Ever since the late 1940s, my great grandmother, my grandmother, and (later/now) myself have tried to find the Death Record of my grt grt grandfather, Franz Josef Schöner.

He was born in 21 Aug 1824 in Norstetten, Germany, immigrated in 1853, and after a few years in Kentucky, he moved to the area around Marshall/Ohio County, West Virginia, near the town of Wheeling. He died after 1897 (he sold the rest of his land then). His family's records flip between Ohio County and Marshall County. Anyway, I cannot for the life of me find his death record. I do not know if he was ever Naturalized into the USA, but he very likely was not. He went by "Frank" instead of "Franz" in the 1870 and 1880 Wheeling, WV censuses. And his last name has been spelled as Schöner, Schoner, Shaner, Schaner, and Schoener.

I guess my point is, no matter how much I search places like the Digitalized West Virginia Vital Statistic Records site, I CANNOT find is death record. It is maddening, as I am near 100% positive he was in Wheeling, West Virginia when he died. I just thought that maybe since he was un-naturalized, that he wouldn't have a state death record? Or are there any other reasons why he wouldn't have one? Ohio County's death record seem to be fully there...are there any gaps in Marshall County death records, specifically between 1887 and 1900?

Also, I am posting this in both the Ohio County, WV board, and the Marshall County, WV board here at Ancestry.com, as Franz Josef Schöner and his family seemed to have records in both counties.

Anyway, thank you very much for any help you can give. I truely appreciate it!

Rob Williams