What a thoughtful and helpful response!

>He apparently began a newspaper, which ran for many years.

The McDowell Record. Can't find archives anywhere yet, but I have requests in to the library and the Historical Society.

He also was an elected official for many years as County Clerk and recorder. And he died in 1908, while his widow died in 1917. If his local newspaper obit doesn't exist, maybe a nearby county newspaper would have it; or perhaps the State Archives of WV (on microfilm).

>If that fails, write to the current county clerk and see if they have a "memorial book" of some kind in their office for past elected officials.

That's a very cool idea!

>Finally (if all else fails!) ask if they would look at the deed books for 1865-66 (or so) to see if J. Frank Johnson ever filed his military discharge paper in one of these.

I'm sorry - ask the county clerk to look for this? There might be a military discharge document in a deed book?

>I don't know how early/late that they have death records, but you might want to check on that also. If not for him, then perhaps for Marinda, who died later.

Strangely enough, their records don't appear in http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_dcsearch.aspx, although the dates of both deaths fall into the date ranges for McDowell. I'm wondering if they hadn't moved elsewhere.

>Or search for a G.A.R. post(or SUV)near that area--they might hold some records.

Another fine idea. . . I'm on it! Finding a post is proving to be tricky.

>I also read on the website that they Historical Society (a link)is selling a County History book for $60 (more importantly, Volume II---which means there is a Vol. I out there somewhere!). Most Society's don't mind looking up a person for you if they think they may sell a book in the process. You could probably get Vol. I through a local library (depending on where you live) via library loan system.

I looked through these at the Welch library, and found a few citations, even a photo. Not much else.

THANKS!!!