Posted on: Llano County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tx/Llano/10410 Surname: Cowan, Risinger, Barnett, Samford ------------------------- Mr. McCoy, William Risinger was my great grandfather. He was born 2 February 1844 in Vermillion County, Illinois to Michael Risinger and Cynthia E. (Smalley) Risinger. When he was still a boy, the family moved to Round Top, Texas in Fayette, County. He continued to live in Fayette County into adulthood. When the Civil War broke out, he served with a Confederate unit under General Ledbetter and was taken prisoner during the battle of Vicksburg. When the war ended, he walked 600 miles back to Round Top. Soon after he returned home, he married Emily Barnett (m. 28 Nov. 1867) and they had 7 children (Robert E. Risinger b.1868, Elizabeth Risinger b.1870, William Risinger b.1871, Mary Ella Risinger b. 1873, Edward M. Risinger b.1875, James Monroe Risinger b.1877 & Mattie Emily Risinger b.1879). Emily Barnett died sometime after 1879, William and the children moved to Burnet County in 1881, and in 1882 William married Sarah Josephine Barnett (I do not know how Sarah is related to Emily Barnett, if at all). They had another 11 children, including my grandfather George Risinger (Anna Lee Risinger b.1883, Emma May Risinger b.1884, Addie Laura Risinger b.1886, Tennie Risinger b.1888, Horace Greely Risinger b.1890, Eva Risinger b.1892, John Hamilton Risinger b.1894, Alice Risinger b.1897, Helen Risinger b.1900, Joseph Edison Risinger b.1903, George Hay Risinger b.1905). I have several photographs of Sarah Josephine Barnett Risinger. I also have a group photo taken at the Risinger homestead near Lake Victor, Texas. It includes a woman holding a baby -- I presume she is Sarah Risinger, and the adult male to be William. There is also an older woman next to several children who might possibly be Cynthia Risinger. I am looking for other copies of the photograph that might have the names of the people scrawled on back. Unfortunately, George Risinger is recently deceased and I'm not sure who else might be able to identify them. Michael Risinger died in 1867 in Fayette County, and I am not aware of any photographs of him. Cynthia died in Lampasas, Texas in 1905. The photograph appears to be older than that (it is hand tinted and the people all have the frozen slightly artificial look typical of the old slow speed glass film plates.) I am visiting relatives in Burnet next week and may have some better information after I return. I saw your postings on both the Burnet and Llano rootsweb lists. I would love a copy of the photograph of James & Adelia Risinger (I have her listed in my family tree records as Delia Barnett. I am happy to share my photos as soon as I can get them scanned. Ryan Cowan rycowan@mediaone.net