JAMES HARRISON ESTEY, general farmer and tobacco grower, residing on his fertile farm of seventy-two acres, which is situated in Section 25, Elizabeth Township, Miami County, was born near Conover, Miami County, Ohio, December 11, 1840. His parents were Michael and Mary (Swindler) Estey.

David Estey, the grandfather, was an early settler in Miami County. He entered 160 acres from the Government, getting a sheepskin deed for the same. This land was situated four miles northwest of Casstown and his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He married Mary Knoop and they had a family of nine children, as follows: Michael, James, Charles, George, William, Jotham, Mary, Lucy and Myra.

Michael Estey, father of James H., resided at home on his father's farm until after his wife's death. She left four children: Silas Virgil, who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; James Harrison; Emily J., who married Silas French, and Alda Zera, who married Joseph French. In the spring of 1852, Michael Estey went to California and later to Montana, following mining for about two years, and then settled on a farm in Jasper County, Missouri, where he resided during the remainder of his life, being about eighty-five years old at the time of his death. He married a lady of Jasper County after locating there and the children of his second union still live in Missouri.

James H. Estey was a little boy when his mother died and he soon went to live with a Mr. Blaker, with whom he made his home until he entered the army. He first attended the Jones school, which was a log house in Lost Creek Township, and later had some what better advantages in the Lost Creek school, which was situated two and one-half miles north of Casstown. He had not much more than reached manhood when the Civil War was declared and he enlisted in Company A, Forty fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years and ten months. He took part in many important engagements including Lewisburg, West Virginia, and Knoxville, Tennessee, in the almost continuous skirmishing which was more dangerous than real fighting. He received a wound about his ankle, in one meeting with the enemy, which not only prevented active service for about four months, but continued to afflict him for many years, never completely cured. When the war closed he returned to the old home above Casstown and remained there until his marriage in the spring of 1869, after which he went to Idaho and there followed mining for a year, after which he rented a farm in Boise Valley. Later he joined his father in Jasper County, Missouri, and remained there for some years, but subsequently returned to Miami County to make this section his permanent home. He purchased seventy-two acres of fertile land, with house and barn standing, from John Greer, and here Mr. Estey has been engaged ever since. A branch of the New York Central Railroad runs through his property. He has a fine orchard and his land will produce any crop, but he devotes the larger part of it to tobacco and has put up sheds to take care of it when harvested. He has done quite a great deal of improving since purchasing this land and has a very valuable farm.

Mr. Estey was married in 1869, to Miss Debby Roe, a daughter of John and Mary Roe, and they have one daughter, Elsie M., who is the wife of William F. Bohlender, residing in Tippecanoe City. Mr. Estey and family belong to the English Lutheran Church at Tippecanoe City, in which he has been a deacon for two years. He is also a member of the D. M. Rouser Post, G. A. R., of that place, which is two and one-half miles west of his farm. He is a stanch Republican in his political views but takes no active part in politics in his township, having no desire, to hold office.