Constantine ESTES (deceased), an old settler of Morgan County, Mo., was born September 15, 1816, in Tennessee, and was the son of John and Susie (KELLY) ESTES, also natives of Tennessee. The family moved to Missouri in 1819, settling in Cooper County when Constantine was but three years of age, and there the father took a claim and improved a farm. He died in Moreau Township, Morgan County, Mo. Constantine lived with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss Matilda SIMS, a native of Cooper County. After marriage they moved to a farm in Moreau Township, two and a half miles north of Versailles, and there made their home for a short time, then moving to another farm north of Versailles, where he owned 140 acres. He lived there until 1876, when he moved to a place near Versailles, and there remained until his death, which occurred January 7. 1881. at the age of sixty-six years. Mr ESTES was twice married, his first wife being the mother of three children; James K., Mary G., wife of J. N. MARTIN, of Moreau Township, and William, who died January 23, 1845, at the age of twenty -five years. Mr ESTES was again married in 1847 to Mrs. Elizabeth ALLISON, nee FORD, who bore him seven children; George W., now of Holden, Mo.; John B., now in the State of California; Matilda M., wife of Jasper ESTES, of Morgan County; Andrew T., now in Colorado; Alfred M., of Glensted, Mo.; Minerva, wife of Isacc GAHART, of Clinton, Mo., and Fannie, wife of Eugene GAHART, of Morgan County. The mother of these children is still living. Constantine ESTES was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a man who took an active interest in all church work.
James K. ESTES, a stock-shipper of Versailles, is a native of Morgan County, Mo., and was born in 1840. His youth was spent on a farm, and at the age of twenty he left home and enlisted in the State Militia, and participated in the following battles: Boonville (Mo.), Carthage, Wilson Creek (where he was wounded), Drywood, Lexington and many others. He went home in the spring of 1862, worked on the farm one season, and in September of the same year married Miss Drucilla A. TIPTON, a native of Boone County Mo., and the daughter of L. D. TIPTON. Mr ESTES rented land one year and then moved, in the spring of 1864, to the old SIMS farm, which he rented one season. He engaged in the cattle buiness in 1863 and moved to Madison County, Ill., where he remained one year, after which he went back, in the spring of 1866, and rented the SOMS farm, remaining there one season, and then located on a farm near Versailles, where he resided until 1879, and where he has 233 acres of land. He then settled north of town, and in 1881 moved to Versailles, where he has remained ever since, engaged in the stock buisness. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is Democratic in politics, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
William SIMS, another old settler and prominent man of the county, has been a resident of Morgan County for fifty-two years. He was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1816, and is the son of James and Rachel (McGARITY) SIMS, both natives of South Carolina, and both of Irish descent. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812 (a sketch of him appears elsewhere in this volume). William SIMS came to Missouri with his father in 1820. His father settled in Cooper County, eight miles north of Tipton, entered eighty acres of land and resided there until 1836, when he moved to Morgan COunty, Mo., and settled on Section 18, where William SIMS now lives. At the age of twenty William SIMS volunteered in the Morman War, as he was a soldier in the State Militia, and was out eleven days. He remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, and March 18, 1841, he married Miss Elizabeth ESTES, a native of Cooper County, Mo., born in 1821, and the daughter of John and Susanna (KELLEY) ESTES. Mr ESTES was a native of Tennessee, as was also the mother, and he was a soldier in the War of 1812. He moved to Cooper County, Mo., in 1919, lived there until 1833, when he moved to Morgan County, and there died April 2, 1841, at the age of seventy years. The mother died seven years later, at the age of sixty-five years. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Their daughter, who married Mr SIMS, had quite an experience in her childhood. Her sunt, who lived but half a mile away, and for whom she was named, called at her mother's and took Mrs SIMS, who was but three years of age, home with her. The child remained one night, but the next day, when her aunt had left the house for a short time, she started out on her own accord, and was not found until the third day, when her uncles, Archibald WOODS and William J. KELLEY, who were well known throughout the State of Missouri, by that time found her, nearly exhausted from hunger and exposure. All the neighbors and half the country were out searching for her. After marriage Mr SIMS entered eighty acres of land in what is now Mill Creek Township, began improving his farm and added to the same until he owned 320 acres. Here he remained until 1866, when he sold out and bought the old home farm. He now has 325 acres of excellent land. To his marriage were born these children: Nancy, wife of John MUIR, of Versailles; John E., a farmer of this county; Martha A. , died a tthe age of twelve years; James M., a farmer in Polk County, Mo., Malinda J. ; Samira W., deceased; Rachel, at home; Mary F. ; William B., a farmer of Morgan COunty; Thomas B., died when a child. Mr and Mrs SIMS are members of the Baptist Church, she having joined in 1842 and he in 1844, and he has not failed to attend a meeting in over forty years, except on account of sickness. He was ordained a deacon in 1845, and his family are all members with the exception of two. Mr SIMS has beena liberal in his contributions to church work. He has always taken an active part in politics, but he has never been a conidate for office. Although starting out in life in poor circumstances, finacially, he has succeeded in an admirable manner, all the result of earnest, honest work. He was quite an expert hunter in his youthful days, and his riffle brought down many a deer. Although his education advantages were limited to the subscription schools, Mr SIMS is a great reader, and is well posted on all subjects, ans has a fine library; is also well informed in some of the sciences. He is well known throughout Morgan County, and is universally respected.
