Hello everyone! I have a question that there may be no answer for at this time - but what the heck, I'll ask it anyway. I know the Mercer County Courthouse was destroyed awhile back in a fire, but I never give up hope - I am looking for any records that might be available from a coroner's inquest held in Greenville in December of 1869! Would there be any record of this anywhere? Does anyone have suggestions?!?!? My 4th great-grandfather and his wife were killed in a house fire in Greenville, and I have a newspaper article detailing the death and that there was a coroner's inquest held - but subsequent articles of the newspaper do NOT say what the outcome was. I've copied the article below for anyone interested. ANY HELP or direction would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! GREENVILLE, DEC. 7, 1869 - Our town is beginning to be as notorious in the matter of fires, as was Meadville some two years ago. On the morning of the 6th, at four A.M., the alarm of fire was given, and the dwelling of a Mr. Van Dusen in the south east part of the town was discovered to be in flames. Before any assistance could be rendered, the whole building was in ruins, and to add to the horror of the calamity, the burnt and blackened bodies of the old gentleman and his wife were found in the ruins, burnt to a cinder and past recognition. Various rumors are afloat as to the cause of the fire. Some claim foul play, as the old man was known to have had quite a sum of money, in gold, in his possession. The coroner's jury was sittin all day yesterday, but no verdict was rendered up to this writing. I think there is no doubt that the fire originated from a defective flue, as the chimney in that part of the house where the fire originated was struck by lighting last summer and shattered to such an extent as to make it unsafe, and it was never repaired. Thanks for any help or guidance! Kathy (Van Dusen) Brubaker kbrbkr@toolcity.net