Concurrently, he was postmaster of the post office in Vanceburg. In 1849, Bruce taught at a school in Vanceburg for a five-month term. The following year, he taught for five months in another school in Lewis County.
At the same time, Bruce managed the Vanceburg post office and also served as an educator. He taught at a school in Vanceburg from 1849 to 1850, with two separate five-month stints. Later, he worked as a teacher at another school in Lewis County.