RACHEL JANE BEARS, dau. of Patrick
Sarah Martin-BEARS, was born 1844 in Jackson Co. OH. She married Andrew Jackson WRIGHT on April 25, 1867 in Harrison Co., MO. Andrew's parents were Elisha and Elizabeth McCune-Wright. I have lots on the Wright side, little on the Bears side. IF you know about any of their siblings, please contact me.
ELISHA C. WRIGHT and his wife, ELIZABETH MCCUNE-WRIGHT settled on Panther Creek just north and west of Mt. Moriah, Harrison Co., Missouri between 1847 (the birth of his last child) and 1855 as several of his family members had purchased land in and around Mt. Moriah by 1856. Elisha C. Wright was born in New York and moved with his parents to Athens Co., OH between the age of 8 and 18 (according to census records). Elisha married his wife, Elizabeth, in Caanan Township, Athens Co., OH on March 27, 1827. Elisha and Elizabeth had 10 children, all who were believed to have been born in Athens Co., Ohio.

CHILDREN OF ELISHA C. ELIZABETH-WRIGHT:
1) Harriet L. Wright (1832 Athens Co. OH - ? ) m. Simeon Wallace
2) David Millard Wright (1830 Athens Co. OH - 1872 Harrison Co., MO) m. Isabella G. Lingrell
3) Esther L. Wright (abt 1847 OH? - ? ) m. John W. Collins
4) John S. Wright (1828 Athens Co., OH - 1925 Harrison Co., MO) m. Polly Bridge Rachel Stoner
5) William R. Wright (1834 Athens Co., OH - 1889 Falls City, NE) m. Emily S. Bridge
6) Samuel J. Wright (1838 Athens Co., OH - ?)
7) Wilson M. Wright ( 1840 Ohio - ? )
8) Elisha W. Wright (1840 Athens Co. OH - ?)
9) James H. Wright (1842 Athens Co., OH - 1861 in Civil War)
10) Andrew J. Wright (1844 Athens Co., OH - 1928 Mt. Moriah, MO) m. Rachel J. Bears (A.J. was a Civil War Veteran
1860 CENSUS Harrison County, MO; Vol. II, p. 25

SOURCE: Probate Records on file at Harrison County Courthouse, Bethany, MO
Elisha C. Wright did not have a Will. His son, David M. Wright, wrote and signed the following statement regarding the estate of his father, Elisha C. Wright:

State of Missouri
Harrison County
In the matter of Elisah C. Wright's estate.
David M. Wright says that to the best of his knowledge and belief, the names of the heirs of the said Elisha C. Wright discussed are as follows: John S. Wright, David M. Wright, Harriet L. Wallace, Samuel J. Wright, Andrew J. Wright, Esther L. Collins, all of whom reside in the county of Harrison in the State of Missouri and William R. Wright who resides in the County of Mercer in the State of Missouri; that the said Elisha C. Wright died without a will; that he will make a perfect inventory of and faithfully administer all the estate of the deceased and pay the debts as far as the assets will extend and the law direct, and accounts for and pay all assets which shall come to his possession or knowledge.
David M. Wright
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of September, 1867
Judge of Probate

CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT ELISHA C. WRIGHT AND HIS FAMILY?

1) Elisha and Rachel had 10 children, yet only 7 of them are listed in the Probate Records as heirs to his estate. We know that James H. Wright died in 1861 in the Civil War so that would take care of him but what happened to Wilson M. and Elisha W. Wright?

2) Wilson M. is listed on the 1860 Census and Elisha W. is not. If they were not listed in will does one assume that they were deceased?

3) As Elisha W. is not listed on 1860 Census, did he pass away before they came to Missouri? Family legend has it that one of the children was abducted by Indians as the family travelled from Ohio to Missouri. I have no factual evidence to back this up, only family legend.

4) Samuel J. Wright, Harriet L. Wright-Wallace and Esther L. Wright-Collins are all listed in their father's will as residing in Harrison County, Missouri. BUT WHERE ARE THEY AFTER 1867? CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THESE THREE SIBLINGS?

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE, PLEASE CONTACT ME. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: connieg56@aol.com. ANY HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED! Connie