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HARRISON WILLIAM KYSER was born July 24, 1823 in Lincoln County, TN, to James A. Kyser ( born 1805 SC - died 1882 Rockwall Co TX ) and Frances Rudd ( born 1800 NC ). Records show that Harrison Kyser handled matters in Tennessee of a legal fashion before he came to Texas, possibly as an attorney. It is speculated that Harrison came to Texas to look over the lay of the land prior to his father, James and his extended family moving there. On March 5, 1843, in Lincoln Co, TN, Harrison married Mirinda Stone ( 23 Dec 1824 - died 29 Mar 1870 ) She was the daughter of Moses Stone and Margaret Williams. By January 1845, Harrison was in the Republic of Texas and represented his father on a land transaction. He evidently returned to Tennessee, however as it is known that the Kysers were in the area now known as Rockwall Co., TX during the negotiations for the 640 acres of land James received through Mercer's Colony. Birth records prove Harrison's wife and family did not arrive in Texas until after 1851. In 1858 Harrison had established residency in Kaufman County, proven in tax rolls, and was elected County Surveyor. He then was re-elected to that position in 1860, in which capacity he served the people of Kaufman County, with much credit to himself. In 1861, at the onset of the Civil War, Harrison W. Kyser began raising a company of militia, consisting of some of the most staunch and respectable men in the county. They repaired to the scene of warfare in Colonel W. H. Parson's Regiment in the Confederate States Army. Harrison enlisted on October 28, 1861, at Camp Hebert, near Hempstead, Texas, serving in Company G., 12th Texas Cavalry. His rank was that of Captain and Kyser was listed as paymaster. He was also responsible for the foraging of public horses, mules and oxen, as well as food supplies, clothing and incidentals. Harrison's sons Peyton, George and John were also listed in the Roster of Co G 12th Texas Cavalry. Harrison remained in Col. W. H. Parson's regiment until the close of the war. By profession Harrison was a teacher and lawyer. In 1865 he was appointed by the governor to reorganize the County of Kaufman under Pres. Johnson's Reconstruction Policy. In 1866 he was engaged in the publication of the Star Newspaper and listed as one of its editors. During the same year he was also licensed to practice law in Texas. Harrison W. Kyser served as Judge of Kaufman Co., TX for many years. In the 1900 Census of Kaufman Co., TX Harrison W. Kyser was shown again as the County Surveyor.
Mirinda Kyser died March 29, 1870. She is buried in Chisholm Cemetery in Rockwall Co., TX. Her grave marker reads: Mrs. MIRINDA KYSER, w/o Judge H. W. Kyser. Her Probate is filed in Kaufman County - file 49-B - in the name Amanda Kyser with H. W. Kyser as his wife's estate executor. In the probate papers her legal name is spelled Marinda. On 1 Sep 1872, in Kaufman County, Harrison Kyser married Nancy A. Sherley, widow of Rev. Jacob T. Stanley, a Kaufman minister who was an early pioneer in the county. She was born in Sept 1823 in MS and she died 6 Aug 1907 in Kaufman TX and is buried in Kaufman City Cemetery. Harrison W. Kyser died December 05, 1905, in Kaufman TX and is buried in the Kaufman City Cemetery. It stands today in the oldest section of that place, proudly displaying the fact that he was an officer, his name inscribed as "Captain H W Kyser". A photo of it is here.  Many of his descendants are still living in Kaufman and in Texas. Children of HARRISON KYSER and MIRINDA STONE are:
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