1718265

[Byrne]
! On January 24, 1906 Barbara Genevieve Hartmann married Samuel
John Risch in the St. Peters Church in St. Peters, Indiana. In the
early years of their marriage, Barbara and Sam rented several farms in
the area of Hayes, Illinois, west of Pesotum. During those years
three sons were born (Joseph, 1906; Albert, 1907; Sylvester, 1909).
The first born died when he was four days old. In February, 1911 they
purchased 60 acres three miles west of Milan, Michigan. Later they
purchased 40 adjoining acres north of their farm and they rented an
adjoining farm to the south. At this site, one daughter (Frances,
1911) and three sons (Leonard, 1913; Charles, 1914; and Raymond, 1916)
were added to their family. In 1919, while making plans to build a new
house and purchase the adjoining farm on the south, a real estate agent
told Sam of the availability of 300 acres five miles north of Maybee,
Michigan. By trading farms and mortgages (substituting a very small
debt for a large one), they acquired the 300 acre farm which included
a 14 room brick house and brick barn. Since the new farm had a natural
creek cutting through it, Sam raised cattle, sheep and horses. Barbara
raised chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks. On November 15, 1937
Barbara died of cancer. After her death, Sam farmed his land for a
few years, then rented the land while living on the premises. In the
spring of 1961 Sam became ill. He needed an operation of the prostate
but because of a heart condition And his advanced years, the oper-
ation was not feasible. He was taken to the Monroe Convalescent Home
where he died on September 11, 1961. He is buried beside his wife,
Barbara, at the St. Joseph's cemetery in Maybee, Michigan.