I am planning my first research trip to Belmont County, and am hoping someone can help me pinpoint where I should go. I am researching Fletcher Stewart King, who died August 30, 1886, aged 31 years, in Richland County (according to death certificate). I found a death notice in the St.Clairsville Gazette, which said that he was "buried at Crabapple." I have tried to find Crabapple Cemetery with Mapquest, with no luck. I have found it listed on a topographical map with longitude and latitude, but cannot find a real map I can follow. It appears to be halfway between New Athens and Uniontown. Can anyone give me specifics? I would love to visit it - is it private? Or can I just show up? Also, this cemetery appears to be very old, and related to a Presbyterian Church. I am interested in knowing the name and history of this church, does it still exist, and are its records available somewhere? If Fletcher is buried at the Crabapple Cemetery does that mean he was a member of this church, or were non-members buried there as well? I am hoping to find some links to Fletcher's parents, who are as yet unknown. According to his death certificate, Fletcher was born in Richland Twp, and in 1880 he is enumerated in Wheeling Twp, so he does not appear to have travelled far. I also have his marriage certificate to Sarah Martha Cameron in June, 1876, from Belmont County, but it does not indicate where in the county either of them resided. The death notice in the paper also listed Fletcher as living "near Bruce Station". Can anyone tell me where this would have been located? When he died he left a widow, Sarah King, and at least one child, Zelda (he died 3 mos before she was born), and possibly more. Sarah died only a few years later, in 1889. The child, Zelda, was eventually adopted by Andrew J. Keys, or possibly Keyser. Where might I find information on guardianship or adoption for very young children at this time? Should I start at the Belmont County Courthouse? I would really like to know if Zelda had any brothers or sisters, and what became of them. The family seems to think that she had a brother named Clyde, and in the 1880 census there is a child Effie listed. There is another Fletcher King, who could be the father of, or an uncle to my Fletcher. This Fletcher married Fannie Griffith. I have been unable thus far to link these two men - I even ordered the CW Pension application for Fletcher Senior, but it still only refers to the son that could be my Fletcher with the initials B.F. More and more, it seems unlikely that he is the father of my Fletcher, but I have had no luck finding my Fletcher in any census records prior to 1880. One last question...earlier I had found a link listing the death records index for Belmont County, which is where I was able to get the exact date and location of my Fletcher's death, so that I could then request a copy of his death certificate from the Probate Court at St. Clairsville. Now I cannot find this site anywhere. Does anyone know of this site? If so would you please send my the link? Any suggestions and information will be GREATLY appreciated. Jill Cullinan Cleveland Heights, Ohio

A MUCH better site for locating cemeteries, towns, mountain ranges, rivers, etc is the National Mapping service http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form You can find a local map for the location of Crabapple cemetery by clicking on the Show Feature Location. and then using this in concert with a county map, available from the Courthouse. Do start at the courthouse (get a free county map) and don't miss the genealogical library section of the St. Clairsville Library, directly across the street from the courthouse. The library has a great many local resources, including cemetery books, so you might find the actual directions to Crabtree included in one of them.....they often give their locations. I'd imagine you're speaking of the death indices on line at the Ohio Historical Center's site http://www.ohiohistory.org/ Sandra ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jill" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 12:09 AM Subject: [OHBELMON-L] Belmont research trip help -KING > > I am planning my first research trip to Belmont County, and am hoping someone can help me pinpoint where I should go. > > I am researching Fletcher Stewart King, who died August 30, 1886, aged 31 years, in Richland County (according to death certificate). I found a death notice in the St.Clairsville Gazette, which said that he was "buried at Crabapple." I have tried to find Crabapple Cemetery with Mapquest, with no luck. I have found it listed on a topographical map with longitude and latitude, but cannot find a real map I can follow. It appears to be halfway between New Athens and Uniontown. Can anyone give me specifics? I would love to visit it - is it private? Or can I just show up? > > Also, this cemetery appears to be very old, and related to a Presbyterian Church. I am interested in knowing the name and history of this church, does it still exist, and are its records available somewhere? If Fletcher is buried at the Crabapple Cemetery does that mean he was a member of this church, or were non-members buried there as well? I am hoping to find some links to Fletcher's parents, who are as yet unknown. According to his death certificate, Fletcher was born in Richland Twp, and in 1880 he is enumerated in Wheeling Twp, so he does not appear to have travelled far. I also have his marriage certificate to Sarah Martha Cameron in June, 1876, from Belmont County, but it does not indicate where in the county either of them resided. > > The death notice in the paper also listed Fletcher as living "near Bruce Station". Can anyone tell me where this would have been located? > > When he died he left a widow, Sarah King, and at least one child, Zelda (he died 3 mos before she was born), and possibly more. Sarah died only a few years later, in 1889. The child, Zelda, was eventually adopted by Andrew J. Keys, or possibly Keyser. Where might I find information on guardianship or adoption for very young children at this time? Should I start at the Belmont County Courthouse? I would really like to know if Zelda had any brothers or sisters, and what became of them. The family seems to think that she had a brother named Clyde, and in the 1880 census there is a child Effie listed. > > There is another Fletcher King, who could be the father of, or an uncle to my Fletcher. This Fletcher married Fannie Griffith. I have been unable thus far to link these two men - I even ordered the CW Pension application for Fletcher Senior, but it still only refers to the son that could be my Fletcher with the initials B.F. More and more, it seems unlikely that he is the father of my Fletcher, but I have had no luck finding my Fletcher in any census records prior to 1880. > > One last question...earlier I had found a link listing the death records index for Belmont County, which is where I was able to get the exact date and location of my Fletcher's death, so that I could then request a copy of his death certificate from the Probate Court at St. Clairsville. Now I cannot find this site anywhere. Does anyone know of this site? If so would you please send my the link? > > Any suggestions and information will be GREATLY appreciated. > > Jill Cullinan > Cleveland Heights, Ohio > >