My Genealogy Hound

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 sons 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. Thomas N. Estes was born in Tennessee, but moved to this State in 1852, and was married that year to Miss Lucy R. Johnson, who bore him three children: W. K., John J. (who is a book-keeper at Evening Shade, Sharp County), and Samuel C. (who is clerking in a dry goods store, at Ash Flat, Ark.) The mother of these children died in 1858. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Estes was married the second time, in 1869, to Mrs. Minerva R. Wilson, nee Kimmins; both are members of the Baptist Church. The same year they moved to Izard County, where Mr. Estes has a fine farm of 200 acres, with thirty or forty under cultivation, and on which are good buildings, etc. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, and after suffering untold hardships and after being on the road over six months, reached that State. He then followed mining until 1852, met with reasonable success and returned to Arkansas in the above mentioned year. He was county clerk of Fulton County from 1862 to 1864, and also served in the Confederate army. William K. Estes’ early life was divided between assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools of his county. At the age of twenty years he started out for himself by continuing the pursuit to which he had been reared, and followed this occupation uninterruptedly for a long time. In 1879 he moved to the city, and served as deputy clerk from that time until 1884, when he was elected county clerk, though he had first been deputy clerk in November, 1876. He filled this office in such a capable and efficient manner, and so popular did he become, that he was complimented by being re-elected in 1886, serving until 1888. He has been twice married; first, in 1873, to Miss Lurana E. Wilson, by whom he had five children: Lucy E., Walter H., Jasper M., Allie M. and Ford W. Mrs. Estes was born on the 3d of March, 1855, and died on the 13th of August, 1886. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Estes’ second marriage was to Miss Nancy C. Kitchens, on the 30th of January, 1887. They have one child, Earl T. Mr. and Mrs. Estes are both church members, she of the Christian denomination and he of the Baptist. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and R. A. M., and also a member of the Subordinate Lodge and the Encampment of Odd Fellows. In politics he is Democratic.