I often look for particular people in the court records. And I often stumble across others who catch my eye for no particular reason. Such is the case with Jackson Risner. I was looking at entries for the Turnbull family and came across Mr. Risner’s death. I know nothing about him. I just like his name! His case takes up several pages of court records and many Caddo people are involved in the probate of his will and the guardianship of his children. I won’t take the time to copy all of the pages since much of it is repetitive legal terms and promises to return reports, bonds, etc. But here are the basics for anyone researching this man. And of course if a family member needs the pages I will be happy to scan them.
(Note: A quick search of my Caddo records shows Jackson listed as a juror in 1881, several Risner family members in the Caddo area, several in the Bennington Church, and Atwood Risner as a good friend of the Turnbull family.)
Court Minutes, Blue County, Choctaw Nation
CTN 25, Vol. II
Page 144 To Morris Smith
“In the county and Probate Court of Blue County held on the first Monday of October 1900 at Caddo, Indian Territory, the seat of Justice of said county, you were appointed Administrator of the person and estate of Jackson Risner, deceased and his widow Harriet and children, Benjamin, Rufus, and Vester Risner of said county.”
There is a paragraph concerning the bond of Morris Smith and his duty to inventory the estate and report to the court.
Page 151- Inventory of the Estate of Jackson Risner:
Nine hundred and twenty-five head of cattle for a total of....$1,250.00
Eleven head of horses at $15.00 each...265.00
Eleven head of hogs at $2.50 each....27.50
A farm of 45 acres, 20 in cultivation, 25 in pasture....1,000.00
Rents in farm for....250.00
Miscellaneous...100.00
Total...$2,792.50
The next page concerns William Risner and his appointment as the executor of the B. McCloud estate and guardian of Myrtle McCloud, age 16. I’m not sure if William has any connection to Jackson or if the two cases just happen to be heard the same week.
Page 156- Bond of Harriet Pace
(bond of $100-list of sureties and judge. Note the difference in the list of children compared with the previous one.)
“The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the said Harriet Pace was on the 3rd day of December 1900 appointed by the County Court and by the Probate side of said County Court for the County of Blue, guardian of Adline, Benjamin, Rufus, and Vivian Risner, minors under the age of 16 years. Harriet Pace shall duly render this guardianship according to the laws of the county and nation.”
In September of 1901 Mr. Smith reports that he sold “7 head of 2 yr. old steers @ $18.85” and paid off some of the debts of Mr. Risner including $101 to Charles McPherren and $15 to Homer Elting.
“On this 7th day of October, the same being the regular court day of the above styled court, the final reports of the Administrator herein came to be finally heard and acted upon and the same having been fully heard by the court. The court being fully advised in the premises, it is therefore ordered and adjudged and decreed herein as follows to wit:
That the Administrator, Morris Smith shall surrender up and deliver to the heirs of the said estate by delivering to their regularly appointed guardian all of their portion of the property of the said estate. Also all that potion belonging to the said guardian, Harriet Pace, as her individual property, all of the said property being as follows to wit:
Fifteen dry cows
Four 1-year-old heifers (River Bottom Place)
Six 1-year-old steers (Saw Mill Place)
Nine 2-year old steers
Sixty-three 2-year-old steers (River Bottom Place)
One 3-year-old bull
One 4-year-old bull
One crippled cow
One pair of mules
100 head of hogs
Two broke horses
One mare and colt
One pony, unbroken, 3-year-old bay (Ranch Place)
There is also a list of the expenditures of Mrs. Risner for attorney fees, court costs, cotton seed, doctor bills, and groceries.
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