Major A. D. ESTES - The death of this vulnerable citizen recalls the fact that the ESTES family has been not only prolific but active, restless and disposed to scatter widely. The family came from Virginia to Warren County, KY at an early day. There grew up, John, who went to "the Gasconade, Missouri; Abram who went to Todd County, KY; William and Moses, who went to western Tennessee; Elijah, who died in Kentucky; Chism, who came to Gallatin County, Illinois; James, who was killed by a falling tree that John cut down for a coon; Thomas, who remained at the old homestead; Betsy, the wife of Jo. Jordan, one of our first county commissioners; Nancy, wife of Jno. SANDERS who died in Johnson or Gallatin County; Absalom and Joseph. The two last came to Big Creek in Hardin County, whence Absalom came up to FRIZZELL's Prairie, on the north side of Franklin County. The Indians becoming troublesome, Jo. fell back to RECTOR's fork, of Saline, whence he soon followed Ab. and settled in the lower end of Gun Prairie, where S. Mercer WILLIAMS afterward lived. Ab. then removed to where W. C. GARRISON lives in this county; and a few years later Jo. came up and bought him out when Ab. settled on the RICE Hill, and from there went to Choutian's Island, but afterward returned and died on Seven Mile, just south of where the L. & N. railroad crosses it. He is buried at the Bethel.

Ab.'s children were "California" Ab.; Billy, who married a McCONNELL and died at Centralia; Cam., who married a daughter of John RICE; Milton, or Mint., who died of cholera in '49; Nancy BRITTON and Mary MORRIS, of Jerseyville.

Jo. left a still larger family. His oldest, James, went to Chicago; John to Franklin County; Priscilla, wife of Hon. C. DOLLINS, to Franklin County; Absalom D. died recently; Elijah went to Oregon; Carroll, to Keokuk, Iowa; Jinsey Ann HARRISON to Franklin County; Anise, wife of Gilbert COMBS, died in Mt. Vernon; Chism married a GOODRICH and is dead; Elizabeth, wife of Alfred BETTIS, went to Benton; Matilda, wife of Bob CREED, to Oregon; Patience married Jas. TUNSTALL, who died and she then married Rev. Mr. TAYLOR, of Moore's Prairie; Malinda, wife of Timothy BOYLES, went to Franklin County; Calvin to Keokuk, Iowa; Mary Ann married D. B. GOODRICH and Maletna, Joseph B. GOODRICH. Jo. ESTES died Feb., 28, 1846, aged about 56 years, and his widow in April, 1862.

Absalom D. ESTES was born in Gallatin County, Ill., January 18, 1814, came with his father, Jos. ESTES, to Franklin County, and October 15, 1834, came to Mt. Vernon, and went into business where the Crews Block now stands.

February 10, 1836, he was married by Noah JOHNSON, Esq. to Miss Maletna CASEY, oldest daughter of Wm. CASEY, first owner of the site of Mt. Vernon.

The children of this marriage were C. C. ESTES, late of Centralia; America, wife of Henry BROWN, of Kansas; Mrs. Cetta JAMES, now deceased, and Mrs. Margy DENISON.

After the death of Mrs. ESTES, Mr. E. married Miss Locky J. LYNCH, April 17, 1844, who, with both her children, is long since dead. On August 6, 1849, he married Miss Nancy J. WALTER, who survives with seven children; William and Grant married and living in Mt. Vernon, and Joseph, single, and also Mrs. John PASLEY, Mrs. Zach. FELTS, and Mrs. James LOWRY and Miss Ella living at home.

When the militia of this county was organized, some forty years ago, Mr. ESTES and Rev. J. C. MAXEY were elected majors. In 1853 he was elected associate judge of the county court, which office he filled with judgment and fidelity for four years. In his later years he was in straitened financial circumstances, and suffered intensely from neuralgia. By this disease he lost an eye some years ago.

A few weeks since he walked from Opdyke to his daughter's home (Mrs. FELTS) in Webber Township, severe neuralgia ensued and cold that settled on his lungs, resulting fatally, February 28.

He was buried Saturday at Opdyke Cemetery, a very large concourse attesting the high esteem in which he was held by all. Rev. RICHARDSON conducted the services. For more than forty years he was a faithful member of the M. E. Church, but a few years ago attached himself to the Baptist Church at Lynchburg. If anything was more remarkable than his blameless life it was his extraordinary memory of persons and events. By his death a vast volume of unwritten history is closed forever.

Source: Mt. Vernon IL Register (Weekly)
Date: March 2, 1887
Submitted by Mary Zinzilieta