CIVIL WAR VETERAN TELLS LIFE STORY
Asberry Estes, 95 dictated the following narrative in order to establish
his soundness of mind with the old age pension bureau and supporting an
affidavit helping another person get a pension:
State of Kentucky,
County of Lee,
Asberry Estes, aged 95 years and 45 days, who first being duly sworn,
states that he was born on March 16, 1843, that he is of sound mind and memory, considering this frail and transitory life, that he is now pensioned at the rate
of $100.00 per month, that he married Iby Newton, a daughter of Allen
Newton, March 23, 1865, that his marriage license was obtained at Irvine, Ky.,
and was married by Elijah Gabbard, a Baptist minister, and that his wife died
May 12, 1914. There were born to this marriage (8) eight children and
raised six to be grown, and there are (3) children living now. He has one
daughter still single. She was sixty-four years of age at her last birthday.
He states that he is acquainted with Daniel L Estes, who is the first born
child of his brother, Hiram Estes, that he is aquatinted with Daniel L. Estes,
who is a double cousin to all my children, that I am living just across the
Kentucky river from the place where Daniel Estes was born on October 7th, 1862.
I can see the ground where the house stood in which his birth took place.
I was at Nashville, Tenn., at the time he was born.
The name of my captain was Ance Powell, of Irvine Kentucky. I fought in the
Perryville battle where he defeated General Bragg, also at Stone River, Tenn.,
where he also met and defeated General Bragg. I was in the battle of
Chickamauga. Tenn, where we were driven back to Chatanooga. I was in the fight
at Lookout Mountain, known as Missionary Ridge, where we attacked the
Confederate Army under the command of Long Street and Bragg. Our commander
was General U.S. Grant. We defeated the confederate army and follow them to
Dalton, Georgia, where we defeated the Confederate Army once again. Then we
went back to Chatanooga, Tenn., where I was discharged on the 17th day
of November, 1864.
We went by train to Louisville where we paid off. We came to Lexington by rail,
where we hired what was then known as hacks and came on to Irvine. I walked
to my mother's home right where Grant Newnam now lives at Yellow Rock. I
have never lived farther than 5 miles from where I was born on Buck Creek on what
is now the farm of Jonah Estes in Estill county. I have moved more than forty
times since I was married, having resided here in Heidelberg, Ky., where I now
own my own home by deed from Arch Cornett and wife dated August 4, 1928, and of
record in the office of the Lee County Clerk in deed book No.48, page 448 and
recorded as of date August 6, 1928, by the then clerk of said court, S. M. Estes.
The affiant further states that his father's name was Charlie Estes, that the
name of his grandfather was Basil Estes, who came to Estill County from North
Carolina, that his mother's name was Sarah Hatton, that his grandmother
was "Clem". I had four brothers, Fielden Estes, Basil Estes, Hiram Estes and
Charlie Estes. Had three sisters who lived to be grown and married. Patsey
Estes who married Levi Winkle, Deby Estes married Lawrence Ward, Polly Estes
married Jess Pittman all of whom raised their families in Kentucky excepting
brother Basil, who was married four times and the last time I heard of him he
was living in Granger County, Tennessee, where he died. Affiant further states
that he was never indicted for any crime or misdemeanor or ever cited to appear in
any court or involved in any civil case, excepting the United States Pension Bureau.
Affiant further states that he never challenged any man to a duel with deadly
weapons, but that he was challenged to fight a fist fight by one man whose name
was Joe Crawford. Affiant states that he won the fight and Crawford died
his friend.
I have dictated this statement of my own free will and act to A.P. Estes
this 30th day of April, 1938.
(Signed)
Asberry Estes
Witnessed by A.L. Durbin and Harrison Couch, Heidelberg, Ky.
( Note: the below story was contributed by Unknown )
It is interesting to note that Mr. Estes is a brother of the late Hiram Estes,
deceased, who died February 26, 1934, at the ripe old age of 96. He was also
a Civil War veteran having served in the 47th Kentucky regiment with such men as
Thomas Plowman, Isom Smith, John II Cain, Captain Joseph Hurst, Henry Ramsey,
Joseph Ramsey, Zachary Jackson and William Gray, all who enlisted at
Irvine July 12, 1863 to serve one year and were discharged at Lexington. Hiram
Estes was one of Estill county's humblest citizens and although he was considered
wealthy for a mountain man he clung to the simplest things in life, refusing
luxury, keeping house with the simplest furniture and wearing the kind of
clothes worn by working men. He was kind to children. Many a man of today
remembers him as being faithful to the cherished ideals of good citizenship.
He also boasted that was never cited in court, either civil or criminal, and
was loved by all who knew him. His simple life will long be remembered by
his friends.
MAIL
HOME