Hardy County Families
Robert Oates
and Lavina McGill Burch Oates

Submitted by:
Glenn Smith
P.O. Box 1332
Muskogee, OK 74402
Lavina (McGill) Burch-Oates was reportedly born in Ohio on 1 November 1819 and died in Hardy County, West Virginia on 28 January 1907. The Moorefield Examiner the local newspaper, had the following two mentions of her death in the issue published on Thursday 7 February 1907: 1
BEAN SETTLEMENT NEWS

Mrs. Oats, an aged lady of this place died Monday [Jan. 28] and was buried Wednesday. Rev. Stump conducted the funeral services.

DOMAN NEWS

Mrs. Lavina Oats, who was been an invalid for a number of years and who was far advanced in years, died at the home of her son R.L. Burch on the 28th of January. E.L. Burch of Cumberland came up last Monday to attend his mother's burial.

The Death Records of Hardy County, WV:2

Mrs. Lervicy? Oates, died 28 January 1907, widow, died at Fabius of Asthma. Reported on 8 Mar. 1907, Dr. R.W. Love.

The old Buzzard Ford Bridge in Hardy County, WV was built in 1891 - 1892 near what is now (1940s) the Fisher Post Office. The sub-structure was started in 1891 and was an all summer job. The contract was awarded to Robert Oates, a skilled and capable stone mason of that day.3

The Hardy County News, on Friday, 9 August 1901, published the financial records for Hardy County, WV for the year ending 31 July 1901. The money spent for road repairs in the county contained several names of interest. George Bowman was paid .37 cents for 1/2 day's work. John W. Tharp was paid $2.00 for work with his team on a road. Robert Oats "putting fill in N. River ford", was paid $85.00.

Robert Oats died in Hampshire Co., WV on 19 April 1908. His age at death was reported to be 79 years. He was a widower. His occupation was "stonemason." 29 [born 1829?]4

The Moorefield Examiner had the following mention of the death of Robert Oates:5

BEAN SETTLEMENT NEWS

April 21. -- Robert Oates, an aged resident of this country, died at his daughter's Mrs. George Timbrooks near Rock Oak, Monday morning after an illness of pneumonia fever. His remains were brought to the family grave yard at R.L. Burch's Tuesday at one o'clock p.m. for interment. Undertaker C.L. Burch had charge of the burial.

NOTES:
  1. The Moorefield Examiner, Feb. 7, 1907.
  2. Hardy Co., WV, DR Book 2, p. 64, line 4.
  3. The Moorefield (WV) Examiner, Sat., Aug. 17, 1985. (Newspaper clipping in file.)
  4. Hampshire Co., WV Death Record Book 2, p. 90.
  5. Moorefield Examiner newspaper, 23 April 1908.

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