BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 633.

WILLIAM ESTEP

William Estep, M. D., one of the oldest physicians in the practice in Belmont
county, was born in Washington county, Penn., son of John and Sarah Estep.
The father was a blacksmith and farmer, in straitened circumstances, and at
an early age William was called on to assist his father in the smithy. He
had, however, when eight years old, decided to be a physician when he had
grown, and he would assume that character in his childish games, and when
called on to help his father he would manage to work so poorly that finally
in exasperation the father drove him from the forge with an injunction never
to return. He at once entered Franklin college and attended three years,
when a lack of funds compelled him to stop his studies. He then worked
awhile until he had money enough to complete his course and in the same
way managed to gain his medical education. In 1840 he settled at Loydsville,
and began a practice which has ever since continued. In this protracted
period he has always had the confidence and respect of the community. He
is now one of the directors of Franklin college. In 1862 he enlisted in
September as surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio regiment,
and served two years, when he was compelled by sickness, terminating in
heart disease, to accept an honorable discharge at Annapolis in 1864. He
was captured at Martinsburg, Va., and was a prisoner of war for seven weeks.
He is one of the authors of the law for the board of pension examiners,
and he was appointed a member of the board in June, 1888. The doctor is
a member of the Masonic order and was a member of the I. O. O. F. In his
practice he has instructed many pupils, who have all made a success of
their profession. Dr. Estep is a lover of fine horses, and has done more
to introduce thoroughbreds than any other man in Belmont county. He has
now a very fine imported Cleveland bay stallion, and has kept other horses,
among them Sir Charles, two Morgan horses, a Norman, a Clydesdale, Hiatoga,
Harry Clay, Bayswater and Judge Spofford.