NATHANIEL ESTES. This gentleman is prominently connected with the farming and mining interests of Marion County, Arkansas, and he has justly earned the reputation of being one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the section. He was born in Cannon County, Tennessee, November 8, 1847, a son of John Estes, a history of whom may be found in the sketch of James Estes.
Nathaniel Estes came to Arkansas at an early period with his parents and has resided here since he was one year old. His early days were spent in attending school in Yellville, but the last few years of his school life were much interrupted by the great conflict which was being waged between the North and South. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he dropped his books to become a votary of Mars, and enlisted in Company A, Col. Snabel’s regiment, Jackman’s brigade, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri and northern Arkansas. He was wounded at Boonville, Missouri, but remained with his regiment and most of the time was on active duty. He was one of the very youngest members of his regiment and served about one year before the war closed. He then returned home, and after attending a school for a short time he started out for himself, at about the age of twenty, and for three years was engaged in farming. He then began working at the carpenter’s trade, and during the twelve or thirteen years that he followed this occupation he erected many handsome and substantial buildings throughout the county, making his home a portion of the time at Yellville. About eleven years ago he located on the farm where he now lives, and in 1887 he became interested in zinc and lead mining and is the owner of a valuable mine known as the Big Buffalo, the claim comprising sixty acres. This mine he first opened in 1891 and has about 500 tons of zinc on the dump. The Peal Mine, of which he is the owner, is located near the Big Buffalo and is also valuable; besides these he has other valuable mining property in that section. He has done as much as any man in the county to open up and develop the mineral wealth of Arkansas and a large portion of his time is given to this occupation. He has been successful in the accumulation of worldly wealth and is the owner of a good farm of 160 acres, besides valuable property in Yellville and considerable mineral land in Searcy County.
He was married in 1868 to Miss Lydia Cantrell, a daughter of William Cantrell. Mrs. Estes was born in Madison County, Arkansas, October 19, 1852, and was brought by her parents to this county when three years old. She and Mr. Estes have eight children: Mary, wife of John Hothcock, of Lead Hill; Kenner L., one of the clerks in the land office at Harrison; John T., a blacksmith, of Yellville; Ambrose W., who is in school; Neal, May, George and Percy. Mr. and Mrs. Estes are giving their children good educational advantages and are themselves intelligent and well informed, Mrs. Estes being quite highly accomplished. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Yellville, and Mr. Estes is a stanch Democrat.