Biography of Hardin W. Estes, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames:Estes, Stollins, Ring, Boughton, Hackleman, Smith, Bowen,Lewis, Donald.

Transcribed by: W. David Samuelsen
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 248

HARDIN W. ESTES

Mr. Estes was born ona farm in Clay county, Missouri, on November 2, 1828,
being the son of Joel and Martha (Stollins) Estes. He had but scanty
opportunity to gain an education from the subscription schools of his
locality, the building being of logs and the floors of puncheons and the
teachers not of the best. At eighteen years of age he entered the commissary
department of the United States army at Fort Leavenworth and served for one
year there, then went with Colonel Childs and five hundred volunteers to
establish posts from the Missouri river to The Dalles, and was given charge of
the artillery, and in the fall of 1848 he assisted in his capacity of officer
in the commissary to equip Joe Meek and Joe Lane, the former a noted man of
this regionand the latter the first governor of Oregon territory, for their
journey across the plains. In 1849 he came to California with ox teams via the 
Truckee route, consuming about four and one-half months on the trip, and
sometimes theysuffered much from lack of water, losing about one-third of
their stock,a nd again they crossed the Truckee river twenty-eight times in
twenty miles. He mined for one year at Nevada City, California, then left in
1850 for San Francisco, whence he returned by water to his eastern home. In
his mining he was abundantly successful, taking out as much as nine hundred
and ninety-two dollars of dust in one day. In the spring of 1853 he crossed
the plains again by ox teams and settled in Linn county and took up a donation
claim of three hundred acres, giving his attention to its cultivation until
1857, then sold out and returned to Missouri again by the water route. The
following year he entered the employ of the government as wagon master and
came to Oregon again, this time with General Johnson, and by way of Salt Lake,
where he helped to establish camp Floy City. He settled for a year in Linn
county, then went to California and to Nevada and teamed for a time around
Virginia City, then constructed the stage stations from Carson City to Salt
Lake, using for material "doby" and rock, the owner of the stage being the
well known Ben Halloday. In the spring of 1862, he started for the Salmon
river mines but stopped in this county and located a ranch on Washington
Gulch, the first one taken in the county, and he owns the place stilla nd
produces one hundred tons of fruit on it annually. In the early days he raised
garden truck and sold it to the miners at good prices, this making a handsome
income. He took an active and prominent part in the organization of the county
and has since continued one of the most effectual workers for its advancement
and development. He filled at that time the important office of county
commissioner for four years and helped by his wisdom and ability to get things
in running shape. He now owns a fine hay ranch of six hundred and forty acres,
four miles north from Baker City and also two hundred acres of land suitable
for other crops near by, and a one-third interest in five hundred lots in 
McCrary addition to Baker City, also a fine home and four lots where he lives
at 2446 Church street.

The marriage of Mr. Estes and Miss Mahali Ring was solemnized in April, 1851,
while he was in Mossuri, and they have three children: Dr. Logan, deceased;
Kate, wife of W. W. Boughton, of Skagway, Alaska; Lutitia, deceased.  The
second marriage of Mr. Estes occuredin Baker City, on NOvember 14, 1867, Mrs.
Pearlina (Hackleman) Smith becoming his wife at that time and they have become
the parents of four childen: Rosa L., wife of Harry Bowen of Baker City; Amy,
wife of Victor C. Lewis of Manilla; Mabel, wife of Robert Donald of Baker
City; Meda. Mr. Estes and wife are members of the First Baptist church and
very active in the exemplification of the teachings of their faith and in its
promulgation.