John, I will tell you first hand that although Esther Powell's tombstone inscriptions is a wonderful source, it is NOT complete and it is NOT totally accurate. Many directions and names of cemeteries and the readings from the stones are incorrect. I have found this while doing my own research and helping others with research in Jefferson Co as well. The Jefferson County Chapter of the OGS are currently working VERY hard to update the tombstone collections in Jefferson County and putting together a comprehensive publication which will include multiple (shared) names of cemeteries, doing this through deed searches to locate and prove each cemetery name change over the years, as well as clear and precise directions to each cemetery. There is a really good secondary source for researching in the area that you show interest in. A book titled, "A time and Place in Ohio" by Robert H. Richardson is available from the LDS Family history center on microfiche (which for a small fee of 15 cents on permanent loan it can be read at any FHC). From this book I read on page 21; Methodist Episcopal Church building at Hopewell was in desperate need of expansion and renewal. This small house of worship had been built in 1798 and was the first such structure in the Territory Northwest of the Ohio river... in central Warren Twp. the church had to be replaced. Enthusiastic volunteers cut the trees and after dismantling the original building, constructed a larger, stronger one.... while they were working, they were extremely careful not to disturb the final resting place of the pioneers buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Abel ASHBY was buried in 1816, Thomas EWING in 1817, James ANDERSON in 1818, Cornelius HOWARD in 1828, Isaac BECKETT in 1839, and William PUMPHREY in 1842, who was one of the original founders. Members of the frontier families who came to settle a wilderness are interred in this historic graveyard. (photo of the First Church built in 1798 is on the next page, 22) In the index of the book are the following ASHBY listings: Abel Sr, pg 21, 227, HC (Hopewell Cemetery) Abel Jr., pg 227, CW, HC (Civil War, Hopewell Cemetery) Charles, pg., 131, 183 Harriett pg. 227, HC Jennie pg. 236, HC Mary pg. 227, HC Nancy pg. 227, HC Reuben H., pg. 236, WaC (Warrenton Cemetery) Thomas E. pg. 179, 181 Comments concerning the condition of the Hopewell Cemetery: (published and written in 1982); This historic churchyard is located adjacent to the Hopewell Methodist Church on County Road No. 16. It began with the church in 1798 and today "many" of the old stones are eroded and illegible. (I might add, many stones are missing as well!) I hope this assists you with your research efforts. Flora ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ashby" <Jashby1041@core.com> To: <OHJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 4:15 PM Subject: Re: [OHJEFFER] Ashbys > I just looked up on a map and noticed that Rush Run, Warrenton (Rayland), and Hopewell are all fairly close together. My family, as I know it, is from Rush Run and many of my family are buried at the Warrenton Cemetary. I had received the section below from Flora. I had not known of the Ashby's in the Hopewell Cemetery. Thank you for the information! I have been looking through Esther Powell's Tombstone Inscriptions & Family Records of Jefferson County, Ohio and I feel a bit overwhelmed with both information and lack of information. I know of other Ashby's buried at Warrenton that are not listed, even though I have seen the tombstones. In Powell's book Hopewell is listed in the table of contents under Warren Township and when you turn back to the pages for Hopewell, it is listed as Methodist Church Cemetery. Is Hopewell M. E. Cemetery the same place as that you are calling Hopewell Cemetery? Between different names for places and the fact that not all records match up, this ! > gets confusing. I have been to the Warrenton Cemetery and now I think I must go to the Hopewell Cemetery too when I am down there next time. I know that it took me a long time to find the Warrenton Cemetery! My thanks to Mr. John Henry Yater for that. > So are there any other helpful books or records I could check to help me in my search? It seems likely that the Ashby's listed at Hopewell are related to my Ashby's at Warrenton. But of course I need to verify and make the actual connections. So far I have a copy of an obituary for James Monroe Ashby (my great grandfather) and an 1860 Census that confirms the information from the obituary. I know that James' father (my gg grandfather) is Samuel Ashby (born 1820). How might I find the infomation to make possible connections and take this further? > > From Flora: > >There are several Ashby's listed burried at Hopewell Cemetery. > > >Abel Ashby Sr. 1765-1816 > >Abel Ashby Jr. 1830-1875 noted served in Civil War > > >Harriett Ashby 1793-1854 > > >Mary Ashby couldn't read > >Nancy Ashby baby 1841 > > >Also at Warrenton Cemetery > >Jennie Ashby 1866-1953 > >Reuben H. Ashby 1861-1939 > > ______________________________