Lori ~ Sorry to take so long to reply. My computer crashed and I just got it back up and running again. Sheriff George was my 2nd great-grandfather. As far as I can determine through facts alone, he stepped off a flying saucer. There is nothing I can find to prove otherwise. The few things I have learned about him: The 1850 Census listed virtually every Wright in Greene County as "Right." Some may have actually spelled it that way. In 1850, George Right, age 25, was a farmer who lived in Washington Twp., with his wife, Lucinda [Booher], age 19, and their infant daughter, Mary Ann, age 5 months. Also in the home were two ladies, Elsey Right, age 23, and Martha Right, age 21. I am guessing they were his sisters. This Census indicated that George and these two ladies were all born in PA. On March 24, 1858, The Waynesburg Messenger printed, "We are authorized to announce GEORGE WRIGHT, of Washington township, as a candidate for Sheriff, subject to the decision of the Democratic Primary Elections in June next." They printed the exact same notice for other candidates on that date and other such notices in other issues. This data is from the James Forsythe pages. In the Census of 1860, George 37 (he aged more quickly than others), now Greene County Sheriff, and Lucinda, age 30, were living in Waynesburg, along with their children, Elizabeth, 9; Rachel B, 7; Emma Jane, 5; Jackson, 4 and Nancy A, 2. Also in the home, William M. Wright, age 27, deputy sheriff, and almost certainly George's brother. The Deputy Sheriff lists PA as his birthplace. Sadly, little Mary Ann had died in 1853, and her little brother, William M, b. 1850, lived only a few months, so was never enumerated. They were both buried in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery, Ruff Creek, Washington Twp. By the time the 1870 Census rolled around, George had died, and his widow had married Stephen White of Springhill Twp. George and Lucinda had had one more child, George, Jr., known as Booher, in 1861. According to a letter written by Booher, Bruce was his paternal grandmother's maiden name. While I know where Lucinda Booher Wright White is buried, I do not know where George is buried. Even those who have the books of cemetery listings cannot find him. (Maybe he didn't die then, but hitched a ride home on a passing flying saucer?) I have located no Bruce family in Greene County or Washington County, as far back as 1800, nor anyone who could reasonably be his father. I did find one man who could be his grandfather, but, so far, there is no way to prove it. Louis Wright was born in 1753 and fought in the Revolutionary War. (In the 1840 Census he was reported as age 87 and receiving a military pension.) He died in late 1845 or early 1846, as his will was probated Feb 1846. Normally, I would trace a family in the pre-1850 Censuses by checking age progressions over the years. Unfortunately, Lewis' enumerations did not progress. The household members grew younger or older without reason, and even changed sexes with alarming frequency, but without pattern. I have begun to suspect that old Lewis opened his home to widows with minor children, and when each family moved on, took in another. In any event, Lewis is far too old to be the Sheriff's father, but could be his grandfather, or even his great-grandfather, since he was 71 when the Sheriff was born. There is no age progression that would include George in Lewis' Census enumerations. I have not accepted Lewis as a forefather. I have a theory, which only lacks names to explore it. George's parents were likely born and raised in Greene County, and likely in Washington Twp., but at least settled there when George was still an infant. George would have grown up on the family farm and showed himself to be hard-working and responsible from an early age. Reason: There were at least 6 men running for Sheriff in the Democratic Primary the year George won. With that many candidates, men would most likely vote for a man well-known to them as honorable and hardworking, and whose father was also known and respected, and preferably, his grandfather as well. (Having a grandfather that fought in the Revolutionary War would be a real plus.) Most of the citizens of Greene County were farmers and likely believed a man's family and upbringing were very important in determining a man's true character and worth. George's parents died before the 1850 Census. Reason: George had two adult, unmarried sisters living in his home. Unless their parents were deceased, daughters remained at home until they married, and would have cared for their parents in their last illnesses. However, after both parents were gone, young unmarried women would not normally live alone, but would live with a close relative until their marriage. The problem with this theory is that I have no proof that the two ladies were his sisters, or left his home to marry, and I could find no William M. Wright age about 17, in the entire county in 1850. Where was he hiding during the 1850 Census? Perhaps we cannot locate the family because his father died young and his mother remarried, just as his own wife would, years later. I have no answers, only questions. Second great-grandpa George Wright is my brick wall. Susan in Louisiana **************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)