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Thomas McFadden. Letters, 1869. Accession 24587. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia..
Purchased, 23 February 1957.
Thomas McFadden was born 9 November 1825 in Rushville, Ohio. He studied medicine and practiced in Rushville until he moved to Westerville, Ohio, in 1855. McFadden served as the town doctor and began a career at Otterbein College, becoming professor of natural science. When the Civil War began, he enlisted as a surgeon with the 46th Ohio Infantry. He was honorably discharged in 1862 because of poor health, but reenlisted in 1863 and served as a surgeon at Camp Chase. After the war ended, he returned to his duties at Otterbein College. McFadden married Rebecca Hartley and they had at least three children. McFadden died 9 November 1883.
Letters, 1869, of Thomas McFadden (1825-1883) of Westerville, Ohio, to Lewis McKenzie (1810-1895), president of the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire Railraod, and to Colonel H. S. McComb (1828-1881) of Wilmington, Delaware, detailing his geological survey along the proposed route of the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire railroad through Virginia and West Virginia. He offers astute analysis on the geological and mineral formations of the region as well as on the local inhabitants. Letters consist of: McFadden to McKenzie, 24 June 1869, describing the good quality and quantity of marble and sandstone he found in Loudoun County, Virginia, discussing the copper ore, iron ore, and gold he found there, commenting on Loudoun County's potential for agricultural prosperity, a recommending laying the rail lines south of Leesburg, Virginia; McFadden to McComb, 3 July 1869, detailing his survey of Clarke and Frederick Counties and Winchester, Virginia, noting quartz, limestone and lead, commenting on the great amount of iron ore in the area, warning that the purchase of real property in the area might be difficult, stating that the inhabitants have a strong dislike of "yankees," and providing a rough map of the area discussed; and McFadden to McComb, 1 September 1869, stating that he is back in Westerville after travelling to Wilmington, Delaware, to see McComb, discussing the lack of minerals, especially coal, in Hampshire and Hardy Counties, West Virginia, warning McComb that a group of New York businessmen have a charter to build a railroad through these counties, discussing the possibility of purchasing real property, and praising the beautiful scenery through which the proposed Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire Railroad will pass.