I am new to your list. I am looking for ancestry information about my GGfather, Captain B. F. (Benjamin Franklin) Horn, b. 1827-1830 at Wheeling, VA (now W.VA.). Later federal census information says both of his parents were born in PA. No other early information is available. I believe Capt. B. F. Horn was raised on a river / rivers. His obituary in December 1900 states: "He was promoted to Captain & Pilot on the Ohio River in 1855". It also states: "He worked the southern rivers during the Civil War". He was very young to be promoted to Captain & Pilot at 25 - 27 years old??? but maybe possible if his entire life had been spent on the rivers. I have searched long and hard for a connection in the "The Horns of Colonial Penn", written by Edward T. Porter. I cannot find any connection. I have reason to believe, my Horn ancestors were English or Scottish. (my grandfather told me,"the Horn / Horne name can be German or English - we are definitely English") This is possibly why I am not able to connect to the families set out in Mr. Porter's book. I am told there were / are Horns in an area south of Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River and that they may have been of English Ancestry. I understand this area includes Washington County, PA which is also home country for many Horns of German ancestry (from Ed Porter's book). I have the whereabouts of Captain B. F. Horn semi-captured on the Missouri River from 1866 as "Captain Of The Steamship Emilie" found in the City Directory of Leavenworth, KS. In 1879 He was Captain of the "Union" & the "Denver" at Bismarck, now ND. In 1880 He was Captain of the "Last Chance" that docked at LeBeau, SD (above Pierre, SD). From 1881 to 1896 He was Captain of the Ferry Boat "Jim Leighton" that traveled between Pierre and Fort Pierre, SD. In 1896 1899 He was Captain of the "Portus B. Weare" on the Yukon River during the Gold Rush Days in the Yukon. H died in December 1900 at Pierre, SD of "lung fever". I will certainly appreciate any clues that surface. Thank you. Rod Horn Belle Fourche, SD rodhorn@mato.com