stating that during the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads, Andrew Jackson acted as artilleryman. It might have been that he was sleeping next to some large artillery, since they were sleeping all over the yard, and when the Confederates stormed them early in the morning, Jackson jumped up and started firing. There was no information as to Hornback's illness or reason for being hospitalized. Jackson and his brother Thomas, had left their father and brother buried in Nashville, when the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, TN where they witnessed the horrific battle of Stone's River, and the aftermath of the destruction. The grounds were crimson with blood, not to mention the blue coats of dead soldiers, the bodies of horses and mules scattered for acres while the temperature was dropping and the rain was mixed with sleet. It was so foggy they had difficulty seeing where they were going. The relatives had begun to gather to see if they could find their son, father, brother or other kin among the dead. As they looked on the other side of the hill, it was almost the exact same scene except the ground was covered with wounded and dead soldiers in gray rather than blue. The wounded were carried into the makeshift hospitals in Murfreesboro, TN while others lined up the dead soldiers side by side in long rows with barely room to walk between them. They pinned a piece of paper on their breast with their names, regiment and state they were from which had been written on the paper.
During the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads in NC, Lt. Hornback was wounded. Jackson McWhirter asked for permission to escort Hornback home and stay with him until he was able to be on his own, which was approved.
Andrew Jackson McWhirter was born June 23, 1847, in Marion County, Alabama to Andrew Ferrier and Sarah Harper McWhirter. He had just turned 15 years of age, two months before he enlisted. His parents, needless to say, were upset with his decision to go off to fight in the war, and tried to talk him into staying home, but he was determined to go along with them and do what he could to help protect his country like his ancestors before him had done. He was in Nashville when his father, Andrew Ferrier and brother, George Washington McWhirter, died less than two weeks apart. These deaths devastated young Andrew, but he was determined more than ever to continue the fight for his country.
Although Andrew J. McWhirter was young when he enlisted in the army, he proudly served out his time and after several close calls he was able to return home to his mother and siblings. He applied for a pension but it was denied. After he died, his widow, Nancy Jane, applied for a pension but it was also denied stating Andrew was not eligible due to him being a public servant of the government (orderly).
On November 29, 1867, Andrew Jackson McWhirter married Nancy Jane Whitehead in Glen Allen, Alabama. The marriage was performed by John Beasley, Justice of the Peace. Andrew & Nancy had the following children: George Franklin, born January 11, 1868, and died in 1953; Alice Arcenia, died February 15, 1930; Mary Emaline, born April 1870; Jasper Green, born November 16, 1872, died July 20, 1920; Lemuel Burnett, grandfather of the author, born September 21, 1873, died March 11, 1941; Rosa Belle, born March 12, 1876, died January 22, 1956; Martha Elizabeth, born August 1878, died in 1936; John Crow, born February 7, 1883, died August 11, 1896 (kicked in the head by a horse and killed); Jessie Houston, born September 1884; and Vernetta Lona McWhirter, born November 7, 1888, and died May 30, 1976.
Nancy Jane Whitehead was the daughter of Archibald Whitehead, Jr. and Martha G. "Patsy" Anthony. Archibald, Jr. died an untimely death on August 8, 1861, and it is thought he was killed by what was called the "Confederate Dog Cavalry" because of his loyalty to the Union. Archibald's brother, Drury "Drew" Henry Cox Whitehead, was also a Unionist.
After the war, Andrew Jackson McWhirter became a Primitive Baptist Circuit Rider, preaching in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. He supposedly preached in each county in Texas with the exception of three. His sister, Mary Caroline McWhirter, had married George Washington Harbin November 29, 1873, and they had previously moved to Wood County, Texas. George W. Harbin served in the 2nd Georgia CSA Cavalry in Cherokee County, Georgia. However, there must not have been any animosity between the families with him having served in the Confederacy and the McWhirters having served in the Union Army because Andrew visited them quite frequently. Andrew enjoyed riding the train to Texas to visit them and preaching along the way. He was the minister of the Old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Rock City, Marion County, Alabama and also preached in the old New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Hatley, Mississippi on alternate Sundays, riding his horse back and forth from Rock City in Marion County, Alabama to Hatley, in Monroe County, Mississippi. Sometimes he would take his wagon if one of his grandchildren went with him. He moved to Eagleville in Rutherford County, Tennessee sometime before 1900 and preached at the Eagleville Primitive Baptist Church until shortly after he suffered a debilitating stroke. He requested to be buried in his garden on his farm about a mile east of Eagleville, TN and has a large beautiful tombstone with a dove on top. After his death, his widow, Nancy Jane, went back to Marion County, AL to live with her son, George Franklin McWhirter, where she died March 12, 1936. She is buried in the old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Rock City, Marion County, AL along with their son, John Crow McWhirter, who died at the age of 13 after being kicked in the head by a horse. Andrew's brother, Thomas A. McWhirter and his wife, Mary Jane Hallmark, are also buried there as well as several other relatives. One of Andrew's granddaughters stated he was preaching in church one Sunday when a baby began crying and its mother stood up to take it outside. Rev. McWhirter asked her to sit back down stating he could preach louder than any baby could cry.(GMT)
An article published in the Marion County Herald on 30 May 1889, entitled "A REMARKABLE FAMILY", stated:
Marion County has one of the most remarkable families within her borders, probably, that exists within the limits of the State. It is the family of Andrew F. McWhirter.
Some 50 years ago Mr. McWhirter moved to Marion County, from Tennessee, and settled near Goldmine, where he lived to the date of his death which occurred during the war. At the time of his death he had 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The daughter married Mr. Harbin and lives near the old homestead. The boys are all temperate men, two of them never even drank a cup of coffee and not one of them use tobacco. The combined weight of the four men is over 800 pounds. The four have 22 living children and 7 dead. Three of them are farmers and one a preacher. The oldest, T.A. (Thomas Andrew) is a farmer and is 47 years of age; W.H. is a farmer and 35 years old; and A.J. (Andrew Jackson), who is the baby, is 30 years old and weighs 211 pounds. He also is a farmer (and preacher) and holds the office of county commissioner, and by the way he is one of the best commissioners in the State. The are highly respected, and gentlemen of moral worth, and men of which any county might well be proud.(GMT)
Apparently Andrew "Jackson" McWhirter, son of Andrew Ferrier McWhirter enlisted in the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV on July 24, 1862, in Huntsville, Alabama with his father and two brothers, Thomas A. McWhirter and George W. McWhirter. A Muster roll stated he had been released from the Adams USA General Hospital in Memphis, TN, and stated he was returned to duty. He was recorded as a Servant (Orderly) in Company K of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV, however.
After joining the Union Army, the men were immediately shipped to Nashville, TN on boxcars, where they were merged with the 1st Middle TN Cav., US and the 5th TN Cav., US. "Jackson", as he was called, and his brother, Thomas A., were with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea,
Jackson was an orderly for Captain Joseph Hornback, however, after ordering his pension records, I found an affidavit written by George Washington Whitehead stating that during the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads, Andrew Jackson acted as artilleryman. It might have been that he was sleeping next to some large artillery, since they were sleeping all over the yard, and when the Confederates stormed them early in the morning, Jackson jumped up and started firing. There was no information as to Hornback's illness or reason for being hospitalized. Jackson and his brother Thomas, had left their father and brother buried in Nashville, when the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, TN where they witnessed the horrific battle of Stone's River, and the aftermath of the destruction. The grounds were crimson with blood, not to mention the blue coats of dead soldiers, the bodies of horses and mules scattered for acres while the temperature was dropping and the rain was mixed with sleet. It was so foggy they had difficulty seeing where they were going. The relatives had begun to gather to see if they could find their son, father, brother or other kin among the dead. As they looked on the other side of the hill, it was almost the exact same scene except the ground was covered with wounded and dead soldiers in gray rather than blue. The wounded were carried into the makeshift hospitals in Murfreesboro, TN while others lined up the dead soldiers side by side in long rows with barely room to walk between them. They pinned a piece of paper on their breast with their names, regiment and state they were from which had been written on the paper.
During the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads in NC, Lt. Hornback was wounded. Jackson McWhirter asked for permission to escort Hornback home and stay with him until he was able to be on his own, which was approved.
Andrew Jackson McWhirter was born June 23, 1847, in Marion County, Alabama to Andrew Ferrier and Sarah Harper McWhirter. He had just turned 15 years of age, two months before he enlisted. His parents, needless to say, were upset with his decision to go off to fight in the war, and tried to talk him into staying home, but he was determined to go along with them and do what he could to help protect his country like his ancestors before him had done. He was in Nashville when his father, Andrew Ferrier and brother, George Washington McWhirter, died less than two weeks apart. These deaths devastated young Andrew, but he was determined more than ever to continue the fight for his country.
Although Andrew J. McWhirter was young when he enlisted in the army, he proudly served out his time and after several close calls he was able to return home to his mother and siblings. He applied for a pension but it was denied. After he died, his widow, Nancy Jane, applied for a pension but it was also denied stating Andrew was not eligible due to him being a public servant of the government (orderly).
On November 29, 1867, Andrew Jackson McWhirter married Nancy Jane Whitehead in Glen Allen, Alabama. The marriage was performed by John Beasley, Justice of the Peace. Andrew & Nancy had the following children: George Franklin, born January 11, 1868, and died in 1953; Alice Arcenia, died February 15, 1930; Mary Emaline, born April 1870; Jasper Green, born November 16, 1872, died July 20, 1920; Lemuel Burnett, grandfather of the author, born September 21, 1873, died March 11, 1941; Rosa Belle, born March 12, 1876, died January 22, 1956; Martha Elizabeth, born August 1878, died in 1936; John Crow, born February 7, 1883, died August 11, 1896 (kicked in the head by a horse and killed); Jessie Houston, born September 1884; and Vernetta Lona McWhirter, born November 7, 1888, and died May 30, 1976.
Nancy Jane Whitehead was the daughter of Archibald Whitehead, Jr. and Martha G. "Patsy" Anthony. Archibald, Jr. died an untimely death on August 8, 1861, and it is thought he was killed by what was called the "Confederate Dog Cavalry" because of his loyalty to the Union. Archibald's brother, Drury "Drew" Henry Cox Whitehead, was also a Unionist.
After the war, Andrew Jackson McWhirter became a Primitive Baptist Circuit Rider, preaching in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. He supposedly preached in each county in Texas with the exception of three. His sister, Mary Caroline McWhirter, had married George Washington Harbin November 29, 1873, and they had previously moved to Wood County, Texas. George W. Harbin served in the 2nd Georgia CSA Cavalry in Cherokee County, Georgia. However, there must not have been any animosity between the families with him having served in the Confederacy and the McWhirters having served in the Union Army because Andrew visited them quite frequently. Andrew enjoyed riding the train to Texas to visit them and preaching along the way. He was the minister of the Old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Rock City, Marion County, Alabama and also preached in the old New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Hatley, Mississippi on alternate Sundays, riding his horse back and forth from Rock City in Marion County, Alabama to Hatley, in Monroe County, Mississippi. Sometimes he would take his wagon if one of his grandchildren went with him. He moved to Eagleville in Rutherford County, Tennessee sometime before 1900 and preached at the Eagleville Primitive Baptist Church until shortly after he suffered a debilitating stroke. He requested to be buried in his garden on his farm about a mile east of Eagleville, TN and has a large beautiful tombstone with a dove on top. After his death, his widow, Nancy Jane, went back to Marion County, AL to live with her son, George Franklin McWhirter, where she died March 12, 1936. She is buried in the old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Rock City, Marion County, AL along with their son, John Crow McWhirter, who died at the age of 13 after being kicked in the head by a horse. Andrew's brother, Thomas A. McWhirter and his wife, Mary Jane Hallmark, are also buried there as well as several other relatives. One of Andrew's granddaughters stated he was preaching in church one Sunday when a baby began crying and its mother stood up to take it outside. Rev. McWhirter asked her to sit back down stating he could preach louder than any baby could cry.(GMT)
An article published in the Marion County Herald on 30 May 1889, entitled "A REMARKABLE FAMILY", stated:
Marion County has one of the most remarkable families within her borders, probably, that exists within the limits of the State. It is the family of Andrew F. McWhirter.
Some 50 years ago Mr. McWhirter moved to Marion County, from Tennessee, and settled near Goldmine, where he lived to the date of his death which occurred during the war. At the time of his death he had 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The daughter married Mr. Harbin and lives near the old homestead. The boys are all temperate men, two of them never even drank a cup of coffee and not one of them use tobacco. The combined weight of the four men is over 800 pounds. The four have 22 living children and 7 dead. Three of them are farmers and one a preacher. The oldest, T.A. (Thomas Andrew) is a farmer and is 47 years of age; W.H. is a farmer and 35 years old; and A.J. (Andrew Jackson), who is the baby, is 30 years old and weighs 211 pounds. He also is a farmer (and preacher) and holds the office of county commissioner, and by the way he is one of the best commissioners in the State. The are highly respected, and gentlemen of moral worth, and men of which any county might well be proud.(GMT)
After joining the Union Army, the men were immediately shipped to Nashville, TN on boxcars, where they were merged with the 1st Middle TN Cav., US and the 5th TN Cav., US. "Jackson", as he was called, and his brother, Thomas A., were with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea,
Jackson was an orderly for Captain Joseph Hornback, however, after ordering his pension records, I found an affidavit written by George Washington Whitehead stating that during the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads, Andrew Jackson acted as artilleryman. It might have been that he was sleeping next to some large artillery, since they were sleeping all over the yard, and when the Confederates stormed them early in the morning, Jackson jumped up and started firing. There was no information as to Hornback's illness or reason for being hospitalized. Jackson and his brother Thomas, had left their father and brother buried in Nashville, when the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, TN where they witnessed the horrific battle of Stone's River, and the aftermath of the destruction. The grounds were crimson with blood, not to mention the blue coats of dead soldiers, the bodies of horses and mules scattered for acres while the temperature was dropping and the rain was mixed with sleet. It was so foggy they had difficulty seeing where they were going. The relatives had begun to gather to see if they could find their son, father, brother or other kin among the dead. As they looked on the other side of the hill, it was almost the exact same scene except the ground was covered with wounded and dead soldiers in gray rather than blue. The wounded were carried into the makeshift hospitals in Murfreesboro, TN while others lined up the dead soldiers side by side in long rows with barely room to walk between them. They pinned a piece of paper on their breast with their names, regiment and state they were from which had been written on the paper.
During the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads in NC, Lt. Hornback was wounded. Jackson McWhirter asked for permission to escort Hornback home and stay with him until he was able to be on his own, which was approved.
Andrew Jackson McWhirter was born June 23, 1847, in Marion County, Alabama to Andrew Ferrier and Sarah Harper McWhirter. He had just turned 15 years of age, two months before he enlisted. His parents, needless to say, were upset with his decision to go off to fight in the war, and tried to talk him into staying home, but he was determined to go along with them and do what he could to help protect his country like his ancestors before him had done. He was in Nashville when his father, Andrew Ferrier and brother, George Washington McWhirter, died less than two weeks apart. These deaths devastated young Andrew, but he was determined more than ever to continue the fight for his country.
Although Andrew J. McWhirter was young when he enlisted in the army, he proudly served out his time and after several close calls he was able to return home to his mother and siblings. He applied for a pension but it was denied. After he died, his widow, Nancy Jane, applied for a pension but it was also denied stating Andrew was not eligible due to him being a public servant of the government (orderly).
On November 29, 1867, Andrew Jackson McWhirter married Nancy Jane Whitehead in Glen Allen, Alabama. The marriage was performed by John Beasley, Justice of the Peace. Andrew & Nancy had the following children: George Franklin, born January 11, 1868, and died in 1953; Alice Arcenia, died February 15, 1930; Mary Emaline, born April 1870; Jasper Green, born November 16, 1872, died July 20, 1920; Lemuel Burnett, grandfather of the author, born September 21, 1873, died March 11, 1941; Rosa Belle, born March 12, 1876, died January 22, 1956; Martha Elizabeth, born August 1878, died in 1936; John Crow, born February 7, 1883, died August 11, 1896 (kicked in the head by a horse and killed); Jessie Houston, born September 1884; and Vernetta Lona McWhirter, born November 7, 1888, and died May 30, 1976.
Nancy Jane Whitehead was the daughter of Archibald Whitehead, Jr. and Martha G. "Patsy" Anthony. Archibald, Jr. died an untimely death on August 8, 1861, and it is thought he was killed by what was called the "Confederate Dog Cavalry" because of his loyalty to the Union. Archibald's brother, Drury "Drew" Henry Cox Whitehead, was also a Unionist.
After the war, Andrew Jackson McWhirter became a Primitive Baptist Circuit Rider, preaching in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. He supposedly preached in each county in Texas with the exception of three. His sister, Mary Caroline McWhirter, had married George Washington Harbin November 29, 1873, and they had previously moved to Wood County, Texas. George W. Harbin served in the 2nd Georgia CSA Cavalry in Cherokee County, Georgia. However, there must not have been any animosity between the families with him having served in the Confederacy and the McWhirters having served in the Union Army because Andrew visited them quite frequently. Andrew enjoyed riding the train to Texas to visit them and preaching along the way. He was the minister of the Old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Rock City, Marion County, Alabama and also preached in the old New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Hatley, Mississippi on alternate Sundays, riding his horse back and forth from Rock City in Marion County, Alabama to Hatley, in Monroe County, Mississippi. Sometimes he would take his wagon if one of his grandchildren went with him. He moved to Eagleville in Rutherford County, Tennessee sometime before 1900 and preached at the Eagleville Primitive Baptist Church until shortly after he suffered a debilitating stroke. He requested to be buried in his garden on his farm about a mile east of Eagleville, TN and has a large beautiful tombstone with a dove on top. After his death, his widow, Nancy Jane, went back to Marion County, AL to live with her son, George Franklin McWhirter, where she died March 12, 1936. She is buried in the old Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Rock City, Marion County, AL along with their son, John Crow McWhirter, who died at the age of 13 after being kicked in the head by a horse. Andrew's brother, Thomas A. McWhirter and his wife, Mary Jane Hallmark, are also buried there as well as several other relatives. One of Andrew's granddaughters stated he was preaching in church one Sunday when a baby began crying and its mother stood up to take it outside. Rev. McWhirter asked her to sit back down stating he could preach louder than any baby could cry.(GMT)
An article published in the Marion County Herald on 30 May 1889, entitled "A REMARKABLE FAMILY", stated:
Marion County has one of the most remarkable families within her borders, probably, that exists within the limits of the State. It is the family of Andrew F. McWhirter.
Some 50 years ago Mr. McWhirter moved to Marion County, from Tennessee, and settled near Goldmine, where he lived to the date of his death which occurred during the war. At the time of his death he had 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. The daughter married Mr. Harbin and lives near the old homestead. The boys are all temperate men, two of them never even drank a cup of coffee and not one of them use tobacco. The combined weight of the four men is over 800 pounds. The four have 22 living children and 7 dead. Three of them are farmers and one a preacher. The oldest, T.A. (Thomas Andrew) is a farmer and is 47 years of age; W.H. is a farmer and 35 years old; and A.J. (Andrew Jackson), who is the baby, is 30 years old and weighs 211 pounds. He also is a farmer (and preacher) and holds the office of county commissioner, and by the way he is one of the best commissioners in the State. The are highly respected, and gentlemen of moral worth, and men of which any county might well be proud.(GMT)
Inscription
"His toils are past
His work is done
He fought the fight
The victory won"
Gravesite Details
grave is outside Hay Cemetery fence
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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George Franklin McWhirter
1868–1953
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Mary Emaline McWhirter Baccus
1870–1897
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Jasper Green Mcwhirter
1872–1920
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Lemuel Burnett "Lemmie" McWhirter
1873–1941
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Rosie Bell McWhirter Beasley
1876–1956
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Martha Elizabeth "Mary" McWhirter Letson
1878–1936
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Arcena Alice McWhirter Taylor
1880–1930
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John Crow McWhirter
1883–1896
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Jesse Houston McWhirter
1884–1943
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Vernetta Lona "Lona" McWhirter Halcomb
1888–1976
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