I too am a decendent of Sarah Howsley and William Trevathan, and the family history always said that William Howsley, Sarah's Brother, was murdered in Virginia City, Nevada, hence Sarah would no longer live in VC; Her husband was also mining in that area. Anyway I have been working on the "Gold Hill Cemetery Record Book 1863 - 1884" FHC film # 1889228 item 2, and on page 86 I found the following entries: Registry of Deaths in Gold Hill, Story County Nevada for fiscal year ending June 1 st 1869. #17 Wm. B. How(u)sely,Place of birth-England cause of death- pistol shot ? Holly date-Aug 25 age-40 occupation-miner by whom buried- Wm Trevathan where buried-Gold Hill Cemetery. #18 W.F. Holly pob-Illinois Cause-Suicide date-Aug 25 age-30 occ-miner who buried-brother where-Gold Hill Cemetery.
It is my understanding that the records for the Gold Hill Cemetery are not too good and that the cemetery itself is in poor shape I will be checking on that in the near future.Hope this helps.