TAKEN FROM OLD NORTHWEST TEXAS, HISTORICAL-STATISTICAL-BIOGRAPHICAL, NAVARRO COUNTY, TEXAS 1846-1860 COMPILED BY NANCY SAMUELS AND BARBARA KNOX, PUBLISHED BY THE FORT WORTH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.

"Born about 1845 in Missouri or Texas; died 1933 in Eastland County, Texas and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery; lived in Hill County in 1860 in the household of Aaron Estes; married about 1866 Edithia D., born July 19, 1847 in Texas (her parents were born in Tennessee); died April 21, 1899 in Eastland County, buried in the Pioneer Cemetery; lived in Hill County in 1870; Eastland County in 1880 (Precinct 2). The 1880 census indicates his father was born in Missouri and his mother in Mississippi."

I have never been able to locate a record confirming Edward's birthplace (other than the 1850 census of Navarro County, Texas gives his birthplace as Texas). I have written and questioned many sources about this "Ellison's Mill" Bowie County, Texas and have come upon only dead ends. I would like to one day be able to pinpoint this place as several important events occurred there (i.e., the birth of Edward, the last child; the marriage of Missouri Estes and Pickens Patton and the death of Hiram's wife, Lucy Richardson are all said to have occurred in this area). In a document written and researched by family descendant, Dan Williams, now deceased, he mentions that Hiram Estes and Joab Richardson (Lucy's brother) worked for Col. Leonard Williams as freighters. If that is so (and I've been unable to document that also), it would more possibly place this "Ellison's Mill" as being nearer to either the location of the William's ferry which was in Houston County, Texas or nearer to Torrey's Trading Post #2 which was just below Waco, McLennan County, Texas at the location of the Tradinghouse Creek where Col. Leonard performed many duties for the Republic of Texas and Torrey's as an Indian agent.

Per Edward's death certificate it states Edward was born in Bowie County, Texas. In early records of Bowie County in the Fort Worth Library Genealogical Section, from a book entitled "DeKalb and Bowie County History and Genealogy" by Emma Lou Meadows, 1968 on a section "Elliotts" the following:

"R.M.D.J. Elliot, alcaide, merchant, planter and slave owner, moved to Texas, near Sims, from Georgia in 1818. Elliot Landing, south of Corley, Texas, was included in his original land grant survey, as he was granted a league (4,428 acres) and a labor (177 acres) of land. Patriots were, at that time, given a labor after they had lived in Texas for three years and had proven to be good citizens. When Red River was divided, 640 acres of Elliot's land was in Cass County. A portion of the homestead is now a part of Red River Arsenal."

Through my research, I am able to confirm Edward's Civil War service as I have a copy of his record. He was in Company A, 7th Texas Infantry, enlisted at Marshall, Texas, under General Hiram Bronson Granbury. He was stationed early on in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and saw service in this company with his relations by marriages of Estes family members into the Col. Leonard Williams line. From the book "A Band of Heroes" by James McCaffrey, 1985, Eakin Press (now out of print) - Edward Estes, George W. Williams, Hardy B. Williams, L.S. Williams and L.H. Williams were also in this company.

From extant copies of Aaron and Edward's letters to each other (collected by Dan Williams and transcribed by Floyd Smith), Edward was wounded and placed with a family on a farm during the time of the Battle of Jonesboro (at the end of the long siege of Atlanta by Sherman on his march to the sea). As Aaron died during this several months' long siege, Edward's life was probably spared due to his wound. It was not stated in these letters exactly where Edward was while recovering from this wound.

Roger Estes, Edward's great grandson states family history says that that Edward was shot in the thigh, but also wounded in the hip. He did recover enough to fight until the end of the war, being paroled May 2 or 25, 1865. Parole issued at Headquarters, Augusta, Georgia. His parole states "The bearer E.B. Estes a private in Company A, 7th Regiment, Texas Vols., a Paroled Prisoner of the Army commanded by Gen. J.E. Johnston, has permission to go to his home and there remain undisturbed, on condition of not taking up arms against the United States until properly relieved of the obligation of his Parole. By command of Brig. Gen. B.D. Fry (Original parole in possession of Roger Estes.) After his parole, Edward is said to have walked all the way home to Texas.

Significant of his character as a soldier, is the affidavit by Tilman Fowler (of Fresno, California) submitted at time of Edward's pension application, which states: "E.B. Estes' service in Co. A 7th Texas Infantry, H.B. Granbury was the first Copr (afterwards General) John Gregg was the first Col. I was the orderly Sergeant of Co. A 7th Texas and I do know personally of the following facts. E.B. Estes was a meritorious soldier, his first battle was Fort Donalson where he was captured, remained a prisoner seven months at Chicago, then exchanged and fought at Port Hudson, next Raymond where the 7th Texas lost over one half the men that went into the battle. Next battle Jackson, then Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and all the battles between Gen Sherman and our army of Tennessee. He was under fire about fifty-five different days. There was not a better soldier in the Confederate Army than E.B. Estes. Never grumbled either on account battle fatigue or starvation. SIGNATURE OF WITNESS: Tilman Fowler, SWORN AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME, THIS 30TH DAY OF SEPT., A.D. 1913

At the time of Edward's death 11 January 1933, he was 88 years old. His occupation was listed as rock mason.

Although it was stated by other family researchers that George W. Williams also died during the Battle of Atlanta, according to my research (based on these letters between Aaron and Edward, the muster rolls in the back of the book by McCaffrey and a list of the 89 Texans killed during the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864) George W. Williams was killed during this, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War which took the lives of several of the South's generals including General Hiram Bronson Granbury under whom Edward and George had fought the entire war under. From a list of the McGavock Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee, it appears that George W. Williams is buried there. A restoration project funded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy is currently underway to restore and refurbish these headstones while maintaining the historical integrity of the cemetery. This project and rededication is due to be completed in June of 1996.