Confederate Indigent Families Lists (1863-1865).
On November 24, 1863, the Texas Legislature passed a Joint Resolution stating that the government pledged "support and maintenance of [the soldiers'] families during their absence from home". In accordance, an "Act to Support the Families and Dependents of Texas Solders" passed on December 15, 1863. The following Risingers were listed from Shelby County: Jordan Risinger, P L Risinger, T L Rysinger, J Rysinger.
Jordan was a Confederate soldier. His death was a result of injuries from a fall.
In "Our Dead, Shelby County, TX, 1836-1964":
Jordan married ca. 1875 Sarah (Mary) Jane Rocann, Ireland, born ca. 1843/1850
In "History of Shelby County, Texas", Article F874, by Kathy Windham Lee:
Jordan came here from Georgia. He fought in the Civil War. He met and married Mary Morris who was full blood Cherokee Indian. They lived and farmed in the Patroon Community. To this marriage, nine children were born. Jordan's middle name was recorded as Gilmore in the Confederate Soldiers of Shelby county. Jordan served in the Confederate States Army, Pvt. 1st Texas Lancers, Col. Horance Randall commanding, Co., A, 28th Texas Ca., enlisted at Shelbyville 2 April 1862 for 3 years or war, age 24.
Written 6 Oct 1972, by Etta Armstreet, about her grandfather, Jordan Risinger:
"Lovingly known as "Uncle Jordan". Came to Tenaha, from Alabama with his parents, Amos and Mahalia Risinger, when he was young. Two of Amos' brothers and their families, came with them. One of the brother's boy died on the way from Alabama and was buried on the roadside.
"Grandpa had five brothers and two sisters. He married and had one son, David. Then, he and three brothers went to the civil war. One of the brothers died, while in service, with typhoid fever. It was fourteen years before David had a little brother, and glory be, there were two...Jimero McDuffy and Cicero Lafayette. Grandpa named the twins after two of his brothers. Born next, was Pauline, then Willie (Willie died young). Bennie came next, followed by another set of twins...Amos and Mahalia. Grandpa named them after his father and mother. Amos was 2 1/2 years old when he died. Later, came Grover and then Lizzy.
"Uncle Bennie remembers when he and his twin brothers, Jimero and Cicero, and sister, Pauline, attended the Risinger school...sometimes known as the Rough Edge School. Their first teacher was their brother, David. He also remembers two other teachers, Mrs. Powers and Mr. Kenchleo. Later, the youngest children went one term at the Cicero School. Grover remembers their teacher at the Cicero School, Ella Foresyth. At that time, Cicero and Jimero were working with Grandpa, near Logansport, La. They were camping and working on the H.E. & W.T. Railroad, which grandpa had an interest in. He got the logs and hired men to build the first Rail Road across the Sabine River at Logansport.
"Grandpa along with his family, moved to Patroon, when Jimero and Cicero were 21. David, the oldest, died the following year. At that time, he was living in Louisiana. He was brought back to the Patroon Cemetery for burial. He was about 37 years old. He left a wife and five little boys. Grandpa's children married and settled around him. Grover married and remained living with his parents. Grover was just a big brother to his nieces and nephews. We never could call him Uncle Grover. My father, Cicero, had eight children. Uncle Jimero had seven children, and Aunt Pauline had six children. Uncle Bennie had five children; Mahalia had four children; and Aunt Lizzy had four. They did find names for all of us. I know it was not easy, but it didn't take long for grandpa to give us all nicknames.
"Grandpa worked hard. He had a big fruit orchard. I remember the grape arbors, how pretty they were. He always had peanuts and watermelon patches. The grandkids thought he had all this just for us. Our father told us that Grandpa told him that he was going to measure the next tracks in his melon patch and go every house and measure feet. It gave us all a scare for awhile, at least until the melons were ripe. I know now that Grandpa never told our dad that. Grandpa lived in a huge house, with the biggest yard I ever saw. The back yard was filled with Bee gums. I guess they belonged to Grandma (Known as Aunt Ginnie). All the Grandchildren were always present when grandma robbed the bees of their honey. She would get a big rag and roll it and make a big smoke. Then she would get a huge dishpan and a long knife to get the honey to come out. Those bees would sting us but would not sting grandma. Grandpa always grew tobacco. I have gone with him to worm his tobacco. I would catch the worm. They were real big and had big horns, but I would show them to grandpa. I have not seen a tobacco patch since grandpa died. A tobacco patch is about as pretty as anything that grows. I remember grandpa's syrup mill. It was in their field, near a good spring of water. He and his boys always made lots of sugar cane syrup every fall. They put their syrup in barrels and large stone jugs, and later in syrup cans. Most always it would be 12 o'clock at night before they got the last run of syrup cooked. I always remember the black walnut trees at the mill. Later, the syrup mill was moved near grandpa's house and everybody still enjoyed going to the syrup mill.
"Grandpa was sick about a year before he died. He fell and broke his hip. He lived about six weeks afterwards. He was aged 86. Born 12 Mar 1837. Died 29 Nov 1922. Grandma kept busy all the time. She helped cook and helped with the grandchildren until grandpa died. She was never well again. She was pale and just sat in her chair all the time. She had lost her will to live. She died one year later, 4 Mar 1923. It must have been very lonesome for Grover, for he had been living in that big house.
Aunt Pauline died at age 78, leaving her husband and 3 children. My father, Cicero, died at age 84. He had buried two wives, and 4 children, leaving 4 children living. Uncle Jimero died at age 85, leaving his wife and all their children. "
At the time of the note:
Uncle Bennie lived at Patroon with his daughter, Gladys, and son-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Goodwyn). He was 91 years old at the time of this note. Aunt Mahalia Brittain, lived with her daughter, Mable, and her husband (Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fulsom) in Jasper, Texas. She was 89. Grover lived with his daughter, Evi Lou, and her husband (Mr. and Mrs. Belton Miller) at East Hamilton. He was 87. Aunt Lizzy Monroe lived in Orange, Texas in a nursing home. She was 85.
From the Soldier's Application for Pension, filed 6 Aug, 1909 and approved 31 Aug 1909:
He stated that he remained in the confederate army until the disbandment of the army in the Trans-Mississippi Department after the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Age: 72 years, born in Marion County, Alabama. He had resided in Texas since 1849, 60 years. He had resided in Shelby county 56 years, since March 1853. He had not previously applied for a pension. He was a farmer. He served 3 years, 2 months (from 2 March 1862 to 2 May 1865). He served in Company a, 28th Regiment, Texas dismounted Cavalry – Randall's brigade. Walkers Division Texas Infantry.
He was never commissioned. He was a private. His witness was James W. Truitt, he wrote that he served with J. G. Risinger for three years during the war of succession. He stated that J. G. Risinger was a brave and faithful confederate soldier. The Adjutant General's Office, Washington, wrote a letter, dated Sept. 3, 1909: "Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin. The records show that J. G. Risinger, private, Company A, 28th Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, enlisted April 15, 1862. On the roll dated February 29, 1864, last on file, he is reported present. No later record of him has been found." Affadavit of Physician, dated 2nd September, 1914 (Dr. J. H. Ellington): I find that the said J. G. Risinger is suffering from chronic diarrhea caused from dyspepsia. He is also about 77 years of age and is in such physical condition that he is totally incapacitated for any work or business, either physical or mental.
His wife, Sarah Jane Risinger also filed a Widow's Application for Pension. It was filed Jan. 25, 1923 and approved Jan. 25, 1923. She stated that she married J. G. Risinger on the 11 day of Feb., 1879 in Shelby County, Texas. Her age was 75 years. She was born in Shelby County, Texas. She had resided in Texas and Shelby County all of her life. Her husband was Jordan Gilmore Risinger, date of death, 29th Nov. 1922. He served in the CSA 4 years, in Co. A, Walker's Division. Her witnesses were J. M. Risinger and B. M. Alford. The Application for Mortuary Warrant stated that Jordan died on 29 November, 1922 in the town of Patroon Texas. He died in the home of his son, Jim Risinger. Jim Gann, the undertaker also certified that he, the undertaker in the town of Patroon, Shelby County, Texas had charge of the body of J. G. Risinger, who died in the town of Patroon.
1837 - 1922 (85 years)
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