WI BIO - Dane Co - ESTES, Augustus G. & John M.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 359-360, 363-364

Biography of Augustus G. ESTES (pp 363-364) - brother of John M.

Augustus G. ESTES, a prominent farmer and dealer in tobacco, was born in the 
town of Lake, Milwaukee County, WI, 10 Mar 1844. His father, Elijah S. 
ESTES, one of the earliest settlers of the Territory, was born in the eastern 
part of NC, while the grandfather of our subject, Langston Lorenzo ESTES, was 
as far as known, born in the same State. The grandfather of our subject was 
a farmer, spending his entire life in NC. The maiden name of his wife was 
Mary Elizabeth MOORE, a native of VA. Elijah S. ESTES, the father of our 
subject, was reared in his native State and lived there until about 1833, 
when he came westward, journeying on horseback. He arrived in IN with empty 
pockets, consequently sold his horse and proceeded on foot to Chicago, IL, 
which at that time was only a village. He found employment there of various 
kinds and remained in that city for two years, then with his wife emigrated 
to the Territory of WI. Upon arrival he secured a tract of Government land, 
bordering on Lake Michigan, now included in the 17th Ward of the city of 
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County. As it was timber land he had plenty of material 
with which to erect his little log cabin, which he built in the woods on the 
border of the lake, and here it was that the subject of this sketch was born. 
Milwaukee was but a small place and the Territory of WI practically 
uninhabited except by Indians who were numerous. He continued to live on 
that place until 1852, when he removed to Dane County, purchasing a farm from 
his brother near Stoughton, where he resided until 1869, then returned to his 
old home in Milwaukee and remained there until his death in 1887. Elijah S. 
ESTES had married, while a resident of Chicago, Zebiah Walker WENTWORTH, born 
in ME, daughter of Elijah and Mary WENTWORTH. Elijah WENTWORTH was one of 
the first settlers of Chicago and kept the first hotel in that city; Mary 
WENTWORTH died in July of the same year as her husband. [p 364]

Augustus G. ESTES, our subject, was only nine years of age when his parents 
moved to Stoughton, Dane County, WI, where he was reared. His education was 
received in the public schools and advanced by attendance at the Albion 
Academy. At the age of 21 he commenced teaching and continued to pursue this 
calling for winters, engaging in farming the remainder of the year. At the 
time of his marriage he located on his father's farm, remaining until 1886, 
when he purchased the farm he now owns and occupies, including the northwest 
quarter of section 11 in Blooming Grove Township, Dane County, WI. This is a 
well improved farm of 160 acres and contains a stone quarry, which has been 
operated for many years. On this farm he is engaged in general farming and 
stock raising, and in 1891 commenced dealing in tobacco.

Augustus E. ESTES has been twice married, the first time in 1869, to Martha 
A. ROACH, born in Willow Springs, Lafayette County, WI, daughter of Joseph 
and Elizabeth ROACH, and died in Oct 1876. In 1878 Augustus E. ESTES was 
again married, his second wife being Helen (MITCHELL) WRIGHT, born in CT, a 
daughter of Allen MITCHELL and a widow of John E. WRIGHT. Augustus E. ESTES 
had two children by his first marriage: Fred R. ESTES, now a member of the 
senior class of the University of WI; and Jessie L., who married Henry E. 
SHELDON and is living in Tucson [Pima County], AZ. The two children of the 
second marriage are Mabel G. and Mary M., both living at home.

Mrs. ESTES had three children by her first marriage: William W., who died in 
1887; Arthur A., living in Spokane [Spokane County], WA; and John J., with 
the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. Augustus E. ESTES has always been a 
Republican in politics, supporting the candidates of his party upon all 
occasions. He is a member of the Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company.

Biography of John M. ESTES (pp 359-360) - brother of Augustus G. 

John M. ESTES, a successful farmer of Dunkirk Township, Dane County, WI, was 
born in Milwaukee County, WI, 01 Mar 1842, a son of Elijah S. and Z. W. 
(WENTWORTH) ESTES, natives respectively of NC and ME. The father became a 
resident of WI in 1835. The mother's people removed to IL and WI when she 
was very young. Elijah S. and Z. W. (WENTWORTH) ESTES died in Milwaukee, 
Milwaukee County, WI, in 1887.

John M. ESTES, the third of nine children, was reared on a farm in what is 
now the 17th Ward of Milwaukee. He spent three years in Beloit College 
[Beloit, Rock County, WI] and one year in the University of WI [Madison, Dane 
County, WI]. On 15 Aug 1862 he enlisted as a Private in Company A, 23rd WI. 
He followed the fortunes of his regiment, participating with it in all of its 
marches and battles for two years and eight months, when he was promoted to a 
lieutenancy in the 47th WI Regiment, serving with this regiment until it was 
mustered out at the close of the war.

Soon after the war he began farming and is now the owner of one of the many 
comfortable homes in Dunkirk Township. Politically he affiliates with the 
Republican party, has served 10 years as Chairman of the Township Board, has 
also served as Chairman of the County Board, and in 1886 was elected to the 
office of Sheriff of Dane County. During his incumbency of this office he 
obtained considerable renown by following the murderer, KUHNI, to England, 
where he secured his extradition and brought him back to suffer the extreme 
penalty of the laws of the State of WI.

In 1891 John M. ESTES was appointed to a place in the U. S. Department of 
Agriculture. He is a special agent for the Columbian Exposition in the 
branch of leaf tobacco. Mr. ESTES also travels extensively over the U. S., 
where he is engaged in lecturing and attending conventions. He has attended 
meetings of the State Board of Agriculture in various States; is the chief 
tobacco expert of the Government, also its special agent, has [p 360] made a 
study of the subject, and after the World's Fair will reduce his knowledge to 
print.

John M. ESTES was married 08 Sep 1869 to Martha A. MARTIN, a native of 
Willsboro [Essex County], NY. Six children have been born to John M. and 
Martha A. (MARTIN) ESTES: Pauline M., Rollin L., Lulu May, and three 
deceased.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly