John Riley Banister

John Riley Banister (1854 – 1918) was a law officer, cowboy and Texas Ranger. John Banister was born in Banister, Missouri, United States, on May 24, 1854, to William Lawrence and Mary (Buchanan) Banister.

Early years

Banister, who was named after his grandfather, was born in Banister Hollow, a small settlement located in Coleman County, Missouri, which was to become a local hub or center for surrounding communities. The Banister Baptist church was also well-known in the area, starting out as a converted log cabin and later upgraded to sawn lumber in around 1879, and religious services were still practiced as of 1968. According to biographical sources, all the Banisters were musicians and played fiddle, banjo, guitar and other instruments. They also sang long ballads and played Irish and Scottish jigs and reels.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Around 1863 John's father, after being wounded twice in the Confederate Army, did not return home and instead moved to Texas and married Mary Catherine Miller, a young woman of both Anglo-Saxon and Native American descent, with whom he had six other children. Whether or not William had formally ended his marriage with Buchanan prior to marrying Miller is a fact not noted in any historical record.

Related Topics:
1863 - Confederate Army - Texas - Anglo-Saxon - Native American

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also: Ellis Lawson Banister, grandson of William Lawrence Banister and Mary Catherine Miller.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~