Estes Sites:

This page is an extract from "The Estes Family" by Stewart Estes, (c) 2009

MARTHA¹⁰ “PATSY” ESTES

(1800 NC – aft. 1870 Cal.)

Thomas’ Sister

We now return to the Estes line, and discuss the remaining siblings of Thomas Estes, beginning with his sister Martha.

Martha "Patsy" Estes was born in 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died after 1870 in Santa Ana, California. She married Lemuel Morris in about 1823 in Orange County, North Carolina, born 1797-98 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died before 1860, and is buried in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas.

The 1850 US Census for Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas shows Lemuel Morris and Martha Estes next door to her brother John Estes.

Tarter wrote of Martha: “Patsy Estes married a Mr. Morris. She, with her family, came to the Walla Walla country with Grandfather Estes in 1860. I never heard of but two of her children, these being:

1. Madison [Estes]; and,

2. John Morris [Estes].

Tarter states: “I met both at Grandfather's near Walla Walla, Washington, in 1865. (Note: When Nicholas was four years old.) Madison became an early-day physician and practiced his profession in the Walla Walla country.”

1. Madison Brantley Morris, physician, born 8 October 1824, Henry County, Tennessee; died 17 September 1909, Richland, Baker County, Oregon;

2. Riley C. Morris, born 3 December 1835, Henry County, Tennessee, married Martha A. Smith, born 1826-27 in Tennessee, and died in 1888. Shown in the 1850 US Census for Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas, and the 1880 US Census for Coryell County, Texas. He served in the 19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, CSA. Had children Missouri A. Morris, born 1858-59, Arkansas; Lilley Morris, born 1861, Arkansas, married D.L. Joint; William Lemuel Morris, born 1862, Ouachita County, Arkansas; and, Mary E. Morris, married W. A. Watkins;

3. Elizabeth E. Morris, born 1827 - 1828, Henry County, Tennessee; died after 1899, Baker City, Baker County, Oregon; m. --- Moore; born about 1825. 1850 US Census: Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas;

4. Ann Mary Morris, born 20 October 1828, Henry County, Tennessee; died 21 May 1883, Izard County, Arkansas, and is buried at the Humphries-Montgomery Cemetery, Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, 1850 US Census for Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas, she married (1) --- Ridgeway, born about 1825, and married Arkansas (2) Joseph Wiles Montgomery about 1855 in Arkansas, born 1823. Child Thomas Moffitt Montgomery, born 1861, and died in 1936;

5. John Q.A. Morris, born 1829-32, Henry County, Tennessee; died after 1870, Santa Anna, California. 1850 US Census: Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas;

6. Frances Morris, born 1832, Tennessee, married William Wallace Wiseman 1850 in Fulton County, Arkansas, son of Martin Wiseman and Ann Ennis, born September 1828 in Tennessee, and died 1908. 1880 US Census Santa Ana, Los Angeles, California (William is the brother of Jonathan Tipton Wiseman, who would marry Thomas Estes’ daughter Nancy E. Estes, see pages 443 and 448);

The children of Frances Morris and William Wiseman are:

a. Richard Bell Wiseman, born September 4, 1851, Fulton County, Arkansas; died January 18, 1936, Seattle, King County, Washington.

b. Sophronia Frances Wiseman, born February 8, 1856, Gold Run, Placer County, California; died November 9, 1936, Kaweah, Tulare County, California.

e. Martha Susan Wiseman, born 1860, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington; married --- Johnston; born about 1857.

f. Benjamin B. Wiseman, born July 1862, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington; died April 15, 1938, Yakima, Yakima County, Washington.

g. Henry Wiseman, born 1866, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington.

7. Nathan Morris, born 1834-35, Henry County, Tennessee; died 1861-65, British Columbia, Canada, buying cattle for the United States Government. (1850 US Census: Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas);

8. Maria A. Morris, born 1835 - 1836, Henry County, Tennessee. 1850 US Census: Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas;

9. Lydia Morris, born 1838 - 1839, Henry County, Tennessee; died after 1899, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; married 1854, Oregon, Richard Marshal, June 20, 1854, Oregon; born about 1836.

10. Sarah M. Morris, born 1843 - 1845, Tennessee; died after 1899, Santa Ana, California; m. about 1862 James Buckley, born about 1841. (1850 US Census: Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas);

11. Susan Morris, married James Fruit; and,

12. Jeptha Morris, died as a child.

MADISON¹¹ BRANTLEY MORRIS

(1824 Tenn. – 1909 Ore.)

Eldest Child of Martha¹⁰ Estes

Doctor Madison Brantley Morris was born 8 October 1824 in Henry County, Tennessee, and died 17 September 1909 in Richland, Baker County, Oregon. Burial: Richland Cemetery, Richland, Baker County, Oregon. He married (1) Jane Smith 26 January 1848 in Lawrence County, Arkansas, born 1827, and died before 1867, and married (2) Elizabeth Lillybridge 14 April 1867 in Walla Walla City, Walla Walla County, Washington, born 17 September 1852 in Michigan, and died 1933. Doctor Morris is shown in the 1850 US Census for Union Township, Fulton County, Arkansas; and the 1880 US Census Indian for Valley, Union County, Oregon.

An Old Resident Passes Away.

(From obituary clipping, source unknown)

Dr. Madison Brantley Morris of Richland, Baker Co., Oregon, died at his home Sept., 17th, 1909. He passed away peacefully at 11 o'clock P. M. and was consious until within a few moments of the time he expired.

Dr. Morris had been in ill health for several years, and as his death had been daily expected it came as no surprise to his many relatives and friends.

He was born in Henry Co., Tennessee on Oct. 8th, 1824. He crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853, arriving at Walla Walla valley where he sojourned for a short time. Walla Walla valley being a wilderness at that time. He finally settled at The Dalles in the year 1857, where he braved the hardships of the true pioneer, fighting Indians and assisting in opening the country for future settlement. Then after years of incessant toil he returned to the partially settled Walla Walla Valley in the year 1865. There he met Miss Elizabeth Lilliebridge, to whom he was united in marriage April 14th, 1867. To this union were born seven children, four sons and three daughters.

Being a physician he drifted to the settled country of Grand Ronde valley in the year 1875, where he practiced for more than twenty years, being very successful and noted far and wide as a physician, who never faltered nor shrunk from hardships, braving the darkest and coldest nights when he was called to relieve suffering humanity.

He finally came to Eagle Valley in the year 1882, where he resumed his practice. During his career as a physician in Eagle Valley he was successful.

He joined the Christian Church in his youth and was ever a devout Christian during life, both in precept and example.

Although being middle aged when united in marriage, he lived until the birth of a great-grandson. Being the eldest of eleven children, he was the last to survive.

He was a good citizen, kind husband, and father, and leaves to mourn his loss his wife and five children besides a host of friends who sincerely sympathize with the family in their sorrow and bereavement. His remains were laid to rest in the Richland Cemetery September 19th, 1909.

1. James Riley Morris, born 1868 - 1869, Washington Territory;

2. Charley Morris, born about 1880; died 1885-1890, was dragged to death by a horse;

3. Sarah Morris, born about 1882;

4. Lillian Morris, born September 13, 1870, Washington Territory; died March 2, 1955, San Joaquin, California;

5. Thomas Lemuel Morris, born 1871 - 1872, Oregon;

6. Delilah Morris, born 1873 - 1874, Oregon; and,

7. Clyde Morris, born 1875 - 1876, Oregon.

EXERPTS OF 1866 LETTER FROM RILEY MORRIS

TO HIS BROTHER MADISON MORRIS

1866

April the 22nd

Arks. Ouachila Cty. [Ouachita county, Arkansas.]¹

Dear Brothers, Mother [Martha Estes Morris], & sisters,

Once more in life I have an opportunity of writing to you in order to inform you that I am yet in the land of the living and me and family are all well. Your kind favor and long looked for letter come to hand a few weeks since which gave me much satisfaction and also grief to hear that our Dear Brother Nathan had left the walks of men, when I read your cirnd (?) letter I opened it in the office and looked over it as soon as I could when my eyes struck the sad news of the death of Dear Nathan, my cup was so full I could not read any further for some time tho he had bin absent from me a long time he felt near and dear to me as a brother ever did to a brother. He is gone and we must give him up. I hope his spirit is with those that are justified and are redeemed with the blood of Christ. I hope our loss is his gane.

No tongue can express how proud I was to hear that our dear Mother [Martha Estes] was well. Mother, remember that Riley is your child and you feel like a mother to me yet I hope the good Lord will be with you in all the troubles of this life and receive you to him self in the paradise of the living God after death is my sincere Prayer.

Madison, your name, your name sounds pleasant to me yet tho it has bin a long time since I could carol your name so you could hear it. You wanted to know whether I had anything against you or not. Madison, I can say this morning before him who know the secrets of all hearts that I have not ?aught it gainst you and I love you as good as a brother ever could. A brother in this life and so that I could see you this morning I tell you I mircy more mainhc

I spent nearly three years of my life in the war and it has ever been a mystery to me how I ever got out alive and not hurt. I have bin in forty nine days in the time I was out. I was in the grate battle of Vicksburge, where we fought forty seven days and nights on one forth rations. At last we had to eat mules and horses before we was surrendered to the Federals.

We went in to Vicksburg with Twenty Seven thousand mend. We were surrounded by One Hundred and seventy five thousand. We fought forty seven days and nights and a great deal of our time in ten feet of each other. We and the Federals I have bin where the balls flew as thick it appeared as ever hail fell and men a fowling (falling) on my right and left my nearest and best friends shot down at my side. I have often though O Riley how do you stand.

Mother I have often thought of you while marching in to the battle and think O if my Dear Mother new where I was how she would sorrow for me, but it is well you did not know; The Lord knew where I was and preserved my life and O what is it for. I know it is not for anything good I have ever done. Madison their is not more than one third of the men alive now that was a livin before the war between the ages of ateteen (eighteen) and forty five, I will try and tell you of some of the men that was lost in the war.

* * *

John L Eustes was killed in the war in a battle fought near Mansfield Louisiana. He was a Lieutenant. * * * Uncle Buris Estes has been dead some seven years ago.

* * *

So no more at present good by

Riley Morris - your brother

ANNE HANNAH¹⁰ ESTES

(1803 NC – aft 1850 Ark.)

Anne Hannah Estes was born 1803 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died in Arkansas after the 1850 Census. She (“Anne Estridge”) married on 3 January 1823 in Orange County, North Carolina John W. Hastings, with Thos. Hastings the bondsman. (Orange County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds.) John is the son of James Hastings and Hannah Crabtree, born 15 April 1798 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died 2 April 1847 in Arkansas. John is believed to be the brother of James Hastings, who married Anne’s sister Susannah Estes in 1823.

The 1850 US Census for Lawrence County, Arkansas shows: Anna Hasting (48, NC), Archey J. (21, Tenn.); Burris L. (19, Tenn.); John C. (17, Tenn.); Martha (15, Tenn.); Frances (8 mos. Ark., granddaughter?); and, George Haskett (12, Tenn.). John was dead.

Nicholas Tarter wrote: “Hannah Estes married a Mr. [James] Hastings. They were the parents of five sons of whom I can speak, and may have had other children.”

“The five I know of were, in rotation:

1. Francis [Hastings];

2. Archibald [Hastings];

3. Burris [Hastings];

4. John [Hastings]; and,

5. James [Hastings].

“The three [sons], Archibald, Burris, and John, came to Oregon with my parents in 1853, when Archibald was twenty-four years old, Burris twenty-two, and John twenty, and settled in Polk County, Oregon, living there the remainder of their lives. Archibald never married, but Burris and John married and raised families.” Their father had died six years before their departure.

The children² of Anne Hannah¹⁰ Estes and John W. Hastings are:

1. James W. Hastings, born 1825-26, Tennessee married (1) Malinda -- born 1827-28 in Tennessee, and married (2) Susan Emily Wilson (widow of John Calvin Estes) after 1864, daughter of Drury Wilson and Susan Ramsey born 1840-44 in Arkansas or Tennessee. They had seven children, all born 1855-70 in Oregon Territory;

2. Archibald L. Hastings, born 14 February 1829 in Tennessee, and died 16 June 1897, in Polk County, Oregon, and is buried in English Cemetery, Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon. It appears he never married. The 1860 US Census for Lukiamute, Polk County, Oregon shows A.L. Hastings (31, Tenn.), living alone, next to Robert and Susan (Estes) Tarter and family, and near his brother Burris. Susan is his cousin, the daughter of his mother’s brother Thomas Estes. In the 1870 Census for Monmouth, Polk County, Arch L. Hastings (55?, Ark.) is living with Rich. [Rice] Simpson (70, Ga.), Robert and Susan Tarter are nearby with seven children. In 1880 in Lukiamute, A.H. Hastings (52, Tenn.) is living alone.

3. Burris Lloyd Hastings, born 2 April 1831, in Henry County, Tennessee; died 23 October 1907, Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon; married on 5 March 1854 in Polk County, Sophia Simpson, a pioneer of 1845 Lost Wagon Train, 5 March 1854 in Polk County, Oregon, daughter of Rice Simpson and Rebecca Lasater. She was born 5 April 1837 in Fulton County, Arkansas, and died 5 March 1922 in Airlie, Polk County, Oregon. They are both buried in the Smith Cemetery, Lewisville, Oregon. They had children: a. Reuben A. Hastings, born 26 January 1857, Polk County, Oregon, died 8 September 1928, Salem, Marion County, Oregon; and, b. Hannah J. Hastings (1860 - 1940), married – Elkins;

The 1860 US Census for Lukiamute, Polk County, Oregon shows B. (S?). Hastings (29, Tenn.), living wife Sophia (23, Ark.), and daughter P.A.? (5, Ore.); son R.E.? (3, Ore.); daughter H.J. (2 mos., Ore.); and M[artha]. Faulkinbury (18, Ark., female) and Thomas Faulkinbury (10, Ark.). The latter are two of the five children of Hugh Faulkinbury and Sarah K. Estes. Hugh died crossing the plains in 1853 and Sarah continued on to Oregon. The 1870 US Census for Nestocton, Tillamook County, Oregon shows B.L. Hastings (39, Tenn.), living wife Sophia (33, Ark.), Ruben (13, Ore.); and, Hannah J. (10, Ore.).

Thomas¹⁰ Estes’ nephew Burris Hastings (son of his sister Hannah) married Sophia Simpson (1837-1922). Sophia’s brother Alfred Henderson Simpson (1841-1904) married Thomas’ granddaughter, Martha Emeline Falkenbury (1842-1922), the daughter of Thomas’ eldest daughter Sarah Cate Estes.

4. John Campbell Hastings, born 18 March 1833, in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, died 11 September 1916, Independence, Polk County, Oregon. He married on 23 July 1857 in Polk County, Oregon, Melissa America Wood (1880 US Census.) She was born March 25, 1841 in Arkansas, and died October 26, 1888 in Polk County, Oregon. Burial: English Cemetery, Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon. They had ten children, 1858-77 in Oregon; The 1860 US Census for Lukiamute, Polk County, Oregon shows J.C. Hastings (28, Tenn.) living with wife A.C. (19, Ark.) and 11 month old daughter M.J., born in Oregon. In the 1870 Census for Buena Vista/Monmouth, Polk County, John C. Hastings (37, Tenn.) is living with his children Martha (10, Ore.); Kenny (9, Ore.); Samuel (6, Ore.); and, Joseph (2, Ore.). In 1880 in Buena Vista, Oregon J.C. Hastings (47, Tenn.) and wife (39, Ark.), are living with their five children ages 3-18, identified only by initials;

5. Martha Hannah Hastings, was born 1835 in Tennessee, and died 1910. She married Samuel Edward Billingsley (1880 US Census.) January 9, 1856, son of Samuel Billingsley and Ruth Hale. He was born May 4, 1832 in Carroll County, Tennessee, and died April 6, 1906 at home, Izard County, Arkansas. They had ten children.

6. Francis M. Hastings was born 1843-44, in Tennessee or Arkansas, and married Eveline McCuistion, daughter of James McCuistion and Mary Kimbrough, born 15 November 1847 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Burial: Violet Hill Cemetery, Violet Hill, Izard County, Arkansas. They had three children.³

BURRIS¹⁰ ESTES, JR.
(1805 NC - 1863 Ark.)

Younger Brother of Thomas

Burris Estes Jr., and Martha Morris

(Photographs in possession of Larry D. Duke)

Tarter writes of Burris: “Grandfather's first two children, Burris and James, went with their father's family to Arkansas and lived there the remainder of their lives. I suppose they raised families but am not certain of this. These two were living when my parents started to Oregon. They both died before they became old men, and I have wondered if either or both were living when Grandfather started west. (They were both alive, James died in 1863 and Burris in 1865, both in their forties. HJE) “

An Arkansas history states: “Burris and Martha (Morris) Estes, natives of North Carolina, came to Tennessee at an early day, and married there about 1825. He was a leading agriculturist, and died near the close of the late war, leaving considerable property in land and slaves. He was a member of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife, who died shortly after his death.⁴

“He moved to Henry County, Tennessee [which was formed that year], with his father about 1821. Here he married Martha "Patsy" Morris and lived about eight miles east of Paris, Henry County. They attended a Baptist Church about six miles east of Paris. He and his two brothers moved to Arkansas in 1830.”

Burris and Martha came to Lawrence County, Arkansas between 1839 and 1841, between the births of sons John and James.⁵

Sharp County, Arkansas land records show "Burris Estes" purchasing more than 480 acres of land between 1844 and 1860.

The 1840 US Census for Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas, shows all three brothers (Burris, Thomas and John). Shown in Burris’ home are: Burris Estes 30-40 years old [35], a woman 30-40 [wife Martha-36], two boys 10-15 [Archie 12, Tom 10], 1 girl 10-15, 1 boy 10-15, 2 girls 5-10 [Mary 8, Eliza 6], 1 boy 0-5 [John 3], and 1 girl 0-5 [Martha 4].

The 1850 US Census for Richwoods Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas, shows: Burres Estes, 45 years old, born in North Carolina, a farmer who owns $1,000 of real property, living with his wife Martha (46, NC); Eliza (16, Tenn); Martha F. (14, Tenn); John C (11, Tenn); James K. (9, Ark). His brother Thomas Estes was living nearby in Lawrence County. His brother John was living in Fulton County.

Burris does not appear in the 1860 US Census for Arkansas among the 21 Estes heads of household in the state.

Burris did not travel to Washington Territory with his brother Thomas in 1860, nor with their younger brother John Estes who left for Oregon in 1853, and was killed by Indians in 1856 while serving with the US Army.

Burris died 1 March 1863, in Lawrence County, Arkansas. David Spurlock (his son-in-law) was appointed administrator of his will. The case was transferred to Sharp County when Sharp County was created in 1868. His widow Martha (Morris) Estes died in 1872.

The children of Burris¹⁰ Estes, Jr. and Martha Morris are:

1. Archibald Burris Estes, born on 2 March 1828 near Nashville, Tennessee, died on 28 February 1890 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho, married first Rebecca Robert, who died in 1854 in Lawrence County, Arkansas, he married secondly, Sarah Isabelle Pine, born in 1831 in Ontario, Canada, died on 2 June 1923 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho. Archie went to California for two years, 1850-52 with his cousins James Estes and Burris Estes. He returned to Arkansas to farm until 1874, at which time he moved to Idaho. The ox cart trip lasted six months. He homesteaded four miles north of Moscow. He also taught in the first public school. (Obituary.) [This family is discussed extensively by W.A. Estes, Note 76.]

2. Thomas Newton “Tommy” Estes, born on 9 February 1830 in Tennessee, died on 18 April 1920 in Izard County, Arkansas, married Lucy Rucker Johnson, who died in 1858, married secondly Minerva R. Kimmins;

3. Mary Morris Estes, born 8 January 1832 in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, died 17 September 1882, Sharp County, Arkansas, married David Spurlock on 8 July 1847 in Arkansas;

4. Anna Elizabeth Estes, born 1834 Henry County, Tennessee, died September 1872, in Sharp County, Arkansas, married (1) --- Galloway; (2) William Newton Wilson, in 1856, and (3) on 31 July 1861 John Spurlock;

5. Mary Frances Estes, born 1836 in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, died after 1866, married (1) Drury Wilson in 1851, (2) Harmon Bailey Clinton in 1866;

6. John C. Estes, born c. 1839 in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, died 1861-65, married Emily Wilson; and,

7. James Karr Estes, born on 1 November 1841 in Sharp County, Arkansas, died in February 1926, married Virginia Pendleton Goodwin, on 17 April 1870 in Sharp County.

Martha Morris in old age Anna Elizabeth Estes

(Photographs in possession of Larry D. Duke)

ARCHIBALD¹¹ BURRIS ESTES
(1828 Tenn. – 1890 Ida.)

Archibald Burris Estes was born on 2 March 1828 near Nashville, Tennessee, died on 28 February 1890 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho. He married in 1854 in Lawrence County, Arkansas, Rebecca Robert, born in about 1822, and who died – perhaps in childbirth soon after 1854 -- and married secondly, Sarah Isabelle Pine, born in 1831 in Ontario, Canada, and died on 2 June 1923 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho.

Archie went to California for two years, 1850-52 with his brother Tommy, and cousins James Estes and Burris Estes. He returned to Arkansas to farm, until 1874, at which time at age 46, they moved to Moscow, Idaho. The ox cart trip lasted six months. He homesteaded four miles north of Moscow. He also taught in the first public school. See, Obituary, below. This family is discussed extensively by W.A. Estes, Note 76.

Archie selected Idaho over Walla Walla, or western Oregon where the rest of his family had moved. But, there is record of Curtis Estes, a gold miner in the central Idaho Sawtooth Range by 1871, three years before Archibald arrived in Moscow to the northwest; he is perhaps kin. This area is just north of present day Sun Valley, and west of Yellowstone Park, and was the site of another gold rush. And, Archie’s obituary suggests he came looking for gold.

Custer and Bonanza were once booming gold mine towns. Beginning in 1870, the area attracted gold seekers searching its streams and mountains. Within six years, the mining communities of Custer and Bonanza sprang to life. The 1880s brought rapid growth to the region as the Lucky Boy, General Custer and Montana mines produced abundant ore and the town of Custer reached a population of 600. But the gold eventually played out leaving Custer and Bonanza ghost towns by 1911.

Merle W. Wells, in his Gold Camps and Silver Cities: Nineteenth-Century Mining in Central and Southern Idaho (University of Idaho Press, Moscow, ID 2002), at 118, describes the travails of Curtis Estes (relationship unknown) just three years before Archie arrived: “The next spring [1871] the decline of Loon Creek inspired two more gold hunters to cross over to Yankee Fork. They had a hard time of it. According to Clitus Barbour, "Arnold and Estis [Estes] the discoverers of Yankee Fork camp, toiled in the snow and storm twenty-five days transporting their supplies in there on sleds from Loon Creek, a distance of only twenty-five miles, over a divide thousands of feet high." On the strength of opening some discovery claims good for $8.00 a day, about twenty miners organized a district and went to work. By the end of July, five companies were preparing their claims for mining.” In 1877, after a delay involving lawsuits, “prospecting went on in the locality in general. D. B. Varney and some other old-timers from Loon Creek came across the Montana along with other promising mines high on Estes Mountain in 1877.” See also, Bancroft, Note 254, at 532. This 9,511’ peak is four miles north of Bonanza.

Obituary of Archibald Burris Estes

1828-1890

"We are pleased to grant to the representative and esteemed gentleman, whose name appears at the head of this article, a memorial in the abiding chronicles of this county and wrought always with wisdom and enterprise. Leaving a record behind him untarnished and bright.

"Mr. Estes was born March 2, 1828, near Nashville, Tennessee, being the son of Thomas (sic) [actually Burris, Jr.] and Martha [Morris] Estes, natives of North Carolina, who were farmers of Tennessee and later spent 24 years in the State of Arkansas, in the same occupation. Until he was 21 years of age he was occupied with his father and in acquiring a good education, then in the memorable year of 1849 moved by the rumers (sic) of gold in the region of California, he came thither and engaged for 2 years in the pursuit of mining. [Along with his cousins James & Burris Estes]

After this time he returned to Arkansas and settled down in Sharp County, and engaged in farming until 1874, at which time he came to Idaho, with ox and mule teams, consuming 6 months on the journey and homesteaded his present place, 4 miles north of Moscow. Here he has devoted his energies and time to the development of the estate and in the noble efforts of upbuilding the county, which was organized after that date. He also taught the first public school in the Moscow district.

On February 28, 1890, the angel of death summoned Mr. Estes to the world beyond. Mr. Estes was a noble and consistent Christian and had lived a life devoted to the Savior of men and his death was but the passing of a soul to the joys awaiting on the other side. His remains were enterred (sic) in the Moscow Cemetery.

"A widow, Mrs. Sarah Estes, who was married to Mr. Estes in Sharp, Co., Arkansas, in November, 1856, and 9 children, Calvin, Laura, John, Fannie, Thomas, Jasper, Phoebe, Mary, and William are the immediate relatives left. Mrs. Estes' parents were Calvin and Nancy Crumpacker Pine, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. Mrs. Estes lives on the old home place and her son Jasper is attending to the culture of the farm. She, as also was her husband, is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Pine moved to Canada and lived near Ottawa. SarahÙs first husband was Jacob Clark, by whom she had 3 children, Olive, Spencer, and Bell. They were joined by Sarah's sister Phoebe and husband John Northrup, and traveled to Arkansas, where Mr. Clark died."

The children of Archibald¹¹ Burris Estes and Rebecca Roberts are:

1. David Granville Estes, born 7 February 1854 in Lawrence County, Arkansas, died 17 August 1893, married on 17 September 1874 Isabelle Angeline Moore. An account of David and Isabelle’s 1878 trip across the plains to Idaho can be found in Esta R. Perryman, Cross Country in 1878, Arkansas Gazette, 6 June 1943.

The children of Archibald¹¹ Burris Estes and Sarah Isabelle Pine are:

1. Karr Calvin “Kal” Estes, born in February 1860 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 24 February 1945, married on 4 July 1889 Nancy Florence Brock. The Nez Perce Herald, Nez Perce, Idaho, carried a series on news items July 1905 and June 1909 detailing how Kal broke his femur when his wagon overturned, seriously injured his arm in a power mill, his daughter Etta cut her toe with an axe, and then drove a nail into her knee, but later won a buggy in the paper’s “popularity voting contest,” and his house burned down. Estes Trails, Volume 37, No. 1 March 2009, at 13;
2. Laura Pine Estes, born in 1862 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 7 May 1931, married John Benjamin;
3. John B. Estes, born in 1863 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 16 December 1944, married Nannie King;
4. Martha Frances Estes, born in 1866 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died in 1957, married Niran M. Hawley;
5. Phoebe Ann Estes, born in 1868 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died in1937, married Ort W. Beardsley;
6. Mary Pietta Estes, born in 1870 in Ash Flat, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 23 April 1939, married on 21 July 1889 George E. Kitley;
7. Thomas Estes, born in 1873 in Black Rock, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died in 1924, married Annie J. Campbell;
8. Jasper West Estes, born on 23 November 1874 in Black Rock, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 15 April 1956, married Effie Blankinship; and,
9. William George Estes, born in Idaho on 23 May 1877, died on 5 April 1940, married on 9 December 1909 Anna M. McPherson.

JASPER¹² WEST “JACK” ESTES
(1828 Tenn. – 1890 Ida.)

Jasper West Estes, born on 23 November 1874 in Black Rock, Lawrence County, Arkansas, died on 15 April 1956, married on 3 July 1902 Effie Blankinship, born 6 November 1879 in Joplin, Missouri. Her parents had come to central Idaho in 1888.⁶

Jack was about six months old when his family set off for Idaho. He was a jack of all trades and somewhat itinerant. He held various jobs including a stagecoach driver near Roseberry, Idaho in 1907-08. The family moved west to Spokane in 1923, and on to Everett on the coast in 1927. Jack worked on a concrete highway and then for many years in a lumber mill from which he retired in 1945. At that time he headed south to Tucson, Arizona where his son Bill had moved the year before. He joined him in building homes, at which Bill became quite successful.

The children of Jasper West Estes and Effie Blankinship are:

1. Lloyd Gerald Estes,

2. Norman Bryan Estes,

3. Helen Iola Estes,

4. Marguerite Eugenia Estes,

5. Beverly Wayne Estes,

6. William Archibald Estes,

7. Katherine Jean Estes,

8. Max Keith Estes.

WILLIAM¹³ ARCHIBALD “BILL” ESTES
(1912 Ida. – 2002 Ariz.)

Grandson of Archibald Burris Estes and Sarah Isabelle Pine

Former Home Builder in Tucson, Ariz., Dies at Age 89.

By Macario Juarez Jr.,

The Arizona Daily Star, April 12, 2002.

Longtime Tucson home builder W.A. "Bill" Estes [son of Jasper West Estes, above] spent his life coaching those around him. "He was a person who always reached out to others' needs and responded to them," said Chris Sheafe, who was a partner in Estes Homes, one of the largest and most successful local home builders.

Estes died Wednesday afternoon at age 89. He is survived by his son, Bill Estes Jr., and two other generations -- three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The elder Estes founded what was then known as Chessman Construction in 1947. Later, it became Estes Homes. The company built some 30,000 homes in Arizona, most of them in Tucson and Phoenix, with the help of Estes Jr. "Since I was in junior high, I always planned to go to work with my father," he said.

His father built his first house in the area of East 22nd Street and South Alvernon Way. He bought three more lots with the money from the sale of the first home, and the business flourished. Estes retired in 1973, turning the company over to his son. In 1998, the business was sold to national powerhouse Kaufman and Broad, now KB Home, for $47 million.

Estes spent his retirement researching the family's genealogy, traveling all over the United States. He spent a lot of time in Salt Lake City, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a large genealogy library, his son said.

Estes was born in Idaho in 1912 and moved to Washington state before settling in Tucson in 1944. He worked for the city's recreation department and as an electrician refurbishing military planes before becoming a home builder.

His love for sports saw him running softball games at Santa Rita Park and basketball games at Armory Park. "He was an athlete and played baseball and basketball when he was in his 20s," his son said. One of Estes' biggest regrets was not accepting a scholarship to play college basketball in Washington, Estes Jr. said. He did realize a lifelong dream, though, of owing a baseball team when the family bought the Tucson Toros in 1973. They held the Pacific Coast League team for about eight years.

"The family liked baseball. And at that time, it was really a family sport," Estes Jr. said. Estes' favorite major-league team was the St. Louis Cardinals. He became a Grand Life Master at tournament bridge in the 1960s, his son said. "He loved sports," said Tom Williams, who worked for Estes Homes for about 25 years, starting in 1974. When Estes wasn't umpiring a baseball game, he was "coaching in life or coaching in business," said Williams, who now is involved in Diamond Ventures' Rocking K development on the far Southeast Side.

One of Estes' last developments before retirement was The Groves, a master-planned community of about 500 acres near South Pantano and East Escalante roads on the East Side. "It was a major purchase from the State Land Department," said Sheafe, who now runs his own land development company. Estes Jr. called the development "a giant step" for his father's company.

In 1972, The Estes Co. was sold to the Singer Housing Co., a California subsidiary of the Singer sewing machine company, for $9.2 million in common stock. Estes Jr. and James N. Shedd, who had managed the firm since it was sold, bought back the company and its Phoenix and Sierra Vista operations in 1977 for about $29 million.

Estes' son later formed TEM Corp., which manages land assets, including Rancho del Lago on the far Southeast Side. A memorial service has been set for 2:30 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church, 740 E. Speedway.

THOMAS NEWTON¹¹ “TOMMY” ESTES
(1830 Tenn. – 1920 Ark.)

Son of Burris, Jr.

Thomas Newton “Tommy” Estes, son of Burris Estes, Jr. and Martha Morris, was born on 9 February 1830 near Paris, Henry County, Tennessee. He married in about 1852 Lucy Rucker Johnson, who died in 1858, and married secondly Minerva R. Wilson, widow of --- Kimmins. Tommy died on 18 April 1920 in Izard County, Arkansas.

Tommy went to California in 1849, perhaps with his brother Archibald and cousins James and Burris Estes. An Arkansas government report states that T. N. Estes (Tommy) served as the Fulton County, Arkansas Clerk from 1862-64.⁷

Thomas Newton “Tommy” Estes

(Photograph in possession of Larry D. Duke)

Letter written by Thomas Newton Estes

to Arkansas newspaper The Flag – 1910

I have just read in "The Flag" Bro. Bonner's experiences of a mother's prayer. This carries me back to my earliest recollection in Henry County, Tennessee, eight miles east of Paris, about seventy years ago. Father [Burris estes, Jr.] was not at home. At night mother took us close to her - knelt down on the hearth, close by the fireside she was going to give us to the Lord I didn't want to go, but expected the Lord to come every day for a long time. Finally I comprehended her meaning - still that prayer seemed to fasten on my mind more forcibly. By the Grace of the Lord I believe that prayer with others from my mother, led me to the cross. Thank the Good Lord for such a mother. She has long since crossed the river.

We left Tennessee in 1839. Mother belonged to a Baptist Church somewhere from 6 to 10 miles east of Paris, in the then neighborhood of the Manly's, Randle's, Burton's, etc. I think the church was on a little sandy hill. Will some brother tell me if the church still stands? I remember the preacher's name was Browning. Oh, how I would like to visit the place of my childhood.

T. N. Estes, Lunenburg, Arkansas

The children of Thomas Newton Estes and Lucy Rucker Johnson are:

1. William Karr Estes, born 5 September 1853 in Wiseman, Izard County, Arkansas, and died 25 March 1933 in Melbourne, Izard County, married on 25 March 1887 his step-sister Laurena Wilson, born 1855 and died 1933, and secondly, Nancy Kichens. “William K. Estes, county and circuit clerk, Melbourne, Ark. In his present position as clerk of the county and circuit court of this county, Mr. Estes is proving himself to be efficient and popular, and the manner in which he has acquitted himself has justly won him the name of being possessed of more than ordinary business ability. He is a native-born citizen of this county, his birth occurring on the 5th of September, 1853, and he is the son of Thomas N. and Lucy R. (Johnson) Estes, and the grandson of Burris and Martha (Morris) Estes, natives of North Carolina. The grandfather came to Tennessee at an early day, and was there married about 1825. He was a leading agriculturist, and died near the close of the late war, leaving considerable property in land and slaves. He was a member of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife, who died shortly after his death. The paternal great-grandfather of William K. Estes was an officer in the war for independence, and had in the same army with himself eleven cousins of the same name and some of one father. He drew from the government 600 acres of land, and located his claim in Henry County, Tenn., where he passed his last days.” (Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs, p. 941). Had children, Lucy, b. 1874; Walter H. b. 1877; Jasper m., b. 1879; Allie Maud, b. 1881; Earl T., b. 1887; Ralph E., b. 1891; Ruth, b. 1895; Hattie, b. 1889 ;

2. John Jasper Estes, born 24 February 1856 in Wiseman, Izard County, Arkansas, and died 18 October 1931 in Imboden, Lawrence County, Arkansas, married on 29 June 1880, Agnes Louann Harris; and,

3. Samuel Cawhorne Estes, born on 11 November 1858, in Wisema, Izard County, Arkansas, died on 7 April 1920 in Izard County, Arkansas, married on 12 March 1885, Mary Caroline Harris, sister of his brother John’s wife.

William Karr Estes John Jasper Estes

Letter from Mary Beatrice Estes Greene

[daughter of John Jasper Estes]

To Ella Etta Hawley Johnson.⁸

Imboden, Ark.

Aug. 4, 1947

Dear Cousin Ella,

I sure was glad to hear from you and appreciate the history sketches you gave me of the family. I didn't know if Uncle Arch had any living children or not and I'm very glad to learn about you and your mother. I wish it were possible for us to see each other.

Yes, Tom Estes was my grandfather but he never had but three children -- all boys. William Karr, the oldest, John Jasper, my father, was the second one, and Samuel Cawhorne, the youngest. They died in reverse order from the way they were born. Uncle Sam died first, then my father and last Uncle Billie. Grandpa was married twice, first to Lucy Rucker Johnson. She was the mother of the boys and died when Uncle Sam was eleven days old. Grandpa didn't marry again until Uncle Sam was eleven years old. He married a widow with some children the second time and one of her daughters became Uncle Billie's first wife. He married his step sister you see. Grandpa's second wife was Mrs. Minerva Wilson nee Kimmons. They never had any children. Grandpa died in 1920 at the age of 90 years. My father died in Oct. 1931 and in less than 3 months my mother and older brother died.

My mother was Agnes Ann Harris and my Uncle Sam married her sister, Mary. Aunt Mary died two years ago last October in California. She has a daughter and grandson living at Auburn, California. There were eight children in our family, six lived to be grown. The first one was a girl and was stillborn, the next, a boy lived to be 2 1/2 years old, then my brother who died in Jan. 1932 was the next. I was the fourth and had infantile paralysis at about the age of 18 months which paralyzed my right leg and I've walked with a crutch practically all my life. The next child was a boy and he got killed in Thayer, Wyo. in 1911 while working as a railroad brakeman. My sister, Opal, was the next. She is a widow and lives at Marked Tree, Ark. She has six children living, all married. My sister Maxie is the seventh one and she lives in Foules, La. not far from Natchez, Miss. She has seven children. Sam, my youngest brother and the baby, works on the railroad as brakeman out of Pensacola, Florida.

MARY¹¹ MORRIS ESTES

(1832 Tenn. – 1882 Ark.)

Mary Morris Estes, daughter of Burris Estes, Jr., was born in 1832 and died in 1882. Her obituary follows.

South West Register, Sharp County, Arkansas:

"Mrs. Mary Spurlock was born in Henry County, Tennessee January 8, 1832. She was the daughter of Burris and Martha Estes. She was converted in her thirteenth year, and first united with the Missionary Baptist Church and remained a member of that church about three years. She then joined the M.E. Church South, in which she lived a pious member until the day of her death, which occurred September 17th, 1882 in Sharp County, Arkansas.

Sister Spurlock was married to David Spurlock, July 8th, 1847. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom are married, and nine of the ten are members of the M.E. Church South, and I trust they are all on their way to heaven. The youngest, little Benny, was a mourner at Shiloh, during the great revival that has just closed. Our sister was confined to her bed over seven weeks, did suffer much, but she bore her afflictions as none but a Christian can. I visited her a number of times during her illness, and always found her submissive to the will of God. The day before she died, I found her happy. I conversed with her about her future prospects, and she said, 'all is well." She praised God aloud and continued to praise Him until her strength was gone. Thank God for the testimony of the dying saint. Sunday at 4 p.m. she fell asleep in Jesus. Monday we buried her at Shiloh. A large concourse of weeping friends and relatives attended the funeral, and after the burial services, we deposited her remains in the grave there to wait the resurrection. Sleep on, Aunt Mary, and by and by Christ shall descend and call your sleeping dust to life again."

DICEY¹⁰ ESTES

(1812 NC – 1867 NC)

Dicey Estes was born in 1812 in Orange County, North Carolina, and was alive in August 1829 and seventeen years old when her father Burris wrote his will. She was probably unmarried at this time. However, the will only mentions her by her first name so her marital status is unclear. When her father’s will was contested in December 1829, several of her Hastings brothers-in-law challenged the document. A fourth plaintiff was “William Royall” whose identity is presently unknown. It is a possibility that he was Dicey’s husband. Further research is necessary. In the 1820 US Census for Sampson County, North Carolina, William Royal has a household of six persons. And for the same year in Jackson County, Tennessee, a different William Royal is shown living with seven persons.

It has been asserted that Dicey died in 1867 in Burke County, North Carolina, and is buried in the Franklin-Estes Family Cemetery, in Caldwell County, North Carolina. This appears to be based on a faded headstone that reads:

D***y G. Estes

died 1867

Aged 47 years ⁹

Note that this would place her birth in 1820, eight years after it is otherwise reported, and shows her buried using her maiden name, in North Carolina instead of Tennessee. This may not be the same person.

Delila¹³ Estes

(1814 NC – 1869 Tenn.?)

Delilah Estes was born in about 1814 and died in 1869, in perhaps Tennessee. She was mentioned in her father Burris Estes, Sr.’s will, but nothing else is known of her.

Lt. JOHN¹⁰ H. ESTES

(1814 N.C. – 1856 W.T.)

Youngest Brother of Thomas

John Estes was born in 1814 in Orange County, North Carolina, and married on 13 January 1834 in Henry County, Tennessee, Nancy Jackson, born 16 February 1818 in Henry County, Tennessee. John was killed during the Indian Wars on 15 July 1856 on the Burnt River, Baker County, Oregon, and was buried at a site then named for him – Camp Estes. Nancy survived him and married secondly, Greenberry Simpson, a widower with adult children. By him she had two more children. (A discussion of the historical background of Washington’s Indian Wars of 1855-56 follows at the end of John’s section.)

Nicholas Tartar (grandson of Thomas Estes, John's brother) wrote in 1940: "John Estes married [on 9 January 1834] Nancy Jackson born in 16 Feb. 1818 in Burke County, NC, and to them was born six children: Emeline (Estes) Orr; Martha (Estes) Orr; Joseph Estes; Susan (Estes) Sebring; Winsey (Estes) Rose; and Burris Estes, who was born in Oregon. The family came to Oregon with my father's family in 1853. John Estes was killed by the Indians during the Yakima Indian War of 1856, as I understand, a few miles above Wallula, Washington, on the Oregon side."

In 1839, John and Nancy left Tennessee for Arkansas with John’s older brothers Thomas and Burris, Jr. They settled in Lawrence then Fulton County. In 1853, John Estes and his family set out over the Oregon Trail. They settled in Polk County, Oregon with Richard Tarter and Susan Abigail (Estes) Tarter, the daughter of his brother Thomas. Researcher Jim Estes has written a detailed article on the family which will be quoted extensively¹⁰.

“This John Estes family came west in the fall of 1853 with a large family including one married daughter, her husband, and small daughter.” “John and Nancy had nine children, and after his death in the Indian wars Nancy remarried and had two more children by her second husband, Greenberry Simpson. Mr. Simpson was a widower who came west in the same wagon train as the Esteses and had a claim close to theirs. He had several grown children at the time of his marriage to Nancy Estes.”

Entries in the

John Estes Family Bible ¹¹

John Estes and Nancy Jackson were married on the 9th day of

January 1834 A.D.

John Estes was born on the 13th of May 1814

Nancy Estes was born on the 16th day of February 1818

Emeline Estes was born on the 24th day of September 1835

Thomas W. Estes was born on the 28th day of September 1837

Josiah G. Estes was born on the 15th day of September 1839

William J. Estes was born on the 17th day of June 1842

Martha Ann Estes was born on the 20th day of January 1845

Helena K. Estes was born on the 6th day of November 1846

Susan Ann Estes was born on the 29th day of August 1848

Wincy D. Estes was born on the 6th day of August 1851

Burrus Estes was born on the 25th day of October 1854

Deaths

John Estes died in battle with the Indians on the 15th day of July, 1856, by being shot threw the boddy.

Cerilda E. Simpson was born October 10, 1862

S.E. Simpson, a daughter of G.B. Simpson, was born the 12th of October 1864

James Orr was born October 25, 1860

Nancy Simpson died February 3, 1902 -- aged 84 years

The 1840 US Census for Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas shows all three brothers. In John’s home were: John Estes 20-30 [John 32]; woman 15-20 [Nancy 22]; 1 girl 0-5 [Emaline 1]; 1 boy 0-5 [Joseph 1].

The 1850 US Census for Union Township, Fulton County (next to Sharp), Arkansas shows: Estes, John - 36 NC; Estes, Nancy - 32 NC; Estes, Emaline - 15 Tenn; Estes, Josiah G? - 11 Tenn; Estes, William J. - 8 Ark; Estes, Martha Ann - 5 Ark; Estes, Susan Ann - 2 Ark. They lived next to John's sister, Martha Estes Morris and her family.

The 1860 US Census for Luckiamute, Polk County, Oregon, shows Nancy (Jackson) Estes living with her three youngest children Susan (12), Wincy (9), and Burris (5). She owned $480.00 in real estate and $860.00 in personal property. Nancy's oldest daughter Emeline Orr lived next door with her family.

Nancy married Greenberry Simpson and had two additional daughters. Greenberry was a widower who came west in the same wagon train as the Estes family and had a claim close to theirs. One of the daughters was S. E. Simpson and suffered an early death, due to measles. The other daughter was Cerilda Simpson, was deaf-mute and died of tuberculosis at age 22. Green also had several grown children at the time of his marriage to Nancy Estes.

THE INDIAN WARS OF

WASHINGTON TERRITORY

1856-58

The Death of Lt. John Estes

Thomas Estes’ youngest brother had come west in the early 1850’s to the Oregon Territory. He farmed for three years, while tensions between settlers and the Indians grew in Washington and Oregon territories. Lieutenant John Estes of the Washington Mounted Volunteers was killed on Tuesday, 15 July 1856, ambushed on the Burnt River, on the east side of the Blue Mountains. He was 48 years old, and left behind wife Nancy Jackson Estes and nine children. What follows is taken from official cavalry reports of the action in the Indian Wars of 1856-58. [See Appendix.]

Washington Territory was created from the Oregon Territory on 3 March 1853, (The “Oregon Country,” stretching to 54’ 40”, had been made a territory in 1846.) Sixteen counties, including Walla Walla were formed and Isaac Stevens elected governor. Settlement was relatively sparse and comprised mostly miners, trappers and the like. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman had been slaughtered at their mission near Walla Walla in 1847, causing many to reconsider thoughts of immigration. This condition persisted for the first two years.

But in 1855, gold was discovered at the junction of the Pend Oreille and Columbia rivers and a rush to the area east of the Cascade Mountains began. Governor Stevens saw the need for treaties and the organization of certain reservations for the native peoples. Getting them on the reserved lands proved difficult, and was the subject of much controversy. Compare Hazard Steven’s favorable treatment (of his father) in “Life of Governor Stevens,” with Puyallup pioneer Ezra Meeker’s “Tragedy of Leschi.”

The Indians less-than-complete understanding and acceptance of the reservation concept, combined with a flood of white settlers, set off conflict in the new territory. Violence was concentrated in the Rogue River in southern Oregon, areas on Puget Sound (especially Seattle), and the White River Valley in Washington.¹² This period would become known as the Indian Wars of 1856, 1857, and 1858. Fighting would continue until the Spring of 1859 when the defeat of the tribes and Congress’ confirmation of the 1855 treaties signed by Stevens would result in the movement to the reservations and, finally, peace.

In May of 1855, Governor Stevens and 50 men traveled to Walla Walla for a conference with the tribes; what has become known as the Walla Walla Treaty Council of 1855. They were met by 2,500 Nez Perce warriors, led by Halhaltlossot (known to the whites a Lawyer). Two days later appeared 300 of the troublesome Cayuse (led by Five Crows and Tauitau or “Young Chief”), and then 2,000 Yakimas (led by Kahmiakin), Walla Wallas (led by Peu-peu-mox-mox), and Umatillas. Peu-peu-mox-mox of the Walla Wallas – considered to be the mastermind of the 1847 Whitman Massacre -- the Cayuse and Yakimas conspired to wipe out Stevens’ party and then rush to the Dalles and destroy the garrison there, then unite with the Eastern Oregon tribes to exterminate all those in the Willamette Valley, while allies on the Sound would kill the whites there. However, the Nez Perce, with some dissent, saw the need for peace and prevented the plan from unfolding. Stevens and Lawyer worked together and signed treaties which established three reservations.

Because of the opposition of Peo-peo-mox-mox of the Walla Walla, Stickus of the Cayuse, Tauitau of the Umatilla, and many others, a separate treaty with a new reservation, the Umatilla Reservation was created. The Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse bands were given 245,000 acres of land, and Stevens gave the powerful and influential Peu-peu-mox-mox several gifts, including $500 cash. Other treaty goods were promised as well. The Nez Perce were advised they would have the Wallowa Mountains, and when in 1877 President Grant failed to adhere to the “scraps of paper,” Chief Joseph began his famous war.

No sooner was Stevens on his way than Kamiahkin led a revolt in the fall of 1855. Stevens boldly returned to Olympia avoiding the 1,000 warriors looking for him. He and Oregon Governor Curry raised volunteers. In early December, the Oregon soldiers led by Lt. Col. J.K. Kelley fought a “running battle” in and around the Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla Treaty Council

(Sohon, 1855 Washington State Historical Society)

The Indians were routed and retreated to the Grand Ronde and western Idaho. Peu-peu-mox-mox and four others were captured and died in custody, some saying his ears were cut off and stored in a jar of whiskey, and later nailed to the State House in Salem. The body of Yellow Bird, the great Walla Walla chief, was “mutilated in a way that should entitle those who did it to a prominent niche in the ghoulish temple erected to commemorate the infamous acts of soulless men.” ¹³

A portion of Stevens’ 1857Map of the Indian Nations

and Tribes of the Territory of Washington

(National Archives)

During the Spring of 1856, the governor declared martial law and small scale warfare continued throughout the region.

In June 1856, a second regiment of Washington volunteers was organized on the Sound and dispatched for the Walla Walla under the command of Lt. Col. B.F. Shaw. [Among them was Lt. John H. Estes of Luckiamute, Oregon.] The force organized on the Sound under Colonel B.F. Shaw crossed the mountains to Walla Walla with orders to unite his force with that coming from the Dalles and assume command of both, which would total 350 enlisted men and 100 quartermaster and Indian employees.

Letters and military reports describe the action.¹⁵ In late May 1856, Governor Stevens quickly organized forces to retake the interior part of the state after some attacks. He observed that the confederated tribes east of the Cascades “consider themselves the victors.” And, as Col. Wright entered the Yakima country, the tribes held almost the entirety of land. “Not a white man is to be found from the Dalles to the Walla Walla; not a house stands….”¹⁶

The Spokanes rejected Walla Walla chief Kamiahkin’s call to arms, and the Nez Perce remained friendly. However, in late June “some three hundred hostiles were at the head of John Day’s River. * * * There were Snakes with the party at the head of John Day’s River, and the force was increasing. It is proposed to strike the party at the head of John Day’s River, by a force of about 175 men, consisting of 100 volunteers of Oregon, under Major Layton, and 75 volunteers of Washington under Capt. Goff [the Second Regiment, Washington Territory Mounted Volunteers] including Lt. John Estes]. The plan was to move from Well Springs on the thirtieth of June, which point is on the emigrant road, some eighty-five miles from the Dalles.”

This force, led by Col. Shaw, moved for concentration to where the ancient Hudson’s Bay fort, Walla Walla, stood. It consisted of six companies, including M.P. Goff’s company “recruited in Oregon for Washington Territory.” By July 8^th, this force “except for a portion of Captain Goff’s company” had reached its destination. Upon arrival, Col. Shaw learned that a group of hostiles had concentrated in the Grand Ronde, and went into the Blue Mountains to meet them with a force of 160 men. He sounded defeated the tribes at the Battle of the Grand Ronde on July 17^th.

Meanwhile, Captain Goff (in command of the right division of the Volunteers) including Lt. Estes’s Company N, was directed by Major Layton to “meet me at or near the DeShutes (sic) with part of his force and make the expedition together.”¹⁷ On July 2d, Layton’s 78 man force encountered 400 warriors and sent for reinforcements from Capt. Goff. One week later, “Capt. Goff of the Washington Territory Volunteers joined my command with 70 men, which included the commissioned officers [Lt. Estes and others]. On July 11^th they moved to the John Day River and found fresh sign. Two days later, with Capt. Goff extremely ill in camp, Major Layton took 36 of his men “also 30 men from Capt. Goff’s command, with two commissioned officers, Lieut. Hunter, County K., and Lieut. Estes, Co. N.”

They moved on a southern course up the John Day River all day the 14^th and camped in a prairie near the summit of the Blue Mountains. On July 15^th they traveled down the east side of the mountains and made camp on the Burnt River. There they found signs of a very large Indian encampment. How close their enemy was they were about to discover. What happened next spelled the end of John Estes. Major Layton reported the events as follows:

“Whilst the detachment was quietly resting here at this place, three men from Capt. Goff’s command, without my knowledge, went out of camp for the purpose of ascending a high hill on the east side of the canyon, to reconnoiter. They were fired upon by a number of Indians concealed by the rocks. Two of them fell mortally wounded and one of them made his escape to camp unharmed.”

“Their names were Lieutenant Estes of Co. N. and Private Smith of Co. K. Mr. Richards of Co. N returned unhurt. As soon as the report of guns was heard, there were Indians to be seen in force on the hills. I then ordered the horses to be brought up and 30 men to be detailed to charge the hills and go to the bodies, which was quickly done. On reaching the bodies, we found them entirely naked, the body of Lieut. Estes was not mutilated at all, but that of Smith was a horrid sight to behold. They had taken nearly all his hair for scalp and skinned his mustache and whiskers. After which we skirmished with the Indians until dark. [The fighting continued throughout the day of the 16^th.]”

“At noon on the 17^th, the bodies of Estes and Smith were buried. Every one that could witnessed the sad scene and the place was dedicated to their untimely end by being called Camp Estes and Smith Canyon on Burnt River.”

Col. Shaw’s force faced about 300 warriors of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Tyh, John Day and De Chutes tribes, commanded by the following chiefs: Stock Whitley and Sim-mis-tas-tas, De Chutes and Tyh; Chick-iah, Plyon, Wic-e-cai, Wat-ah-stuartih, Win-imi-swoot, Cayuses; Tah-kin, Cayuse, the son of Peu-peu-mox-mox, Walla Walla, and other chiefs of less note. Colonel Shaw’s report stated in part:

"The whole command, officers and men, behaved well. The enemy was run on the gallop 15 miles, and most of those who fell were shot with the revolver. It is impossible to state how many of the enemy were killed. Twenty-seven bodies were counted by one individual and many others we know to have fallen and been left, but were so scattered about that it was impossible to get count of them. Then to these we add those killed by Major Maxon's command on the other side of the river, we may safely conclude that at least forty of the enemy were slain, and many went off wounded. When we left the valley there was not an Indian in it; and all the signs went to show that they had gone a great distance from it.

"On the twenty-first instant we left the valley by the emigrant road, and commenced our return to camp. During the night Lieutenant Hunter, of the Washington Territory volunteers, came into camp with an express from Captain Goff. I learned, to my surprise, that the Captain and Major Layton had seen Indians on John Day's river; had followed them over to the head of Burnt river, and had had a fight with them, in which Lieutenant Eustus and one private were killed, and some seven Indians. They were shaping their course for the Grand Ronde valley, and had sent for provisions and fresh horses.”

Battle Of Burnt River July, 15 and 16, 1854.

 “The three under Capt. F. M. P. Goff, 75 men, and Major Layton, 100 men, reached the vicinity of Burnt river on the twelfth of July Owing to severe illness of Captain Goff, he was forced to remain in camp until the fifteenth, with a portion of his command, while the balance of his force, under Major Layton, was cutting a search of the enemy. Layton's scouts reached the head of Burnt river on the fifteenth and camped, when Lieut. John Eustus, with two men, prolonged ascending a neighboring bluff to get a view of the surrounding country. They were advised not to attempt it, but determined to do so, and, as they approached the summit, were fired upon by ambushed hostiles, the Lieutenant and Daniel Smith of company K being killed. The third man made a miraculous escape, and was met in his wild flight by comrades coming to his assistance, before he reached the camp that lay in plain view below. Lieutenant Hunter at the head of his command, charged the hill, drove the Indians off from it, recovered the bodies of the dead soldiers, and then fell back to camp. The next morning found them surrounded by the enemy, and a skirmishing engagement followed through the day, which resulted in nothing decisive except the soldier named Cheney, the wounding of one, and killing of three Indians. On the seventeen, as Captain Goff approached the battle ground with his company, the hostiles disappeared, and, on the eighteenth, the line of march, in direction of Grand Ronde, was resumed.


“Killed and Wounded In The Battles of Burnt River and Grand Ronde: Lieutenant John Eustus, Company N, killed; residence Luckiamute, Oregon [southwest of Salem]….”

An inventory of his military accounts was taken:

Vancouver, W.T. Aug 8th 1857

Dear Sir,

On examining the roll of Capt James Williams Co "N" W. T. Vols which had not been finally signed at the time I wrote you last week. I find John Estes 2d Lieut. Mustered Jany (June?) 2d 1856. Killed in battle at Burnt River July 14, 1856. Bridle and saddle lost. - service 42 days- furnished his own horse- stoppage against his pay for clothing &c $16.42 - Pay allowance for self use of horse and loss of equipment, $230.92. Subtract stoppage leaving due and reflected in the roll in his favor $214.50.

This I believe is all the information you desired although I have mislaid your letter after writing before.

Very Truly Yours,

L. F. (?)

The war went on without Lt. Estes. On 17 July 1856, Shaw obtained a victory over the allied tribes on the Grand Ronde. (While this battle raged, Governor Stevens had his hands full in western Washington. Seattle had nearly been destroyed.) “On John Day River, where the enemy had congregated in numbers, Major Layton of the Oregon Volunteers captured thirty-four warriors in June, and in July there was some fighting, but nothing decisive. Colonel Shaw also did some fighting in the Grand Rond country, but there, as elsewhere, the Indians kept the army on the move without definite results.”¹⁸

During the summer of 1856 came the second (and again failed) Walla Walla Treaty Council. On his return from this disappointing (and again, but for Lawyer’s protection, almost fatal) venture, Stevens was attacked. Due to General Wool’s deliberate decision to not provide adequate support, Stevens group almost met their end. This was artfully avoided and they returned to Olympia.

The sound defeat of the allied tribes resurrected hopes for implementing the treaties. The federal Army under Colonel Steptoe massed at Walla Walla. In mid August 1856, Governor Stevens directed that no more territorial volunteers be raised and that those under Shaw whose service ended in three weeks would then muster out. However, they would be needed again.

In 1857, General N.S. Clarke replaced General Wool and the no-settlement policy changed. The discovery of gold led to a flood tide of prospectors and land hunters. From these circumstances emerged more conflict which lead to the third Indian War, of 1858, comprising three campaigns. The first was the disastrous routing of Steptoe by the Spokanes, “one of the most disastrous in the history of Indian warfare.” Fortunately, Garnett crushed the Yakimas and Wrightt successfully performed Steptoe’s mission. Marching from Fort Walla Walla to Spokane and winning fights at Four Lakes and Spokane Plains.¹⁹

Warfare finally established the peace and the tribes moved to the reservations, as settlers “began to pour in.”²⁰ By April 1859, there were 2,000 settlers in eastern Washington, and the numbers increased “with surprising rapidity for several years thereafter,” attracted by the lure of gold even more than farming. Many of General Harney’s men were engaged in the surveying and construction of other roads in 1859. The Mullan wagon-road followed the trace of the Northern Pacific railroad survey and was the most significant road in the country.²¹

OTHER JOHN ESTES IN WASHINGTON

There were several John Estes’ in Washington in the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s. On 20 November 1852, John F. Estes, who married Frances Tartes on 13 October 1838, settled claim number 683 for an Oregon Donation Land Claim. Such claims were granted to settlers of the Oregon Territory before 1853, and applications filed at the Land Claims Office, Portland, Oregon. His affiants were John D. Hornbuckle, Jesse Soren, Joseph Williamson, and James E.T. Crow.

"John J. Estes" is an also shown as an affiant in the preceding application (no. 682), and on numbers 715, 817, 815, and 833, with or for the same individuals. Thus, his middle initial may well be "J." [The year of marriage places his birth at roughly 1818, making him just a bit younger than Thomas’ brother.]

The 1910 US Census for Samish, Skagit County, Washington, shows John M. Estes (49, Mo.) living with his wife of 22 years Fannie (42, Ore.) and their only child John F. Estes (17, Wash.) [born c. 1893].

The 1920 US Census for Edison, Skagit County, Washington, shows John M. Estes (59, Mo.) living with his wife of 22 years Francis (51, Ore., dairy farmer) and their only child John F. Estes (27, Wash., single) [born c.1893].

John Estes was born 9 September 1892, and died April 1983 in Seattle, with a last address in southeast Seattle near Lake Washington. (SSDI.)

John F. Estes was a grange organizer in 1919-20. This may well be the same John F., the 25-26 year old son of a dairy farmer. Washington State Grange Association records show:

• The Snohomish County Grange in Darrington was organized 26 September 1919 by J.F. Estes.²²

• The Grays Harbor County Grange in Humptulips was organized 15 March 1920 by John F. Estes.

• The Lewis County Grange in Toledo was organized 22 April 1920 by John F. Estes.

• The Lewis County Grange near Winlock was organized 3 May 1920 by John F. Estes.

NANCY JACKSON

(1818 Tenn. – 1902 Ore.)

Nancy Jackson was born 16 February 1818 in Henry County, Tennessee, and died 3 February 1902, Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon, burial English Cemetery. She married on 13 January 1834 in Henry County, Tennessee, John Estes, born in 1814 in Orange County, North Carolina. John was killed during the Indian Wars on 15 July 1856.

The 1860 US Census for Luckiamute, Polk County, Oregon, shows Nancy (Jackson) Estes living with her three youngest children Susan (12), Wincy (9), and Burris (5). She owned $480.00 in real estate and $860.00 in personal property. Nancy's oldest daughter Emeline Orr lived next door with her family.

Nancy married secondly, Greenberry (Green Berry?) Simpson, a widower with adult children. Simpson was born 11 May 1811, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, and died 2 February 1892, Benton County, Oregon, burial Crystal Lake Masonic Cemetery, Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon, Inscription: Age 81 years.

Nancy Jackson had two more children by Green Simpson: Cerilda E. Simpson (1860 - 1889); and S. E. Simpson (1864 - 1864).

The Simpsons were connected to the Estes family in several respects. They lived near the Tarters, and Thomas Estes’ granddaughter Martha Emeline Faulkenbury, 1842-1922 (daughter of Sarah Cate Estes), married Alfred Henderson Simpson (1841 - 1904), the son of Rice W. Simpson.

Rice Simpson and Green Simpson were born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia within three years of each other. Thus, they are likely brothers or cousins. (Rice was born 1 September 1808, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, died 14 March 1883, Polk County, Oregon, and is buried in the English Cemetery.)

In addition, Oregon pioneer John Orlando Staats, Note 289, states that in 1845 “My father [Isaac Staats] and uncle Stephen [Staats], together with I.M. Simpson, Rice W. Simpson, Green B. Simpson” came across the plains to the Willamette Valley. I.M Simpson may have been another brother. [Isaac Simpson married Martha Jackson, daughter of Thomas Jackson and Delilah ---, of Lawrence County, Arkansas. Thomas had a sister named Nancy who may have been the woman who married Lt. John H. Estes.]

The 1870 US Census for Marion County shows Greenberry Simpson, 59, Nancy Simpson, 52, Cerilda, 7, deaf and dumb, and James Orr, 11, at school.

The children of John¹⁰ H. Estes and Nancy Jackson are:

1. Emeline Estes, born September 24, 1835 in Tenn. She married John H. Orr (born in Lawrence County, Arkansas in 1831) on July 10, 1851 in Fulton County, Arkansas. They had as children:

a. Pearl Orr, born in Arkansas in the spring of 1853. The Orrs arrived in Oregon on September 29, 1853.

b. Dave Orr, born in Oregon. He was crippled from birth and had a short arm.

c. Manville Orr, born in Oregon in 1857. He was not an asset to the family or community and finally disappeared for several years. When the family finally started to look for him they found a skeleton in his cabin and "presumed it was Manville." (This would have been around 1890 when Manville was in his early '30's. Burrus Estes Rose remembers he was about six when the incident took place, and his grandmother and aunts cried when they heard the news.)

d. John E. Orr, born in 1859. (This John Orr not to be confused with another John Orr who was sheriff of Polk County, Oregon and for whom Orr's Corners was named, nor with his uncle, John W. Orr, who fought in the Indian war with John Estes.) This John Orr was a bachelor, a violin player, and went blind in his old age. Until he was grown he lived in Idaho, but returned to Oregon and lived out his life near Monmouth. During most of his later years he lived with his younger brother, James. This John Orr was always called Johnny. It was he who rescued the John Estes family Bible after it had been thrown out to be burned.

e. James Orr, born in Oregon October 25, 1860. When James was about three his mother died, and James was raised by his grandmother, Nancy Estes, and by his aunt, Wincy Estes Rose. He was badly scarred on his face from a childhood accident. He was dropped by his sister who was rocking him. His mother was ironing and heating the flatirons on the open fireplace. James fell face first onto a hot iron. He had no nose left, and his face was scar tissue. Just the same, as he grew into manhood, he was a dapper little man who fancied himself a lady-killer. He lived around the Airlie/Independence area all his life. He married Lottie Fisher Hall, a widow, and helped her to raise her niece. He died of a cancer on his face.

“Emeline Orr was about 25 when James was born. He was her last child. There is no date on her grave, but the family legend is that she died in childbirth, about the year 1862-63. She was buried in Airlie then moved to the new addition of Monmouth Cemetery by the Army in 1941. Her grave is marked "unknown" since the old wooden marker was destroyed by time. Actually when she was moved, along with the other family graves at the same time, the Army simply took up the wooden fragments and the dust at the bottom of the gravesite, and moved the entire lot to the new site. (This move was caused by the building of an Army cantonment to train new soldiers in WWII.)

“After the death of Emeline, John Orr took all of his children except for baby James to Idaho where he later remarried and raised a second family. James, as stated before, was raised by his grandmother and aunt. Later several of John Orr's children returned to Oregon, for visits and to live.

“The second, third, and fourth children of John and Nancy Estes were sons who died in early manhood after making the long trek across the plains to Oregon.

2. Thomas W. Estes was born September 28, 1837;

3. Josiah G. Estes was born September 15, 1839.

4. William J. Estes was born June 17, 1842.

Brothers Thomas and William died of tuberculosis. We do not know where they were buried. Josiah, according to Nick Tarter, was still alive in the Airlie area as late as 1862. At that time, Thomas K. [W.] Estes, son of John Estes' brother, Thomas, was enroute from California back to his home in Walla Walla, Washington and stopped off for a visit with his cousins in Airlie. Thomas was 22 and stated that he visited with Josiah, 23, who was called Joe. There is a Josiah Estes buried in the Monmouth Cemetery, a victim of drowning (the same?).

These boys worked away from home, as they were in their teens when they came to Oregon. The story is that while their father was away, one of the boys returned to the Estes cabin after a long absence and was greeted by their mother, Nancy, with a shotgun over her arm. She yelled at him, "Who be ye? Don't you come across the creek till I know who ye be!" When the boy called out his name she let him come on across the creek.

5. Martha Ann Estes, born 20 January 1845 in Arkansas. She came across the plains with her family at the age of eight. On November 25, 1858, when she was not quite fourteen, she married another John Orr. This was John P. Orr who had been with John Estes in eastern Oregon when John was killed. John Orr had returned to the Airlie area after his enlistment time was up in August of 1858.

Martha and John Orr had two girls, Susan and Addie. Of Susan we know nothing. Addie married Clark Richardson. They lived for a while near Airlie, then at Junction City. Later they homesteaded at Maupin. They had at least six children, of whom we know Frank, Wesley, Mary, and Silas. It was at Junction City that Frank and Wesley, in their early teens, both drowned the same afternoon in a water-filled gravel pit.

Burrus Rose says that Martha Orr died in childbirth, along with the baby, in the epidemic of 1864. He called it "the year I lost all my aunts." However, there is a Martha and John Orr in the 1870 census in Marion County listing them with five children. There were several John Orrs in the valley at the same time. I cannot definitely state the actual death date for Martha.

6. Helena K. Estes, born November 6, 1846. All I know about her is that she married a man named Southworth. Three children are known: Pearl, Rena, and Mark. She is said to have also died in 1864. In Polk County marriage lists is an entry for C.W. Southworth and Ellen Orr, June 2, 1867, possibly a second marriage for widower Southworth, but I cannot confirm this.

7. Susan Ann Estes, born August 28, 1848. She was married, by Joseph Paul, on 22 February 1865 (Early Marriages of Walla Walla, at 30) to John W[esley] Sebring [son of William Sebring and Susan Hines. John is perhaps the son of her cousin, Thomas’ daughter Sarah Cate Estes’ second husband, William, see page 376]. Two children are known: George and Lillian. After the early death of Susan, George was raised by relatives on both sides of the family, and Lillian was taken into the family of Dean Collins and lived with them until she married Sam Tetherow of Dallas, Oregon.

The large gravestone in Monmouth Cemetery marked "Susan Sebring" is not this Susan's, but that of her aunt, Susan Estes Faulkenbury Sebring, daughter of Thomas Estes. This aunt came across the plains with her uncle, John Estes, and lost her husband, Hugh Faulkenbury, during the crossing.

8. Wincy Drucilla Estes, born August 6, 1851 [See outline, below];

9. Burrus Miles Estes, born October 25, 1854. He was their last child and the only one of their children born in Oregon Territory. He was born in McTimmonds Valley near Airlie. The census of 1870 places him at school at age sixteen. In the same census, in the home of Green B. Simpson, there was Greenberry, 59, Nancy (Estes) Simpson, 52, Cerilda, 7, deaf and dumb, and James Orr, 11, at school.

Burrus Miles Estes married Eliza Jenkins. Their only son, Bertie M., died at age one day. Eliza had one other child, Harriet (Hattie). Eliza died in 1922. Burrus lived to be 83, and had a life of quiet tragedy. His only daughter, Harriet, lost her first husband, Joe Stansberry, in a farming accident when he was caught in the machinery and his head was crushed. Burrus said, "I never could figure out why she married him in the first place. He was her first husband, but not her first man, and he wasn't a real nice fellow."

Burrus buried his son-in-law beside baby Bertie in the old cemetery at Monmouth. Harriet then married a man by the name of Coquillotte by whom she had three children: Vesta, Letna, and Ed. Mr. Coquillotte(?) Hattie [apparently he left her, can't read]. Hattie then married Mr. Miller. Hattie died of tuberculosis in 1936. She is buried beside her mother, infant brother, and her first husband in Monmouth.

Burrus was 82 then and had no close relatives except two grandchildren. One granddaughter, Vesta, born around 1908, had died in 1929. She had spent several years at the girls' reform school in Salem, Oregon. She ran away from there and married a man named Kenny when she was sixteen. Kenny wasn't much older and mentally retarded. They had four children, all of whom died at birth. One child was born without a fontanel and another had water on the brain. Just before the birth of her last child, in Seattle where she had run to get away from her husband, Vesta bloated until her outer abdominal wall split, and she died. They brought her home to Monmouth and buried her in the family plot. Burrus was 75 then, but he made her tombstone himself out of concrete. (He also made the stone for his mother, Nancy Jackson Estes Simpson.) Burrus was a carpenter and painter, although he had lost three fingers from one hand in a sawmill accident.

At 82 years of age, Burrus Estes lived in a garage behind the home of his grandson, Ed Coquillotte. He died there early one morning, 30 November 1937, and by noon Ed had cleared the garage of all the old man's possessions to make room for his car. His things were all thrown out in the alley including the family Bible that had belonged originally to Nancy and John Estes and had come across the plains with them. The Bible was picked up by Johnny Orr and returned to Burrus Estes Rose. Burrus Miles Estes had given everything he had to his church, and his gravestone is a county marker. The Bible entries are summarized above.

ENGLISH CEMETERY HEADSTONES

Eldest child of John H. Estes and Nancy Jackson

Children of Wincy D. Estes and Elijah Calvin Rose

Grandson of Wincy Drucilla Estes and Calvin Elijah Rose

Eugene¹⁴ Mathis Sebring

(1923 Cal. - 2001 Ore.)

Son of Eugene¹³ Walter Sebring, son of George¹² W. Sebring,

son of Susan¹¹ Ann Estes, daughter of John¹⁰ H. Estes

The Register-Guard, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, Sept. 7, 2001:

A memorial service will be Sept. 10 for Eugene Mathis Sebring of Eugene, who died Aug. 28 of an aneurysm. He was 78. Sebring was born Feb. 8, 1923, in Los Angeles to Eugene and Rose Mathis Sebring. He married Virginia Drake in Eugene on Nov. 5, 1952. He grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Eugene in 1945, after serving in the U.S. Army 756th Railroad Shop Battalion during World War II. He was posted to England and France. He later worked as a carpenter, and was a member of Union Local No. 1273.

He attended the First Baptist Church and was a member of the Obsidians and the North American Rock Garden Society. The Sebring Rock Garden in Eugene's Alton Baker Park was named in his wife's honor. [See photograph, below.] For 15 years, he served as a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of American. His interests included traveling, mountain climbing, backpacking and gardening.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dale of San Jose, Calif., and Mark of Eugene; two daughters, Martha Lake of Eugene, and Marianne McGuire of Astoria; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Monday's memorial will be at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Eugene, 868 High St. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Eugene. Musgrove Family Mortuary in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund.

WINCEY¹¹ DRUCILLA ESTES

(1851 Ark. - 1921 Ore.)

John H. Estes and Nancy Jackson’s eighth child, Wincey Drucilla Estes was born 6 August 1851 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, and died at age 70 on 12 August 1921 in Airlie, Polk County, Oregon, she married in 1865 in Vancouver, Clark County, Washington Territory, Elijah Calvin Rose, born 16 August 1838 in Indiana (per Jim Estes born 8 August 1835, Mahaska County, Iowa), and died 30 May 1896, Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon, both buried in the English Cemetery.

English Cemetery

Polk County was officially created from Yamhill District of the Oregon Territory on December 22, 1845. In 1848, President James K. Polk signed a bill approving the boundaries of the Oregon territory, which officially separated the territory from England, thus providing the name Polk County.

Hudson's Bay Company hunters and trappers had penetrated the Willamette Valley south to Polk County as early as 1830. White people from the eastern United States began settlement of Polk County during the early 1840's. During the decade between 1850 and 1860 the population of Polk County tripled from 1,046 to 4,126, largely due to overland immigration. Polk County had seven sawmills, five flour mills, a tannery, fanning mill factory, and several machine shops. In 1860 there were twelve Post Offices in Polk County. The Luckiamute Post Office, established in 1851, was among the earliest in Polk County. Presumable it was located on the Luckiamute where postmaster Harrison Linnville's ferry crossed that stream.

Polk County

The children of Wincey¹¹ Estes and Calvin Elijah Rose are:

1. Purl Rose;

2. Nancy Florence Rose;

3. Josiah Rose born 1 February 1866 in Oregon;

4. Martha Rose born 15 August 1869 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon;

5. John “Johnny” Rose born 1871 and died in 1871 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon, buried in English Cemetery, Monmouth, Polk County, (see headstone, below);

6. Esther Rose born 19 March 1873 in Independence, Polk, Oregon;

7. Ellen Rose, born in 1872, and died in 1874 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon, buried in English Cemetery, Monmouth, Polk County, (see headstone, below);

8. Lily Rose born 2 June 1875 in Salem, Marion, Oregon;

9. Clara Helen Rose born in 1877 and died in 1877 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon, buried in English Cemetery, Monmouth, Polk County (see headstone, below);

10. Maude Rose born 4 March 1880 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon;

11. Pearle Lemuel Rose born 29 August 1882 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon;

12. Burrus Estes Rose, born 6 March 1884 in Airlie, died 3 March 1968 in Portland, Oregon, married Minnie Clodfelter 1885 – 1972, and had a. Burrus Marion Rose born in 1907 and died in 1987, who married Helen Crystal Mills, born 1908 and died 1995, had i. Nancy Rose married Jerry Sheureman in 1961 and had two sons, married secondly in 1975, Therol Bell; ii. Bert Rose; iii. Paul Rose; iv. Audrey Theurer; v. Francis Schy; vi. Steve Rose; vi. Laverne Nepple; b. Melvin Rose; and, c. Ruth Rose;

13. Freddie Rose born 25 January 1898 in Airlie, Polk, Oregon, died February 1955;

14. Nancy Florence Rose born 2 April 1890 in Airlie, died 8 July 1973 in Olympia, Wash., married first Delmar Edward Hedgpeth, born 18 July 1887 in Prineville, Oregon. Children: Homer Joel Hedgepeth born 12 Aug 1906 in Oregon, married in 1934 in Olympia, Wash. Pearle Mildred Adams, born 12 May 1910 in Olympia, Children: Shirley Jean Hedgpeth; and Helen Leone Hedgpeth born 30 Jan 1910 in Arlie, married first on 4 April 1928 Samuel Roy Shumate, born 23 May 1903. Children: Roy (Jiggs) L. Shumate, and married secondly on 28 June 1959 in Lacey, Washington Peter Steilburg, secondly on 29 May 1918 Earl Brent Berlin, born 27 Jan 1885. Children: Raymond Berlin and Sylvia Berlin.

Obituary for Nancy Ann Rose Bell

3 October 1941 — 22 February 2008

Great-great granddaughter of Lt. John H. Estes

Nancy Ann Bell of Corvallis died Feb. 22 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She was 66.

She was born in Independence to Burris and Crystal Rose. In 1958, she graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland.

She married Jerry Sheureman in 1961 and had two sons. In 1975, she married Therol Bell.

Survivors include: Brothers, Bert Rose of Amity and Paul Rose of Henderson, Nev.; sisters, Audrey Theurer of Corvallis and Francis Schy of Albany; and her sons, Richard Sheureman and Douglas Sheureman of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her parents, Burris and Crystal Rose, her brother Steve Rose, her sister Laverne Nepple and her former husband, Therol Bell.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. March 2 at the Kings Valley Cemetery.²³