George James Estey
George James Estey was born in Ogdensburg, New York more than 172 years ago on June 24th, 1848 to his Father James and Mother, Elisabeth Estey.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Mr Estey's birth year of 1848 included.
• On January 31st, 1848 construction of the Washington Monument begins in Washington, D.C.
• On February 2nd, 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, ending the Mexican–American War and ceding the Republic of Texas's territorial claims to the United States for 15 million dollars.
• On February 21st, 1848 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish "The Communist Manifesto" in London
• On May 29th, 1848 Wisconsin is admitted as the 30th U.S. state.
• On July 19th, 1848 the first ever Women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls New York. It is organised by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
• On September 16th, 1848 slavery is abolished in all French territories
• On November 7th, 1848 Whig Party candidate Zachary Taylor of Louisiana defeats Democrat Lewis Cass of Michigan. in the first U.S. Presidential election held in every state on the same day.
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George James was the second of four children born to his Mother and Father. He had an older sister by the name of Jane and two younger siblings, William and Josephine Estey.
According to Census records from 1865 this evening's honoree has lost his Father as his Mother Elisabeth is listed as a widow. James at the age of 17 serves with the United States Navy as America is rounding the turn towards the end of the Civil War. Additional records from the time show us that he served aboard the Gunboat USS Argosy as a Seamen with the Mississippi Squadron. The Argosy was used by the Union Navy as a supply ship and gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.
By 1865, the South's Naval forces had been swept from the Mississippi River and most of its branches. Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Port Hudson, Louisiana, the last Confederate riverside forts blocking Northern shipping, were about to fall thus other than routine patrol and escort duty, little work was left for the gunboat.
After the conclusion of the Civil War we find George James back in upstate Niagara, New York living with his Mother Elisabeth and younger Brother William. Both of the young men partake in the field of farming.
Curiously and for reasons we do not know, according to Federal Census records from 1880 George James is now living in Denver, Colorado again with his Mother Elisabeth and younger Brother William. By perusing this same census record we do find other unknown Estey family members. His listed occupation is that of a carpenter.
George James marries Montgomery, Alabama native Millie Anne Allen with whom he would have a single Son, George Mitchell Estey in Crystal river, Florida on July 24th, 1890.
Mr. Estey relocates to the City of St Petersburg in and around the year 1897. What becomes of his Wife Millie Anne although I have my suspicions is a mystery.
On November 23rd, 1916 in the aforementioned St Petersburg, Florida Mr. Estey at the age of 68 is married for a second time when he weds Louella Young. More than 3 years later Florida census records from 1920 indicate that Mr. Estey is a widower with no signs of Louella or newspaper recollections that mention her passing between their marriage date and this specific census record.
On Tuesday February 26th, 1929 while gardening in his front yard this evenings honoree suffers a heart attack. His neighbor a Mr. C.W. Leucher was nearby at the time and carried him to a shade tree in a failed attempt at reviving him. Sorrowfully he would pass away shortly thereafter.
George James Estey... Beloved Father, Husband, and patriotic Union Army Veteran of the American Civil War.