Mr. William P. Melson died 10 July 1883 in Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia "at the residence of his son W(illiam) A. Melson." His obituary appeared in The Constitution (Atlanta) newspaper edition of 12 July 1883:

"Jonesboro, Georgia
DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN
Special to The Constitution
JONESBORO, JULY 11 - Mr. William Melson of this place, who has been quite feeble for some time, died last night at eleven o'clock at the residence of his son W. A. Melson. The deceased was near eighty eight years of age. Will be interred at the Jonesboro cemetery at five o'clock this evening."

He was buried on 11 July 1883 at Jonesboro City Cemetery (I have visited his grave). The Melsons were prominent members of Jonesboro and I feel sure that he would have had an obituary in the Jonesboro newspaper. Can anyone help me with finding a local obit for him? I am desperate to find info. that would be typical for a local paper and surely this 88 yr-old well-known man would've had an obit. HELP!!

What newspaper did Jonesboro use in 1883? Does any researcher have access to Jonesboro obits from 1883? I really need the obit of William P. Melson who d. 10 July 1883 and was buried in Jonesboro City Cemetery on the 11th.
Are there any church records from the Jonesboro Methodist Church? I think it was formed in 1845. Any Melson info. included in church records will be appreciated.
Also, I would like to know where the home of William A. Melson and his son Davis P. Melson was in Jonesboro. Are there any old maps that would have this info - such as Sanborn Fire maps? Where are the Clayton County deed records located - at the courthouse or did Sherman burn them? THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Sherman did not burn Clayton Co CH as far as I know. Clayton Co. was formed in 1858 from Fayette Co. & Henry Co.
This 1855 map shows Jonesboro to be right on the Fayette/Henry county line.

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/fayette185...

You may want to bookmark this link. I find it very handy:

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/courthouses/contents.htm


I fount this for you:

"The Atlanta Constitution"
Atlanta, Georgia

Thursday Morning, July 12, 1883

pg. 2

Jonesboro, Georgia

Death of an Old Citizen

Special to the Constitution

Jonesboro, July 11 - Mr. Wilham (sic) Melson of this place, who has been quite feeble for some time, died last night at eleven o'clock at the residence of his son W. A. Melson. The deceased was near eighty-eight years of age. Will be interred at the Jonesboro cemetery at five o'clock this evening.

I had this obit from the Atlanta Constitution; but surely there would have been an obit in the hometown paper where he, his wife, son & family resided. Do any newspaper editions from 1883 survive? How about a funeral home that kept records back that far?
Some counties kept DC/death records prior to the state requirement; did Clayton keep any?
Thanks for the links; I did bookmark them.
Janet