Dear Subscribers to the Lewis County, Kentucky Mailing List, >From a posting by Dr. William Talley I have learned that John BRUCE, Junior (1777-1855) married Isabella BOYLE. John BRUCE, Junior left home in 1818 to attend the Alabama Land Sales near Florence, Alabama, and at Mussel Shoals on the Tennessee River. Later, upon his return from a trip to Texas, he moved his family to Lewis County, Kentucky in 1823. He received the first federal grant to rid the Ohio River of snags and dead trees in 1824. John BRUCE, Junior is buried in the Black/Bruce Cemetery near Saint Paul, Lewis County, Kentucky. -End Dr. Talley's Portion. Can anyone tell me who the parents of Isabella BOYLE were? I am seeking a connection between Isabella BOYLE and Samuel BOYLE. Samuel BOYLE was born about 1800 in Kentucky. Samuel BOYLE married Barzilla MURPHY in Garrard County, Kentucky in 1823. They had a son, John BOYLE, who was born in 1825. Samuel BOYLE lived in Garrard County, Kentucky until about 1833, when he moved to Clinton County, Indiana. Three of his children were born in Indiana: Alexander, Henry and Pleasant. About 1843, Samuel BOYLE left Indiana and returned to Kentucky, to Lewis County, on the Ohio River. Samuel BOYLE was enumerated in the 1850 Census of Lewis County, Kentucky, District One, page 215, dwellinghouse 163. Samuel BOYLE was fifty years old, born in KY, farmer. His wife Berzilla was included, as were the children. Son John BOYLE was 25, laborer. A daughter, Almanda, was 25(?). The text was difficult to read, due to fading ink and obscure handwriting. A son, Colerin(?) was 20. Robert was 18, a laborer, born in Kentucky. Thus far, I am the only researcher that I know of who is studying the life of Steamboat Captain John BOYLE (son of Samuel BOYLE and Barzilla MURPHY). John BOYLE married Catherine "Katie" HACKWORTH about 1865, possibly in Lewis County. John BOYLE lived in Quincy, Lewis County, Kentucky, through the 1860's and up to about 1875, when he moved to Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio, and set up as a saloonist. He died in 1901 and was buried in Ironton. John BOYLE in 1860 was designated a "Trader". He was a resident of the Ohio River community of Quincy, Lewis County at the time. The obituary of John BOYLE stated that he was a steamboatman in antebellum days, but did not reveal where or when exactly. I am thinking that the term "Trader" may have meant a riverboat trader, in Johgn BOYLE's case. Riverboat traders went up and down the river, picking up goods to sell and marketing them at various places. Pittsburgh was a common destination for loading up. Cincinnati, too, was a beehive of activity. My goal is to uncover more details about the steamboat career of Captain John BOYLE. The possibility exists that John BRUCE, Junior had some role in Captain John BOYLE's choice of occupation. That is only a theory of mine, however. I am searching for anything that would shed light on John BOYLE's employment on the river. Thank you for any suggestions or information you may have! Sincerely, Randal "Randy" W. Cooper