ORIN A. and BERT ESTEY, who farm the old Jotham Estey place of 243 acres, located in Staunton and Lost Creek Townships, are industrious and prosperous young business men, with a wide acquaintance through this section of Miami County. They are sons of Jotham S. Estey, who is now living in retirement on the old homestead in Lost Creek Township.

The first of the Estey family to locate in Miami County, Ohio, was David Estey, grandfather of the subjects of this sketch, who was born in New Brunswick, July 31, 1792. He was there married, on September 30, 1813 to Ann Knoop, and after the birth of their first child. they moved to Miami County, Ohio, where he was among the pioneers. He settled on a wild and uncleared piece of land in Lost Creek Township, for which he subsequently got a deed from the United States Government, signed by President Andrew Jackson. He had followed lumbering in New Brunswick, and upon locating here erected water sawmills along Lost Creek, finding a ready market for his lumber in Dayton and Cincinnati. He prospered in a business way and added to his possessions until he had 500 acres of very desirable land. He continued to reside here until his death, in November, 1874. His wife who was born March 19, 1791, died in 1873. They were parents of eleven children, as follows, all but the eldest of whom were born in Miami County: James; Michael; Eunice, who was the wife of A. Deffenbaugh; Charles; George; Simon; Mary, who was the wife of J. U. Eyer; William; Lucy, who married Henry Deweese; Jotham; and Maria, who is the wife of James Dickson and lives in Iowa. The two last named are the only ones living.

Jotham Estey was born on the old homestead in Lost Creek Township, October 5, 1833, and spent his boyhood days working in the woods and fields. His education was limited to the "three R's." He was eighteen years of age when the Gold Fever carried him across the plains to California where he remained for five years, his time being mainly devoted to lumbering. He went in 1852, and in 1857 returned to Ohio, bringing with him $3,000 in gold dust. He then purchased eighty acres in Lost Creek, Township, where he still lives. It was then mostly swamp and timber, and it took some years of hard work to clear and tile it, many miles of tile having been used. He now has 43 acres, of which 180 lie in Lost Creek Township and sixty-three in Staunton Township.

In January, 1858, Mr. Estey was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Hosier, who, after a little more than half a century of wedded happiness, passed away on February 23, 1908, at the age of sixty- seven years. They brought into this world five children, namely: Clara, deceased wife of Sylvester Robbins; Orin A.; Elizabeth, wife of Lavell Williams; Grant, whose home is in Kansas; and Bert. Jotham Estey is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Union Baptist Church, to which his wife also be longed.

Orin A. Estey, who lives on the sixty-three acres of the farm lying in Staunton Township, was born on the home place in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, June 15, 1861. He spent his boyhood in working on the farm and in attending the public schools. Being the eldest son, the care of the farm fell upon his shoulders while quite young. He follows general farming and is meeting with much success. October 28, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Small, daughter of David Small, and they have two children, Mary Ellen and James. He has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of Staunton Township, and at one time served as township trustee, to which office he was elected on the Republican ticket. He and his wife are members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bert Estey was born on the old home farm in Lost Creek Township, September 28, 1878, and resided there until his marriage on December 19, 1900. He then rented land and engaged in farming for seven years. After the death of his mother, he in the spring of 1908 returned to the old farm in order to provide a home for his father. In January, 1907, he embarked in the threshing business, which he has since followed with good results, having a complete threshing outfit; and during the winter he operates a feed mill. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. Estey's marriage was with Miss Elizabeth Viola Studebaker, a daughter of Joseph M. and Mary Ann (Clyne) Studebaker, of Elizabeth Township, and four children were born to them: Mary, who died at the age of one year nine months and eighteen days; Olivene C., Jay S., and Alva G.