He moved to GA with his father and mother about 1821. It is said they left North Carolina, perhaps went into South Carolina, then traveled by way of Huntsville, AL, where they supposedly spent about a year. They then moved over the line into Tennessee where they spent a couple of years on a farm "in sight of Winchester, Tennessee". The next year they moved east to Gilmer Co., GA (Hall Co.), where his father settled on an Indian Claim, land that had just recently opened to settlement. Andrew remained here with his parents until about 1827, when he moved on the old Villa Rica, Carroll Co., GA area, where he met and married the daughter of the farmer for whom he was working as a farm hand.
They are both buried in the Draketown Baptist Church Cemetery.
An annual family reunion was begun in Jul 1889 by the children and relatives of Nancy Leathers McBrayer to commemorate and celebrate her birthday. This reunion has been held every year since, with the exception of one year during WW II. It is still held at the original site - the Draketown Baptist Church - the third Sunday of July each year. Draketown is located to the southwest of Dallas, GA, on Highway 120.
(ED NOTE: Data supplied by Terrell McBrayer, which was supposed to have been taken from an old family dictionary, indicates that Andrew had two sons, Andrew and George, and a daughter, Susannah, who died in infancy. This information was supposed to have been compiled by William Clark McBrayer and was recorded on a blank page of an old dictionary now in the possession of his daughter Mrs. Tessa McBrayer Gray.)
From 'Memoirs of Georgia, Vol II, published by The Southern Historical Association, Atlanta, GA' in 1895 .... "was born in Buncombe County, NC, whence the family migrated to GA in 1817, making the journey in an ox-cart, and settled in what is now Campbell and Paulding Counties - living in a tent until land could be cleared and a house built. Three months schooling, under serious disadvantages, was all received out by reading and studying by a pine-knot light he acquired a fair practical education at home. In 1831 he moved to what is now Paulding County, where he accumulated a fortune and died in 1891." (provided by Jimmie Sue Blaylock - 1999)

Andy and Nancy stories and facts from my grandmother's notebook are as follows:
When Andy and Nancy Leathers McBrayer were married they settled near Villa Rica. They lived on one hill and the Candlers (coca Cola Candlers) lived on another (close neighbors).
Their homes, as were all the pioneer homes, were built of big logs chinked with mud. The mud would fall out leaving cracks. Andy would be away on business at Court at Dallas, leaving Nancy at home with the children. Almost all the land was full of Cherokee Indians. She said at night she could hear them prowling around, see their eyes shining in the cracks as they peeped through. She said she was so scared, almost afraid to breathe.
Their boys and the Candlers played together. Her son Joe and Billy Candler were pals. One morning they were going down the road. No stock law at this time. At this particular place the fence ran along each side of the road making a lane of the road. A yearling jumped up in from of them. Joe threw a rock at him, hit him on the head and killed him. Some scared boys.
Nancy said the Paulding and Carroll County line was an old Indian trail.
Andy was a home guard during the Civil War.

Civil War Record of Andrew Erwin McBrayer (From the Ga. Archives)

9 Batt' n Cavalry (State Guards) Ga.
A.E. McBrayer, Pvt., Capt. Hamrick's Co., McDonald Batt'n, Georgia Cavalry, Maj. Wm. Phillips commanding.
Appears on Company Muster-in Roll of the organization named above. Roll not dated. Muster-in to date Aug., 1863.
Joined for duty and enrolled:
When: July 7, 1863,
Where: Dallas, Ga.
By whom: R.W. Hamrick
Period: six month
Valuation in dollars of Horse 400;
Remarks: McBrayer, A.E., Horse furnish John Robbins 300 equipment 75.

Signed A.C. Black


9 Batt'n Cavalry (State Guards) Ga.
A.E. McBrayer
Pvt. Co.A McDonald Batt'n Cavalry, Georgia State Guards, Maj. Wm. Phillips commanding

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Sept. 5, 1863 to Feb. 4, 1864.
Enlisted:
When: Aug. 4, 1863
Where: Dallas, Ga.
By whom Capt. R.W. Hamrick
Period: 6 mos.
Last paid:
By whom: never has been paid.
Commutation for use of horse, etc,, (40cents per day), $21.60.
Remarks: Detailed Oct. 28/63 per order no. 24 H.C. Hayns (?) A&IG


Signed A.C. Black


Confederate Co. A, 9 Batt'n Cav., Georgia State Guards.
Company Muster roll
Of the organization named above
For Sept. 5, 1863 to Feb. 4, 1864, shows station of company, Camp Smyrna near Marietta, Ga.
Record of events
The company ordered into active service on the 5 day of September 1863 by proclamation of Governor Brown by order of President Davis. Left Dallas, Paulding Co. Ga. The eight day of September 1863. Reported to Col. Stiles at Cartersville, returned to Dallas on September 12th, 1863. Picketed the roads taking up deserters, stragglers, and returning them to their Commands. Removed to Camp Cobb in same County 14 miles distant on 5 October, 1863; Removed to Camp Pillow in Haralson County on 9 of October being 20 miles from Camp Cobb; Then removed 20 miles to Camp Phillips near Bowden in Carroll Co. on Oct. 22, 1863. In marching from Camp to Camp the Company was divided into scouting parties and while stationed at the different Camps,
Scouting parties were sent out into the country 15 and 20 miles around and acted in concent with the Alabama State Guard along the state line taking up deserters, stragglers, conscripts and keeping down horse and Negro stealing, and detecting passing counterfeit money. The Company left Camp Phillips on Nov. 13, 1863, and dividing into scouting parties proceeded to Camp Baskin in Carroll Co., arriving there the next day 20 miles distant. Some of the scouting parties proceeding to Heard County and to the line of Alabama acting as before in connection with Alabama State Guard and arriving at Camp Baskin during the ____ 10 days. While at Camp Baskin the Company engaged as before in scouting parties arresting deserters and paroled Vicksburg prisoners who had been exchanged and failed to repair (?) to their commands. Also arresting stragglers, conscripts and violators of Law. On the 21 December the Company was ordered to Paulding County to scout that County until 10 day of January, 1864. On 11 day of January 1864 that company was ordered to a place called Smyrna Camp _____ six miles from Marietta in Cobb County and while it was sending out scouting parties and performing the duties of the Camp. No deaths of men or loss of horses.


From the Carroll Free Press November 8, 1889:
The Late Andrew E. McBrayer
Mr. Andrew Erwin McBrayer, one of the oldest citizens of this section, died at his home near Draketown, Ga., Ocotober 29, 1889.
He settled on Sweetwater Creek, near Villa Rica, more than sixty years ago. He raised a large family, of whom six sons and two daughters are living in this community.
Through all his long life he was respected and honored by all who knew him. A self-reliant man who set no traps to catch success but went straight on in his plain duty; his whole life characterized by a remarkable fidelity to principle.
When about to die he called his children around him and advised them to live in this life for a better life in eternity. Only a few minutes before he died he said: "Boys, I can help you no more. Do right."
It was fitting that the last words of "Andy" McBrayer shoud be "do right." The watch words of his life, the "key note" of a character upon which no stain of dishonesty rests. His life was a rebuke to the evil, an inspiration to the upright. Though gone from earth we cannot say he is dead. Such men never die. He assisted all his children in getting comfortable homes and left an estate to be divided among them; but the inheritance left to them of which they have reason to be proud, prouder than all else, is the inheritance of a good name. "As honest as Andy McBrayer," was considered in the community in which he lived as the highest attainment of integrity and to be His friend was a recommendation to any man.
Though not a member of the church and never a professing christian---this, perhaps, the only serious mistake of his life; for his life, useful as it was, might have been infinitely more so, had he openly and before man acknowledged his God. Yet, it seems impossible that he could have lived as he did had he not been influenced by the grace of God, and those who knew him best, and loved him most, can but believe that he whose rule of action through life was "DO RIGHT" not for policy's sake but because it was right; is safe--resting in a country inhabited by those who in this life "walked uprightly, worked righteousness and spoke the truth in their hearts." He loved his own southern land and native state with a devotion which only a true patriot can love.
Living as he did near the lines of Carroll, Paulding and Haralson counties each claimed him as her citizen and they all mourn together over their loss.
His life and character are the heritage alike of his children, his community, his county, his state, and his country--and they are poorer when he is gone. Sleep on, thou pure patriot, upright man.
When those who knew him, respected him and honored him, pass the grave of his sleeping they will say: "Here lies a man who never wronged his fellow man." W.B.C.
Villa Rica, Ga., Nov. 4th, 1889
Haralson Banner and Paulding New Era please copy.


From the Haralson Banner November 7, 1889

A GOOD MAN GONE
Uncle Andy McBrayer, an aged and highly respected citizen who lived near Draketown, in Paulding county, died last Tuesday night. He was one of the oldest citizens of Paulding county, and was honored and loved by all who knew him. He leaves an aged wife and several children, all of whom are married, some of them are among the foremost men in this and Paulding County. His death was a profound sorrow to a number of friends in this county.