I really appreciate your reply. Since posting this I have done more digging (and calling relatives) and have uncovered a couple things that opened up other aspects of my family tree.
The Jessie Quick you mention was his daughter Jessie (she married a Quick before leaving for DC, remarried once she got there though). I have spoken to her grandson and he has a vague memory of his granddad Reuben, though he is my dads age he was still pretty young when 'granddad Reuben' was around so he didnt ask a lot of questions.

I have bounced around a few times checking out census records (but still have not broken thru), the most confusing thing is the fact that he AND his wife dont appear anywhere prior to 1900. Since she (Frances) would have been 12 at the time of thier marriage I am thinking that maybe that plays into some of the 'mystery' behind who he was and where he came from.

The parents listed on his death cert I still have not been able to locate, so I began looking for them (and him) under another surname. During that time, and in that part (York) of SC there were a lot of McFadden slaveholders. After speaking to my family I have found LOTS of McFAddens all around, always referred to as cousins. The ones from the census I have been able to go back and locate prior to 1900 as well as the people my family has said were 'cousins' - but when I research the latter back into the 1800's I dont find the connection. I think I am going to stay in that area (McFaddens) because I have been able to find three separate sets of them going back to the 1840's, so I am hopeful that this is where I will locate him.

Its my assumption that he has to be a child, boarder, orphan or something like that and I will find someone that matches his vitals in the household (or next door) to these McFaddens.

Again, thanks for the help.