Estes Park's first born arrived in 6th year of local settlement. Page 6,
The Trail-Gazette, Wed., Feb 22, 1984
In Virginia, on July 6, 1806, a daughter was born to a Methodist minister
and his wife, Sarah and Jacob Stollings.
A few weeks earlier on May 25, 1806, Peter and Esther Estes had become the
proud parents of a fine, strong boy in Madison County, Ky.
Both families migrated west, and 20 years later in Clinton County, Mo. on
Nov 12, 1826, 20 year old Martha Ann or Patsey Stollings.
In 1833, after Patsey had given birth to the first four of 13 children
with the fifth on the way, Joel, with his father and about 70 others, went on a
prospecting, trapping and trading trip to Santa Fe. They then went north up
the front range of the Rockies to Fort Laramie before returning home from their
two year trip.
There is no record of other trips by Joel for the next 13 years, and the
last of the Estes Children, Joel Jr. was born in 1848.
Lets make special mention here that the ninth, Milton, was born March 28,
1840.
By 1849 Joel and his son Hardin had gone to the California gold fields,
where they reportedly found a rich vein and sold it for $30,000 Joel went home
in 1850.
Joel and Hardin went back over the Oregon Trail to Baker City in 1855, the
year "Pikes Peak or Bust" was the cry after Colorado gold discoveries, Milton
Estes was on the Oregon Trail and carved his name on Register Cliff, and again
in 1859.
By now the oldest Estes children were married, Joel was restless again, and
gold was in Colorado. Tensions were rising in Missouri with thoughts of a civil
war.
This time Patsey and the youngest children went along. So did other
friends and relatives, as they moved across the prairie to arrive at Auraria,
Kansas Territory (now Denver) on June 15, 1859..
They went to Clear Creek, near Golden, but it was over crowded, and they
then went northeast along the Platte to near St. Vrain's Fort.
Estes staked out two claims and the family "settled again, Milton joined
them.
Now let's switch to Pennsylvania, where George Archibald Fleming was born
in 1816, and where the following year, on April 13, little Margaret was born to
Hue and May Gordon.
George and Margaret eventually married and their first child, Mary Louise
(also known as Lou or Mollie) was born on May 4, 1842, also in Pennsylvania.
By 1859 the Fleming family had moved to Galena, Ill.
Ada Belle, the third child of George and Margaret Fleming, wrote in the
early 1930's " My father, George Archilbald Fleming, had crossed the Great
American Desert in the spring 1859. Liking the climate and seeking new fields,
(he had always the pioneer spirit) he returned to Leavenworth, Kansas., and
wrote my mother living in Galena, Ill., to sell the house and join him in
Leavenworth for the trip west.
They left Leavenworth July 12, 1860 and arrived in Denver Aug 12, in a
covered wagon with six mules, a riding pony and a nice stock of provisions or
eatables.
Two weeks later two freight wagons with supplies and equipment purchased by
Fleming in Leavenworth arrived.
In the meantime, father met Joel Estes, who was holding two claims. Father
traded a yolk (sic) of oxen when they arrived and a plow and some other
necessities for Mr. Estes's St. Vrain Ranch.
Before the Flemings arrived, Joel and at least one of his sons; Milton,
Wesley, Jasper, Francis Marion, and or Joel Jr. went on a hunting and
prospecting trip to the mountains.
Milton later wrote, About the 15th of October, 1859; Joel Estes, Sr. with
his son Milton...discovered what is now known as Estes Park...
By 1863 father and I had made sufficient preparations to move our families
to the Park.
Father's family then consisted of my brothers, Jasper, F.M. (Marion), Joel,
Jr., sister Sarah and my mother. My family, my wife and two litte sons; for in
the meantime I had married Miss Mary L. Fleming of St. Vrains.
We were the first couple to be married in that part of the country. The
first white child born in the Park was our third son, Charles F. Estes on Feb
19, 1865.
Yes, neighbors being neighborly, as neighbors will-Milton Estes and Mary
Louise Fleming were married on Aug 11, 1861.
They immediately moved back to Missouri where Newton was born in 1862 and
George in 1863.
They returned to Colorado, and during this week in our history Charles
Francis Estes became the first recorded birth in Estes Park.
In 1868, after a couple of rough winters, the Estes family moved out of the
Park that had been named for them. Wesley, Jasper, Sarah and Francis Marion
went to Iowa. Joel and Patsey, with Joel Jr., and Milton and his family went
south through New Mexico and Texas to Arkansas, later moving back to New
Mexico.
What happended to the immediate subjects of this week in our history?
The father and mother, Milton and Mary Louise settled east of Longmont on
the St. Vrain in Weld County in 1888. They later moved to Denver, where Mary
Louise died in 1905. Milton died in Los Angeles in 1913.
Charles Francis, the first child born in Estes Park, married Minnie M.
Mathews of St. Vrain, Colo at her mother's home on Jan 2, 1889. They had a
daughter Ida, who was born in 1912.
Charles spent most of his life working on ranches as a cowboy, or in
related work with horses, etc. He was also a fireman in Boulder for a while.
Charles Francis Estes died in Boulder on Oct 7, 1940, and is buried in
Mountain View Cemetery in Longmont less then 40 miles from his birthplace.
Found in 1850 Census Andrew Co., Mo. #1273
Estes, Joel age 44 M. born Ky.
Martha 43 F Va.
Hardin W. 21 M Mo.
Newton 15 M Mo.
W.J. 13 M Mo.
Jess 12 M Mo.
Milton 10 M Mo.
Sarah 7 F Mo.
Mary J. 5 M (?) Mo.
F.M. 3 M Mo.
Joel 1 M Mo.Joel Estes and Martha (Patsy) Strollings
The year was 1806. The Event? The birth of Joel Estes on May 25th in
Madison County, Kentucky to Peter H. Estes and Esther Hiatt Estes.
Lewis and Clark had explored the Missouri River and Pacific Northwest for
the past two years.
During the next few years Robert Fulton's steamboat "Clermont" began its
first successful voyage up Hudson River, and James Madison became the 4th
President of the United States.
When Joel was six, (1812) his father moved his family to Missouri frontier
and settled in Clinton County. There Joel grew to manhood and married Martha
(Patsy) Stolling who was born in West Viriginia on July 6, 1806 to Jacob and
Sara Stollings.
" Like most frontiersmen, Estes had many trades. He worked at odd times
as a freighter from Liberty, Missouri to the trading post of Joseph Roubideau,
which later became St. Joseph. At one time he ran an outfitting store, and he
was also interested in gold prospecting. After he married Patsy on Nov 12,
1826 he moved his family to Andrew County, Missouri, and began the business
that was to occupy most of his lifetime, that of stock raising and farming.
Carother, Estes Park: Past and Present, 17-18
"In 1849, taking his oldest son Harding (Hardin) with him, Joel Estes
started for Californa. While there he discoved a rich gold mine which he
disposed of for $30,000 cash and whihc was sold thirty days afterwards for a
sum said to be $500,000. He then returned to his family and home in Missouri.
Previous to his venture in mining he moved to Holt County and there purchased a
farm. On this land he built a large two story stone house with high walls, two
feet thick. This rock house is still standing and is said to be in good
condition.
Estes Park Trail, Friday, May 28, 1926, pg. 3
"In the spring of 1859 Joel Estes, with his wife and six children, Jasper
W. Estes, Milton Estes, Sarah Estes (Hyatt), Mary Jane Estes (Ruffner), Frances
Marion Estes and Joel Estes, Jr., landed from their prairie schooner at what
was then known as Aurora, along Cherry Creek in the edge of what is now Denver.
At that time there were only a few shacks erected along Cherry Creek and these
the property of prospectors. In coming to Colorado he brought with him five
negro slaves who had been the property of the Estes family for a number of
years. Following the outbreak of the Civil War he took the negroes back to
Missouri and put them on his farm, gave them some live stock and provisions to
last for a year and gave them their liberty one year before Abraham Lincoln's
proclamation declaring all negroes free. The slaves were a curiosity to the
Indians of Colorado, and they came to the Estes camp by the hundreds to look at
the black men. They wondered at the curly hair and the color of the skin and
the Estes' were obliged to be careful lest the Indians steal them away.
It is claimed that Sarah Estes, and Mary Jane Estes were the first two
unmarried white women in Colorado.
When Joel Estes came to what is now Colorado he brought with him a heard
of cattle and horses which were said to be the first to cross the great plains
into this region. The party making the trip in addition to the Estes family
were Bill Garner, Bill Smith, Milt Thrallkin and Dave Lincoln, a cousin of
Abraham Lincoln. A little later that summer they moved to the site of what is
now Golden and gave the place the name of Golden Gate, which was later changed
to the present name of the city. A little later this same year he moved to
Fort Lupton as this section seemed a little more promising for the stock
business. There were frequent quarrels among the settlers regarding their
claims and a club was formed with Joel Estes as president to settle all
disputes. There was no survey in Colorado at that time and that club was the
first body seeking to keep a record of land titles in this section of the Rocky
Mountain region. It is said his relationship with the Indians was very
agreeable and he was known among them as the "Big White Chief"
The gold fever acquired in 1849 had not fully departed and in October of
1859 he and his son Marion Francis Estes, who were out prospecting and hunting,
followed an Indian trail up the Little Thompson River to the summit of a
plateau which overlooked a beautiful valley now known as Estes Park.
Everything that morning as they got their first view of the Park region from
the top of the hill, was frest and green, but the first night they were in
Estes Park a killing frost struck the country and the next morning vegetation
was blighted. After exploring and finding the natural conditions in the
new-found park were favorable for the handling of his herds of livestock, he
went back to Fort Lupton to secure his family and herds. They returned at once
to the Park where they lived nine years. He then felt the necessity of seeking
a lower altiude and moved to Texas, returning later to Colorado and continuing
in the cattle business. He died December 31st, 1875, and was buried not far
from Vermejo, New Mexico very near the New Mexico-Colorado line.
Estes Park Trail, Friday, May 28, 1926, pg. 3.
This is only one of many different versions of the story of Joel Estes, and
not necessarily a correct one in its entirety.THIS WEEK IN HISTORY by Mel Busch, director
Estes Park Area Historical Museum
Estes Family's Pioneer Day Reunion
pg. 12 The Trail-Gazette, Wed. Jul 6, 1983The anniversary of the birth of this great country of ours has been
celebrated more than 120 times since Joel Estes looked down from Park Hill in
1859 and viewed the Park that was to bear his name.
According to a letter written by W. H. McCreery in 1925, a 4th of July
celebration was held at Estes Park in 1876, about a month before Colorado
became the centenial state.
Although that was possibly the first one, lets jump ahead 51 years to 1927,
when Estes Park had what may have been the first significant Forth of July
celebration in its history.
Dr. Homer E. James was chairman of the committee in charge of arrangements
for the 1927 celebration, and much of what he and his committee arranged has
been a part of Estes Park ever since.
It was labled "Estes Park Pioneer Day" and one of the events was a parade
in which pioneers of Estes Park participated and or were represented.
"The parade started at 10 O'clock and was an elaborate showing of Pioneer
and Historical portrayals and of beautiful floats, decorated cars, riders,
orchastras and other parade features."
"The parade grounds led east of town where the granite marker and bronze
tablet on the old Estes Homestead was unveiled and where a program of music and
speeches was given."
Another quote from the July 8, 1927, Estes Park Trail states that, "Estes
Parks' first wild west show, the stampede of 3 & 4, was a drawing card for
thousands of the park visitors that past weekend.
Since "Western Week" in Estes Park is coming up in a couple of weeks,
perhaps you will allow me to save the "Stampede" and some other rodeo related
terms until then, even though they may not have happened during that week in
our history.
For this week though, we mentioned the destination of the parade so lets
get on with the granit marker and bronze tablet which reads:
In memory of Joel Estes,
Discoverer 1859 Oct. 15, 1866
Pioneers Patsy Estes
Sarah Estes, Mollie Estes
Milton Estes, Joel Estes
F. M. Estes, J. W. Estes
Presented by the
Chamber of Commerce and
The Grand Children
Milton Estes, Joel S. Estes
Edwin Estes
Mrs C. H. Graham
Mrs. W. I. Myler
Mrs. C. D. Taylor
Noma Ritters
Descendents of those first pioneers also had their first family reunion in
Estes Park that forth of July.
Family members who attended were: Hon. Joel Stollings Estes, former Justice
of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, grandson of the pioneer; Joel Estes; Harry
Ruffner, grandson and Mrs. Ruffner of Denver; Eugene Ruffner, son of Harry and
his wife and son, of Port Arthur, Texas.
Also Mrs. Mary Stiles, grandaughter, Sidney, Iowa. Mrs. Emily Graham,
grandaughter, Thurman, Iowa; Edwin Joel Estes, grandson with his wife and
family from Longmont, (Colo.); Mrs. Charles H. Babcock, great grand daughter,
and Mr. Babcock of Los Angelos, Calif.; Earl W. Roberts, great grandson with
Mrs. Roberts and family of Beverly, Neb.; C. M. Hiatt, second cousin (Charles
Milton, son of David and Betsy Eberman Hiatt of Sidney, Ia.) with Mrs. Hiatt
and family of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Harold Estes, great grandson of Sidney,
Iowa.
Also, Mrs. Anna Estes Seeger, second cousin, Tabor, Iowa, her sons, Ernest
H. and Francis M. of Smol, Neb. and grandson, Leonard John Stewart of
Lexington, Neb.; Myrtle Palmer Ellis, great grand daughter of Joel Estes,
Riverton, Wyo.; Milton Estes, grandson, Sidney, Iowa; and Mrs. Philena Palmer,
grand daughter and the oldest relative in attendance at the celebration, of
Riverton, Wyo.
Two of the speakers at the unveiling were Judge J. E. Estes, from Oklahoma,
and Harry Ruffner of Denver.
This list is quite a contrast to the hundred and fifty or so Estes Family
members who converged on Estes Park for their second reunion in Aug. 1981.
Another is planned for the first week in Aug. 1983.
So, the pioneer celebration and the stampede went off in great style when
an estimated 40,000 people, larger than any previous crowd ever in the park at
one time came to help celebrate.
I would like to share parts of an editorial regarding that 4th of July
1927; "Heretofore, Estes Park has always considered itself to busy in selfishly
grabbing dollars on that day to really be patriotic and to provide some
entertainment and attention for its multitude of visitors."
"Now Estes Park knows it pays to be patriotic and that it pays to provide
attractions for its visitors that does not require a coin in the slot to have
the priviledge of enjoyment."
"Estes Park has always learned what a fine thing co-operation that is
genuine and not pretended really is. Every person who took part is entitled to
generous credit for the remarkable success of the celebration and with the
exception of Dr. H. E. James, no individual or organization is entitled to
special credit or mention over any other."
For weeks previous to the event Dr. James devoted his whole time to working
out the celebration. He was compelled to neglect his own business and his only
renumeration is the gratitude of the visitors and the community and the
knowledge Estes Park's first patriotic celebration was a real big success.
"... we can expect even better things as we gain ideas and experience."
The parade has become and institution: The Stampede or rodeo has become an
institution; The granite marker and bronze table are prominently permanent; and
the Estes family is finding its way back more often lately.
In a couple of weeks let's see what else started then, and is still with
us.From the names given attending the 1927 reunion, we cannot yet place the
Seeger families, Mrs. Anna Estes Seeger, with her children, Ernest H. and
Francis M. Seeger of Smol, Neb. and a grandson, Leonard John Stewart of
Lexington, Neb.
Sent by Walter Stenzel and Mildred Hopwood.