Looking for any sources that might help resolve a dilemna that crosses state lines and three counties. My great great grandfather was William Bush, who married Margaret Greeley the younger sister of the famous editor Horace Greeley. On the 1850 census for Spring Creek, Warren county, PA he is listed as William O. Bush age 32, born VT. This gives him a birth year of 1817/18. Their marriage is mentioned in the Fredonia NY newspaper clipping as marriage of "Oscar" Bush to Margaret Greeley. This is definitely my guy, because their youngest child is definitely my great grandfather Arthur, who was 1 month old on the 1850 census. Problem. Family is not on Warren county 1860 census, but NY 1855, US 1860, NY 1865 and later censuses show his wife and children living in Clymer, Chautauqua county, NY. Where is William? Assumption: death or divorce prior to 1855. Next clue: The Beers History of Erie county, in the article on the Greeley family, ends with "Marguerite united herself to a writing master named Bush, from whom she parted." That's all, but it suggests divorce might be my answer to William's whereabouts after 1850. Next clue: Quite by accident I find a William Bush on the 1860 census for Elk Creek twp, Erie county, PA. This William is also born VT, age 42 also giving a birth year of 1817/18. Aha! think I. There he is, living with his parents (maybe), a new young wife half his age, and starting a new young family with son Darius age 2 months. This looks promising, and in the Erie Public Library I find a January 15, 1899 burial listing for him in the Hope Cemetery in Wellsburg (which as we know from earlier posts is in Elk Creek twp.). So my wife and I drive up from Florida to investigate in person and what do we find? The burial record actually shows William "R." Bush, not William "O." His headstone in the cemetery also shows William R. Bush. Age is correct, place of birth is correct. I haven't found any other William Bushes from Vermont of that age anywhere. So how do I prove whether this is my gggfather or not? Is it likely that the informant for the burial got his middle initial wrong? Is there a marriage or divorce record that might give me a clue? Where would I find an obituary from Wellsburg area for January 15, 1899? Anyone have any ideas?? Dan Parry in Jacksonville, Florida [email protected]