I agree that there has to be a connection.
You are right in location of Letter Gap and Grass Run. Yes, you do cross a bridge after turning right. The river is the Little Kanawha River. If you stay on this road and not turn off you will go to Normantown.
I belong to the Gilmer County Historical Society. They have a small research library located in Glenville.
Are you familiar with the Hacker's Creek Historical Society. It is located near Weston, in Lewis County. They have one of the best libraries for those of us who are searching the counties of Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Doddridge, Braxton, Randolph,and Nicholas and other counties in central WV. They are very friendly and extremely helpful.
In addition to the library (in a restored old school house), they have a journal published quarterly and a website:
http://www.hackerscreek.com.
Membership is $35 a year, plus $5 surchage for "online"access and HCPD-L.
Are you familiar with Don Norman's Genealogy material? You can connect with his information at Roots, or go to West Virginia, and then go to the Cultural Center, then to Archives and find Don Norman. He has researched Gilmer County families and has a pretty extensive list. However, like many lists it is not all correct.
Maybe someday we will find a connection. Let me know if I can be of help. Since my father has died and my mother is in a care home, we have sold the home property in Glenville. I live in Beckley, WV and try to go to Gilmer County about 3-4 times a year to do research. I, also, try to get to Hacker's Creek about twice a year.
Lois Cooper
locoop@charter.net