Thomas Jarnagin Estes 1821-1886

Thomas Jarnagin Estes was the fourth child born to Floyd and Achsa Estes. He had gray eyes, light brown hair, was 5 ft. seven inches in height, and weighed 140 pounds when 40 years old at the time he enlisted in the army. He was named after Thomas Jarnagin , an original pioneer settler of the Holston River area of East Tennessee. Tom's mother was attached to Lavinia Jarnagin Lea, who was the daughter of Thomas Jarnagin the pioneer. He also carried the name of his grandfather, Thomas Estes. Tom Estes was four years and ten months old when his father died. He had a rudimentary education as shown by the few written records that have survived. He was a pioneer farmer, who lived the first eighteen years of life in the valleys of East Tennessee. After his step-father, Moses Cates, died in 1839, his mother moved with her remaining dependent children to Missouri Territory. Achsa bought a farm northeast of Springfield, MO, and Tom may have worked on the farm until he moved to Howell County in 1850. Tom married Mary (Polly) Ann Epps in 1847, who lived next to the Achsa Cates farm. Their first child, James Oliver, was born in 1849. Tom was an original settler and homesteader in Hutton Valley, Howell Co., Missouri. Tragedy struck in November 1852 when two of his three children died, and his eldest son, James Oliver, was permanently weakened from measles and whooping cough. Three more children were born over the years. In 1860 he was given a letter of discipline from the Baptist Church for suing a fellow church member.

In the fall of 1861, when returning from milling corn for flour, Tom stopped by the farm of his sister-in-law, Melvina [Rebecca M. Epps], and her husband Zacharias Alsup, where he was warned that Southern sympathizers were nearby and were looking for him. Apparently Tom had let it be known that he was for the Union, and his life was in danger. Although forty years old, he left the wagon and flour with Zack, and walked 100 miles at night to Rolla, MO, where he enlisted for six month service with Phelp's Regiment on October 16, 1861. After his six months service expired, Tom went home for a while to try to get in a crop, but concluded it was not safe when he was warned that Confederates were going to pay him a visit. He slipped out the back door of the house, and hid in the woods. Some men did come to the house and demanded to see him. Polly Ann told them Tom was not there, but they searched the house anyway. When they did not find him, they left. Tom enlisted in the Union Army, 32nd Missouri Infantry, in August 1862 for three years or the duration, which ever came first. During that period, Polly moved with the children to her father's farm in Greene County. She remained there until the war was over. Private Thomas J. Estes was at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi along the Big Black River in the Spring of 1863. Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant on July 4, 1863. After forty days in a rifle pit, Tom reported sick. His illness was diagnosed as a disease of the lungs. He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in Louisville, KY as invalid. Ironically, we learned 133 years later that Tom's eldest brother, James, was buried in the Union cemetery at Louisville in 1864, possibly while Tom was there. The family never knew what had become of James, only that he disappeared in the Civil War. At the end of the war Tom was mustered out, and, moved his family back to the farm in Hutton Valley, Howell County. After four years of depredation and neglect, the farm was in sad shape, and although he was still in poor health, Tom made a living on the farm until his death in 1886. He applied for compensation for crops used as horse fodder by the U.S. Army in 1862, but we do not know if he received anything. He received a pension of $6 a month the last two years of his life for his disability from the Civil War. He acquired a second farm of 400+ acres, which he gave to his son, David, before his death. The homestead of 640 acres was divided between his daughters, Artiller and Rebecca. Artiller's descendants lived and farmed their portion until the late 1970's when it was sold. Rebecca sold her portion after a few years and used the money to pay for her husband's training for the ministry. Tom's oldest son, James O., died in 1881, and his wife, Jane, moved to Arkansas with her five year old son, Thomas Pascal, where she remarried William H. Smith. Tom’s youngest son, Charles, was sick at the time of Tom’s death and died a few months later leaving one daughter, Carrie Estes, of whom we have not been able to find any record.

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Obituary of Thomas Jarnagin Estes
In memory of Thomas J. Estes, father of Mrs. T. J. Wilbanks, mother of Tom J. Wilbanks.

The subject of this notice was born in East Tennessee, December 3rd, 1821. Moved to Green County Missouri at an early date. Was married to Polly Ann Epps Dec. 24th, 1847. United with the Baptist Church about the year 1855, of which he lived a consistent & useful member. He moved to this county in the Spring of 1859 &qmp; settled on Lost Camp, where he made his home until his death. He had been afflicted for several years with the much dreaded disease, consumption. About two months ago he went to Green County to visit his sister, Mrs. William Epps, where he was soon confined to his bed & suffered untold agony until 27th inst; when he breathed his last. His daughter Mrs. Lilly brought his remains to Burnham the night of the 28th, and yesterday they were buried at Hutton Valley City, MO by the side of his life companion who had preceded him some three years. He left many friends.

N. C. Epps Burnham, Missouri, June 30th 1886.

[Editor's note The above obituary is confusing as it refers to Thomas J. Wilbanks, son of Mrs. T. J. Wilbanks. Thomas John Wilbanks was not born until 1890. LRE]

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[Copy of letter to US government]

Claim a gance the Unitd States for property taking Buy the fedrel Armey. In the fall of 1862 three large ac that waed nett 18 hundred pounds it was worth 10 cents per pound whitch I want 1.80 and also Seven acres of wheat that wold make twenty Bushels per acre whitch I want -- - - - - 1.05 and eight acres of Corn that wold make fifty Bushel to the acre whitch I want 2.00 dallars for it. the Beef was used Buy Curnel Wanemath rigement at Rolla Mo and other Solders that was station a round rolla Mo the wheat and Corn was taken Buy the 5 kansas and others in time of the generl moove South in Sixty too. I was in the Six Monts rigment under John S Phelps Capt John Adams Served my time out then rein listed in the 32 Mo val in the fall after the Surender of Vicsburg 1863 I was trancerfurd to th veternsurve Cour under Capt Adams Company A 17th rigment and Servid my time out thair.

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[Copy of letter to T. J. Watson for pension application]

Silome Springs Howell Co. Mo July 29 ---- 1883 Dr. T. J. Watson Dear frend I will rite you a few lines to let you know that I am Still living hoping that this letter may find you as I have bin hunting for you for the last ten year and have failed as yet Now if you git this letter I want your affidavit Stating the facts as fir as your ricalection will a low you to goe and if you will Study the mater over you will recolect all a bout it now I was a privat in Company A 32 regt Mo vol Capt L C gifford Company Now I was transferd on the a Count disabilety into the invalid Coar which was Caused buy the Cronic Dirhea and excspasur and Cold Setling on the lungs while in line of battle at Vicburg Miss in the Spring of 1863 Now if you will recale you told mee that I never wold git well and ya tald the truth for I never will I am just abel to walk a bout the house Now I will tell you what I Clame a pension on a diseas of lungs and generl disabilety Caused buy the Cronick dirhea and ecsposier and Cold Setling on the lungs Now I am not abel to doe eney thing a tall as far as manul laber is Consernd Now I have made all this proof buy my family Doctors and I have to git your affidavet A blank in Closed for you to fill out and return to mee Mr. T. J. Watson now if ya git this letter I want you to fill out the blank and have it Sined up and Send mee the a mount Due You and i will Send you the money forth with Thomas J. Estes Post office a dress Silome Springs Howell Co Mo

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[Here is what Ella May Lilly Horak wrote of her grandfather in her book “The History of Howell County, Missouri.]

Grandpa Tom Estes, who lived on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hinds live, went to a mill over on Jacks Fork to get his corn and wheat ground. On the way home, Aunt Melvina told him the Rebels were after him. Grandpa put his team in the barn, told Aunt Melvina to take the grinding on to Grandmother in the morning, and tell her he was gone. "If I can't stay home and live like a man, I'll go to war and fight like a dog." He left that night and walked to Rolla and enlisted in the Union Army. At the end of six months he had a chance to come home. The first thing he said to Grandmother when he entered the house was, "Have you got anything to eat?" He had been home a couple of days when his close friend, Dan Lovan, went to Grandpa and told him he could not stay, the Rebels were coming. Grandpa slipped out the back door into the woods and started back to Rolla. He had not been gone long when four men came to the door of the cabin looking for him. Grandmother told them he was not there. They didn't believer her, came in and searched the house, but they didn't find Grandfather. Grandmother could not stay on the farm. She took the five children, and what she could in the wagon, drove to Rolla where the Union Army was camped for the winter. Grandpa was cook, and Grandmother would make a big dish pan full of fried pies, doughnuts or cookies, and take them to the camp. She was a welcome visitor to the camp that winter. In the spring the camp was breaking up. Grandmother's father, Eli Epps, went to Rolla, took Grandmother and the children to Polk County where they lived in a cabin back of Great Grandfather's house on the farm until the war was over. Grandfather, with his family, came back to his homestead and began all over again. Two landmarks stand today (September 1969) on the Hinds Farm as a memorial to Grandfather Estes. The well he dug in 1859-60, and a stone wall that he built to protect the valley land from the overflowing of Lost Camp Creek in times of heavy rains and flooding.