mmfM0Mimm 
 
LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 B 
 E795e 
 

Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/mannersofmanseOOeste 
 
Nannie Morris Estes as she looks today. 
 
MASNSNmS 
 
 of the 
 
 By 
 
 NANNIE MORRIS ESTES 
 
 The Naylor Company 
 
 Publishers of the Southwest 
 San Antonio, Texas 
 
COPYRIGHT ©, 1959, BY NANNIE MORRIS ESTES 
 
 THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED 
 WITHOUT PERMISSION EXCEPT FOR CUSTOMARY PRIVILEGES 
 EXTENDED TO THE PRESS, OR OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES. 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER 59-9049 
 
 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
B 
 
 
 Dedicated to the loving memory of my husband, 
 
 the Reverend Charles William Estes, 
 
 who was a good man and a 
 
 wonderful Preacher, 
 
 ft 
 
 
Contents 
 
 Introduction ix 
 Section of Photographs between pages 16 and 17 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 1. Preparation for Living 1 
 
 2. Preparation for Preaching 5 
 
 3. Music Hath Its Charms 9 
 
 4. Why Preachers Move to New Fields 13 
 
 5. The First New Church Erected 17 
 
 6. A Broader and Fairer Field 23 
 
 7. Unfinished Building Needs Preacher's Help 27 
 
 8. How Larger Congregations Are Formed 31 
 
 9. Trek Over the Ozark Trail 39 
 
 10. The Family Meets Texas 55 
 
 11. The Move to the Show-Me State 59 
 
 12. Texas-Bound in 1930 65 
 
 13. West Texas Dust Storms 75 
 
 14. Westward We Go 79 
 
 15. Back to Farms with Greener Fields 83 
 
 16. War Clouds 89 
 
 17. Days of Readjustments 99 
 
 Vll 
 
Introduction 
 
 "He is a good man and a wonderful Preacher" were the 
 first descriptive words spoken of Charles William Estes by 
 Rev. T. A. Williams, pastor at that time of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church in Grandview, Illinois, to the young organ- 
 ist, Miss Nannie Morris, who later married "that wonderful 
 Preacher" by the name of Estes. 
 
 C. W. Estes was versatile in his interests and outreach; he 
 identified himself actively with a variety of constructive com- 
 munity enterprises, and he commanded the respect, admira- 
 tion and loyalty of people of all denominations and creeds. 
 Evangelistic fervor characterized his preaching, and he was 
 never happier than when engaged in revival meetings in the 
 churches which he served. 
 
 This little story deals more with this Preacher, his life, 
 his children and their home — always known as "The Manse," 
 and how the seven children tried and are still trying to make 
 their lives measure up to their "Preacher's" high standards. 
 
 - MRS. CHARLES W. ESTES, 
 
 better known as "Nannaw," "Mom" and 
 "Nannie." December 21, 1949 
 
 IX 
 
1 have fought a good fight, I have 
 finished my course, I have kept the 
 faith: 
 
 Henceforth, there is laid up for 
 me, a crown of righteousness which 
 the Lord, the righteous judge, shall 
 give me that day; and not to me only, 
 but unto all them also that love his 
 appearing. 
 
 11 Timothy, 4:7 & 8 
 
CHAPTER 1 
 
 Preparation for Living 
 
 CEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY, this 21st of De- 
 ^ cember, 1949, on the prairies of Hill County in Texas 
 in the little community called Grandview, lived a humble 
 farming couple, James Andrew and Mary Anna Barron 
 Estes. The year was 1874, and to this couple was born their 
 first child, a boy, christened Charles William Estes, and 
 known in this book as "the Preacher." 
 
 His parents were devout Christians who established their 
 home on Christian principles. Until the age of ten, this 
 little boy's life was similar to any other "country" boy living 
 in that sparsely settled country. Soon after, in 1885, his 
 mother was called to her Heavenly Home, leaving her hus- 
 band and three sons, Charles W., Arthur H., and Tom D., 
 and one baby girl, Mary Eva. 
 
 Earlier, at about the age of six when the children were 
 playing "Camp Meeting," Charles insisted, "Let me be the 
 preacher." To quote his own statement, "Then something 
 wonderful happened to me, and during all those years, this 
 'something' has always been very prominent in my Christian 
 experience, developing until it ripened into a definite deci- 
 sion in response to the Divine Call of the Gospel Ministry. 
 I cannot remember the time when I did not love the Lord, 
 and I united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 
 
 1 
 
the Old Rock Church near Valley Mills, Texas, when I was 
 fourteen years of age." 
 
 He attended public school as the opportunity afforded, 
 and while attending high school worked at a variety of 
 jobs including "packing water, selling turnip greens, cutting 
 wood, hauling water, serving as janitor, and building fires 
 at the schoolhouse and at the church, clerking and delivery 
 boy and day-laborer in town, teaming, farm and ranch 
 work." Much of this type of work was made necessary be- 
 cause of the location of the depot, which was over a mile 
 distant on the rough wagon trail from the little town of 
 Meridian where "Preacher" was then living. 
 
 At one time, he helped haul native stone from the quarry 
 into town when the Bosque County Courthouse was built in 
 Meridian. This building is still in use. During most of 
 these early, struggling years, "Preacher" made his home 
 with his relatives. Judge and Mrs. Jim Robinson, in Meri- 
 dian. "Aunt Lou" Robinson made a real home for him, 
 and "Uncle Jim" encouraged him to study and to think 
 of more schooling. It was here that he took advantage of 
 Judge Robinson's law library, where he studied law for 
 about six months. He attended Summer Normal School 
 and taught in the county for three years. 
 
 One of the favorite tales Preacher enjoyed telling of his 
 teaching days was the story laid in the small country school, 
 located near Whitney, Texas, — "down in the cedar brakes." 
 Two of the pupils, a boy and a girl, arrived at school in 
 very dirty clothing with their faces grimy and their hair un- 
 combed. As the teacher (who was Preacher) introduced 
 them to the washbasin, the bar of soap and the comb, these 
 two children even at the end of the day were neater than 
 when they first arrived in the morning. But early the follow- 
 ing morning, the father of these two pupils came riding up 
 to the schoolyard on a small mule and very loudly and bel- 
 ligerently informed the teacher that "he had sent his chil- 
 dren to school to get larnin\ not to be bathed and hair- 
 combed and parted!" But the teacher had been forewarned 
 about the father, who seemed to enjoy being a bully in the 
 
community, so when he went out to meet the man, Preacher 
 was armed with the axe with which he chopped wood for 
 the heater. 
 
 Needless to say, school continued with all the pupils in 
 their places, with faces shining and with heads neatly combed. 
 
 Because of the trying financial conditions, and the very 
 difficulty of trying to go to school, he said, "I resisted the 
 Divine Call until I entered my twenty-first year. Then I 
 gave up completely and went to my pastor, Rev. Walter E. 
 Spoonts. I told him of my experience. To my surprise, 
 Spoonts replied, 'I have been expecting this for some time.' 
 He at once arranged for a special meeting of the Presbytery 
 of Waco, at which session I was received as a candidate for 
 the Gospel Ministry." 
 
 Charles W. Estes was received under the care of Waco 
 Presbytery in August, 1895, and was licensed to preach in the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the same Presbytery 
 in December 1897, at McGregor, Texas. 
 
 He at once began an active life in Gospel singing and 
 revival meetings, and in all other phases of church work. 
 In the summer of 1898, he assisted in a number of revival 
 meetings, which closed in August so that he could pick cot- 
 ton with his brothers and sister. One month later, in res- 
 ponse to a call from the Indian Territory, for young men to 
 enter mission work, he, together with three other boys, 
 volunteered for service. At the time of departure, however, 
 the other young volunteers did not arrive, so he went along 
 alone. He arrived early in October, 1898, at Davis in the 
 Indian Territory (now Davis, Oklahoma) where he worked 
 under the Home Mission Board of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church. 
 
 In this frontier, he entered upon new experiences, rid- 
 ing over unsettled country, preaching and singing the Gos- 
 pel, visiting widely scattered homes, holding odd jobs and 
 caring for the little Mission Church. But after a few months, 
 he gave up the job as clerk for the Ledlow Lumber Com- 
 pany in Davis, where he was making $75 per month, to de- 
 
vote his full time as pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church in Davis at a salary of $25 a month. 
 
 In this little church the Preacher's career began in 
 earnest; for it was here that he conducted his first funeral 
 service. It was his duty also to preside for the first time at a 
 marriage ceremony in this same church, in March, 1900. 
 Unique was his experience, for — exactly forty-eight years 
 later — in May, 1948, he was called to come back to Davis, 
 Okla., to conduct the funeral service in this same little chapel 
 for the lady, Mrs. Jim Kelly, who had been the young bride 
 in the first wedding ceremony. Ironically, this funeral 
 service for Mrs. Kelly proved to be the last time he presided 
 at a funeral, anywhere — for the Preacher, too, passed away 
 in 1948. 
 
 Tasks in this section of the Indian Territory were varied 
 and dangerous, for Preacher had to cope with outlaws and 
 half-breeds, in addition to trying to deal with the problems 
 of the Indians. In one instance, after a United States marshal 
 had been murdered by bandits in the spring of 1899, the 
 Preacher, standing on a tree stump in the Davis Cemetery, 
 quietly delivered a sincere message on law and order and 
 good living, at the funeral for the officer. And following the 
 service, Preacher and other citizens of the settlement pa- 
 trolled the town, expecting a raid by the outlaws. On the 
 following Sunday morning, Preacher conducted his regular 
 morning worship sendee with a rifle leaning against the 
 pulpit. 
 
 His former pastor, W. E. Spoonts, now of Washington, 
 Indiana, invited him to come to Indiana to assist in some 
 revival meetings. So, in September, 1900, he arrived in Wash- 
 ington, Indiana, to help with the music at the meetings. 
 Then he remained in Indiana serving two smaller churches 
 at Harrodsburg and Elletsville and continuing some college 
 courses. By that time, he had a strong desire to complete 
 the necessary training, and was ordained to the full work of 
 the Ministry in June, 1901, in Washington, Indiana, by the 
 Presbytery of Indiana. 
 
CHAPTER 2 
 
 Preparation for Preaching 
 
 TV7HILE SERVING THE Cumberland Presbyterian 
 w Church at Harrodsburg, Indiana, Preacher met and 
 married Miss Jessie Gayle Morgan, a young music teacher 
 whose home was near there. Preacher's old friend, Rev. 
 W. E. Spoonts, performed the marriage ceremony on 
 July 2, 1902, in Spoonts' home, which was the manse at 
 Washington. 
 
 In September, the young couple left Indiana for Leban- 
 on, Tennessee, where they both were enrolled in Cumber- 
 land University. Preacher began his seminary training in 
 earnest. And after having secured special permission to enroll 
 in the Women's College at Lebanon, he also attended this 
 school in order to study voice. He loved to sing, and it 
 seemed he was always singing, everywhere for everyone, 
 when there was not an opportunity to preach. His young 
 wife also took music lessons during those years at Lebanon. 
 When vacation came, following his first year in seminary, 
 Preacher and his wife went to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1903, 
 to do special rescue work at the Bethel Mission in the slum 
 section of the city. Here Preacher witnessed sin in all of its 
 destructive forms, for he worked among drunkards and dope 
 addicts, men and women alike, broken in spirit and in body. 
 Later in his life, he told of the time he preached in 
 
saloons, using the bar as a pulpit. Preacher and the other 
 Mission workers were influential in helping a particular 
 young girl, who was reared in a lovely home in another 
 section of the city, regain her self-respect and her good 
 health. The parents of this young lady were so happy when 
 their daughter returned home, that, in order to express 
 their heartfelt gratitude, they established a home on the 
 outskirts of Duluth for homeless girls who needed assistance 
 to start life anew. 
 
 The Mission workers witnessed the reformation of many 
 people who had become regular outcasts in all walks of life. 
 This work was very near to the heart, Preacher always said. 
 
 Instead of returning to the seminary in the fall of 1903, 
 Preacher accepted a call to serve at Newburgh, Indiana, 
 where he pastored the church in town and the Mt. Hebron 
 Church, located about four miles from town, a long, diffi- 
 cult trip by horse and buggy on muddy roads. In Newburgh, 
 one of the big problems for the Christian people was the 
 constant feuding between the river people on the Indiana 
 side of the Ohio River and the people on the Kentucky side. 
 In one instance, Preacher accompanied the Newburgh "law" 
 to the Kentucky side of the river when a Newburgh citizen, 
 too drunk to know what he was doing, was in very serious 
 trouble. In the scuffle near the gangplanks of the boat, the 
 drunken man was knocked into the oozing mud and water. 
 It was Preacher who jumped in after him, holding up his 
 head out of the thick, sucking mud until a small boat could 
 pick them up. This ruffian apparently reformed, and later 
 became a friend of Preacher. 
 
 Leadership was again displayed when Preacher quieted a 
 frightened crowd on an overloaded river boat when the 
 members of his Sunday School went up the river by boat for 
 a picnic. An emergency arose on the return trip when the 
 passengers, believing the boat to be unsafe because it was 
 overloaded, became panicky. It was Preacher Estes to whom 
 the captain turned, to quiet the milling crowd, and the 
 boat did return safely to Newburgh. 
 
 Many coal miners lived in and around Newburgh — 
 
 6 
 
some living in very great poverty. Preacher worked among 
 these people, trying to raise their standard of living and 
 to influence them and their bosses to better Christian living. 
 
 Preacher's first son was born in October, 1903, and named 
 Barron Morgan Estes. The following summer, the couple 
 brought their baby son to Texas for a visit with the family 
 and to attend some of the camp meetings near Meridian. 
 
 During the Christmas holidays in 1904, Preacher became 
 ill of "grippe," and his fourteen-month-old son was also very 
 ill. After a few days, the son's sickness was diagnosed as 
 meningitis, and on January 14, 1905, the little one passed 
 away. On the same day, Preacher's and Jessie Gayle's second 
 child, Mary Eva, was born — only to live for a few hours. 
 Friends of the young couple, frightened by the meningitis, 
 all left the manse in haste, and the colored Mammy was 
 alone to care for the needs of the bereaved family. 
 
 Weakened by his illness, Preacher had to get out of bed 
 and attend the burial services of the two infants. The sor- 
 row and loss of the two children were almost more than 
 the young couple could face. But even then, Preacher had 
 his faith and his Gospel. 
 
 Several months after this double tragedy, the couple re- 
 turned to Lebanon, Tennessee, where Preacher enrolled 
 for his senior year. He had been working on his second 
 year's work in the summer and by correspondence. While 
 in Lebanon, this last year, he served many small churches, 
 and often said he had never missed a Sunday religious 
 service of some kind during these years. 
 
 Music continued to play an important role in Preacher's 
 life, for during this last year he sang with the Lebanon 
 University Glee Club and the men's quartet, in addition 
 to carrying the heavy scholastic load of his ministerial train- 
 ing. He was graduated from Lebanon Seminary in May, 
 1906, and accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of Ft. 
 Branch, Indiana. He was always sincerely and humbly a hard 
 worker for Presbyterianism throughout his long years of 
 service, advocating the values of union between the various 
 branches of the denomination. 
 
Another son, John Dillon Estes, was born at Ft. Branch, 
 on December 8, 1906, but the young mother died a few 
 months later, after a long illness. With all kinds of difficul- 
 ties but always a brave heart, Preacher maintained his 
 home for his son. An old and dear friend, Judge John F. 
 Dillon of Jasper, Indiana, for whom this son was named, 
 insisted that Preacher take a brief rest from his pastoral 
 duties, and Judge Dillon furnished funds for Preacher to 
 visit his relatives in Texas. Refreshed and rested, he returned 
 to Ft. Branch to resume his pastoral work and his home- 
 making in the manse. Of course, he had some assistance 
 from members of his congregation and from part-time house- 
 keepers, but his own relatives were all so far away in Texas 
 and Oklahoma that they were never able to visit or to help 
 him maintain his home during these trying times. 
 
CHAPTER 3 
 
 Music Hath Its Charms 
 
 TOURING THE YEARS after graduating from seminary, 
 Preacher liked to exchange pulpits with other minis- 
 ters and to hold evangelistic meetings. This he did often 
 in various localities in Indiana and Illinois. And so it 
 happened that the pastor, Rev. T. A. Williams of the Grand- 
 view, Illinois, church, desired Preacher to help him in a 
 revival meeting. In fact, he held two meetings in this little 
 town; one in January, and the second in October, 1908. 
 
 Grandview was a small inland village, two and one-half 
 miles from the railroad at Dudley, and boasted only two 
 churches: the Methodist Episcopal and the Presbyterian. 
 Each church had only half-time pastors, so it was customary 
 that the same singers "did the music" for the regular services 
 of both churches, and for all funerals or other public 
 gatherings. Miss Nannie Eleanor Morris, organist of the 
 Methodist church, also sang alto in the choir at the Presby- 
 terian church, and felt very much at home in both churches. 
 When time came for the Presbyterian meeting in October, 
 their own organist was ill. So they asked the "M. E." organ- 
 ist to help them during the series of services. Miss Morris 
 was teaching school in Dudley (she rode out to Dudley from 
 her home in town with the mail carrier each morning, and 
 some of her brothers, sisters or cousins, took her back to town 
 
each evening). But the organist was glad to help the Presby- 
 terians at this time. And when the visiting evangelist ar- 
 rived, he met Miss Organist. And that is where the charm 
 began. 
 
 As a "special" for each evening's service, Preacher was 
 asked to sing some of the favorite hymns, and that meant 
 hours of rehearsing — with the organist's assistance, of 
 course. What better way to become acquainted? And rapidly? 
 In fact, after a day or two, the supper invitations for the 
 preachers included the M. E. organist, in order that the 
 two would have more time in which "to practice." At the 
 close of the meeting, Preacher returned to Indiana, and wrote 
 many letters to the organist at Grandview. In fact, it has 
 been said that this M. E. organist-schoolmarm closed her 
 school thirty minutes early the day she received her first 
 letter from him. 
 
 At Dudley, where Miss Morris was teaching, the mid- 
 semester holiday came at the end of the fifth month, ending 
 the session on February 5. So the wedding was planned for 
 February 10 at eight o'clock in the evening in the Presby- 
 terian church at Grandview. The pastor, Rev. T. A. Wil- 
 liams, officiated at the ceremony and was assisted by the 
 Methodist minister, Rev. Campbell. Although the ceremony 
 was "informal," with no attendants, the bride wore a tradi- 
 tional bridal gown made of white organdy trimmed with 
 "all-over" lace, and she carried a small Bible, the Christmas 
 gift she had received from the Preacher. Needless to say, 
 the church was overflowing with guests from the communi- 
 ty, and many Indiana visitors, including, of course, the 
 elders of the church and their wives. A reception followed 
 the wedding, and was held in the Morris home, two blocks 
 from the church. The melted snow and mud had frozen 
 over, making the roads too rough for a buggy or surrey, and 
 the members of the wedding party walked to the church for 
 the wedding. 
 
 Early the next morning, members of the family assisted 
 the Preacher and his wife in packing the lovely gifts which 
 carried the good wishes of their friends and relatives. For 
 
 10 
 
all their "goods" had to be shipped to Fort Branch, Indiana, 
 a distance of 130 miles — a very long journey at that time. 
 
 Two couples accompanied the bride and groom on their 
 train journey to Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. George Beloat of 
 Fort Branch (he was an elder in Preacher's church) and 
 Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Clapp of Grandview (she was the bride's 
 cousin and "just had to see" what the church at Fort Branch 
 looked like!) accompanied them to Dudley, where they took 
 the train for Terre Haute, Indiana, changing trains here for 
 Fort Branch. 
 
 Members of the Christian Endeavor group of Preacher's 
 own church met the wedding party when the train arrived, 
 and threw plenty of rice. Later in the evening, the couple 
 and the church officers and their wives were honored with 
 a turkey dinner in the home of one of the church members. 
 Then the couple went to the manse where the bride met 
 the two-year-old son for the first time. 
 
 11 
 
CHAPTER 4 
 
 Why Preachers Move 
 to New Fields 
 
 '"TO BE SURE, the bride of this preacher went to her new 
 home with some misgivings of how she would be wel- 
 comed by the congregation. But good people always have 
 good thoughts and good actions for all occasions. So this, 
 her first congregation, was very cordial and helpful in all 
 ways. And she welcomed their help, for she not only had to 
 learn to be a wife — she had to learn to be a preacher's wife. 
 
 She had some knowledge of the duties of the Mistress 
 of the Manse, for her father's only brother, W. L. Morris, 
 was a minister, serving the Methodist congregation in east- 
 ern Kansas for many years. 
 
 In May, 1909, Preacher was elected a Commissioner to 
 the General Assembly which convened in Denver, Colorado. 
 The Preacher's bride of three months and the little boy 
 stayed at the manse while he was gone two weeks. At the 
 Denver meeting, Preacher met a Synodical Secretary from 
 Illinois who had a vacant church where a new building 
 was needed. The man from Illinois felt Preacher was "the" 
 
 13 
 
man to suit that vacant field, and was sure Preacher was 
 capable of the great undertaking of building a new church. 
 So the Preacher returned home from the Assembly, with 
 thoughts of changing fields. Of course, this move would be to 
 a larger congregation in a larger city, with, incidentally, an 
 increased salary. 
 
 The Preacher's wife at first disliked the idea of a move 
 so soon, since the Fort Branch congregation had been her 
 first "church family," and this had been her very first 
 manse. She felt already that a congregation, in a way, takes 
 the place of one's own family, left behind. Even if one is 
 not a missionary in a faraway place on the other side of the 
 globe, there is, or should be, a kindred tie binding the 
 preacher's wife and the congregation, enabling her to be of 
 more help to him in many and varied ways. 
 
 But there are various reasons — a few excuses — for a 
 move. If one could read some of the letters written to the 
 Committee of Vacancy and Supply in a Presbytery, one 
 would note and more readily understand the reasons a 
 pastor's family might have for desiring to move to fairer 
 and, of course, more prosperous fields. Excerpts of such 
 letters might be something like this: "We need better 
 schools for our children"; "My wife needs a change of cli- 
 mate, recommended by the doctor"; or, "Just for the good 
 of the congregation." But certainly, the true minister makes 
 this final decision when he feels the call to move onward to 
 labor where God has real need of his work. Of course the 
 preachers family always go along, planning to like their 
 new home and to make a host of new and good friends, re- 
 gardless of the wonderful people they leave behind in the 
 congregation. 
 
 During this summer of indecision, or rather, in June, 
 1909, the Preacher took his wife and son to Jasper, In- 
 diana, to visit in the home of Judge John F. Dillon and 
 his mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Sherritt. These true 
 friends lived eight miles out in the country from Jasper on 
 a 600-acre tract of land which had been homesteaded by Mrs. 
 Sherritt's father when the country was first opened to set- 
 
 14 
 
tiers. Beautifully wooded areas of as much as 100 acres to a 
 patch covered portions of this estate where the young Preach- 
 er and his family had their wonderful vacation. 
 
 During the visit, friends enjoyed a day at the famous 
 French Lick Springs, a beautiful resort in Southern Indiana, 
 a wonderful section of this great state. 
 
 Other summer visits included brief "during-the-week" 
 visits in Newburgh and in Mount Hebron, former charges 
 of the Preacher. Of course, at such times, Preacher's wife 
 sort of felt as if she were on exhibition — she was introduced 
 so many times to so many different groups of friends of her 
 husband. 
 
 In July, they were called to Kansas, Illinois, by the death 
 of Grandmother Morris. This favorite grandparent, together 
 with her husband known as C. L. and Jane Seymour Morris, 
 had just celebrated their sixty-fourth wedding anniversary 
 the previous April 8, 1909 — a remarkable anniversary, 
 which all the relatives had celebrated together. 
 
 Then in the following August, Preacher announced he 
 had definitely decided to move to Newton, Illinois. Among 
 the farewell gifts to the young preacher and his family was 
 " Medley," a dark bay horse, the faithful buggy horse which 
 had served elderly friends, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ewing (who 
 could no longer "get about" much). Preacher bought a 
 phaeton which was shipped with the horse and the house- 
 hold goods to the new home in August of 1909. 
 
 15 
 
Section 
 
 of 
 
 (photographs 
 
The Livery Stable with the "Meridian Transfer" in front, with 
 Charles W. Estes, the young bov, driving. Meridian, Texas, 
 about 1892. 
 
 Davis, in the Indian Territory, was the home of the Laidlow 
 Lumber Company, where young "Charlie" Estes turned down 
 a job paying $75.00 per month, to take a Mission church, at 
 the salary of $25.00 per month. 
 
When Preacher went a-courtin', in the early days. 
 
 This is the manner in which Rev. Estes did his pastoral calling 
 in the early days. 
 
Fort Branch, Indiana, Presbyterian manse, Feb. 20, 1909, with 
 the young minister, Estes, his wife, and his first son, John 
 Dillon. 
 
 Presbyterian Church, USA, Grandview, Illinois, where Rev. 
 Charles W. Estes and the organist, Miss Nannie Eleanor Morris, 
 were united in marriage, Feb. 10, 1909. 
 
The first church building erected under Rev. Estes' pastorate 
 was this one at Newton, Illinois, Nov. 1], 1911. 
 
 The church and manse at Newton, 111., birthplace of the two 
 older girls, Lillian and Margaret Eleanor. 
 
The First Presbyterian Church, Neoga, Illinois. 
 
 On May 1, 1913, Charles Morris Estes was born to the Preach- 
 er's family in this manse at Neoga, Illinois. 
 
This new building was dedicated in September, 1914, at Tay- 
 lorville, Illinois. There being no manse here, the minister and 
 his family had to rent a house. 
 
 The First Presbyterian Church, Ashmore, Illinois, built under 
 the leadership of Rev. Estes. Just behind it can be seen the 
 large new manse, birthplace of the fourth daughter, Ruth. 
 
The First Presbyterian Church, Hobart, Oklahoma, October, 
 1918. 
 
 October, 1923, was the date of this picture of the "new" manse 
 in Hobart, Oklahoma, with the three little girls who later were 
 ill so long of typhoid fever. 
 
 mjj 
 
The new building at McKinney, Texas, with the manse just 
 showing at the far right. 
 
 Nine inmates of the Oklahoma State Reformatory, Granite, 
 Oklahoma, were baptized by emersion with Rev. Estes officiat- 
 ing, as shown in picture, 1924. 
 
The "big" Manse at Denton which was overrun with high 
 school and college youths during the Estes' stay in Denton, 
 Texas. Sept., 1930. 
 
 The five "Preacher's Daughters" in front of the church at Win- 
 ters, Texas, on March 1, 1938, wedding day of Ruth. From left 
 to right: Lola May, Ruth, Anna Lou, Eleanor and Lillian. 
 
First Presbyterian Church, Whitesboro, Texas, Sept., 1938. 
 
 The Estes' Christmas Dinner, 1939, with the first grandchild, 
 Margaret Ann McCullough, who was celebrating her fourth 
 birthday, at the far end of the table with "Nannaw." 
 
Rev. Charles W. Estes, John Prather and Mrs. Prather of Ash- 
 more, 111., and Mrs. Estes, in front of the Whitesboro Manse, 
 Jan. 16, 1948. 
 
 The manse at Whitesboro, Texas, where Preacher and Nannie 
 were living when he died in 1948. 
 
 fflT ill 
 
 ' 
 
Nannie, in 1947, in Whitesboro, Texas. 
 
Preacher as he nearly always looked: smiling. The photo above 
 was taken in 1947. 
 
CHAPTER 5 
 
 The First New Church Erected 
 
 HpHE NEW FIELD, Newton, boasted a small frame church 
 A building, badly in need of repair. Alongside of the 
 church was the manse, seeming to be tucked under the 
 windows of the church — and also in need of hammer and 
 paint. The two buildings topped a hill, and were a dozen 
 or so steps above the sidewalk and street level. This manse 
 had been occupied by the former pastor, an elderly man, 
 for many months without much congregational visiting. Of 
 course, it needed many improvements to make it barely liv- 
 able. 
 
 At the first look at this tiny house, the Preacher's wife 
 began to cry, saying, "I'm so homesick!" But after their 
 furniture, wedding gifts and the piano were arranged, the 
 pictures and curtains up, some flowers arranged on the li- 
 brary table, the little house assumed a new air of charm 
 and hospitality; and soon became truly "home, sweet home." 
 
 With less than three dozen members (mostly women), the 
 congregation planned a reawakening in the little town, 
 which was the county seat of Jasper County. Plans were 
 started immediately for the construction of a new building. 
 The County School Superintendent offered to volunteer his 
 services as an architect, and after two years of prayer, hard 
 
 17 
 
work and some worry, the keys of the new building were 
 turned over to the trustees of the congregation on Sunday, 
 November 19, 1911. An eloquent speaker, Rev. C. E. Schiable 
 of Burlingame, Kansas, delivered the dedicatory address, 
 and on this occasion over $5,000 was pledged to defray most 
 of the indebtedness against the new building. 
 
 The Newton Monitor for Wednesday, November 22, 
 1911, reported: ''Much credit must be given the pastor, Rev. 
 Charles W. Estes, who first proposed the erection of a modern 
 church . . . and who, since the first shovel of dirt was thrown, 
 has been constantly 'on the job.' His optimistic view of 
 conditions encouraged the membership, and if any became 
 blue and despondent, a short conference with the pastor 
 would at once shorten the length of the discouraged one's 
 face." 
 
 The modern brick building was made more beautiful 
 with well designed art-glass memorial windows. One, in par- 
 ticular, was installed in the pastor's study, recognizing a 
 gift from the Mount Moriah Presbyterian church near Ft. 
 Branch, Indiana, a former charge of Rev. Estes. How proud 
 the congregation and the town of Newton were of this ac- 
 complishment! And the little group held the good will and 
 friendship of all the city. 
 
 But back to the manse: Soon after getting settled in 
 the new home, the Preacher was asked to perform a wedding 
 ceremony, his first at Newton. The young bridal couple 
 knocked at the door of the manse just before the supper 
 hour, and a brief delay was necessary while Preacher donned 
 a clean white shirt, tie and coat. The little son, nearly three 
 years of age, was sent in the living room to entertain the 
 prospective bride and groom. Trying to cover his excite- 
 ment and to appear calm (and probably to show off a little), 
 the groom began a conversation with little John Dillon, say- 
 ing, "Well, son, I understand you are the only chick on 
 this hill." The little boy replied, "No, Papa has six red 
 chickens in the back yard," a reply which stopped any fur- 
 ther overtures to conversation. 
 
 The Preacher's wife, always particularly interested when 
 
 18 
 
informed of a coming wedding ceremony in the manse, al- 
 ways tried to find some flowers, and some of the time, to 
 plan some light refreshments. Preacher's wife was truly and 
 sincerely interested, and the welcome was cordial when a 
 wedding couple came their way. For, you see, any wedding 
 fees became her very own money to spend as she saw fit. How- 
 ever, such a sum usually went into the family purse for every- 
 day needs, or was used for special gifts for the children. 
 
 When the family was living in Newton, Illinois, two 
 baby daughters discovered America in the manse. The older 
 one arrived on the eve of Easter, March 26, 1910, and was 
 named Lillian (partly in recognition of the lovely Easter 
 lilies), and the second little girl, Margaret Eleanor, came 
 along in January, the 13th, 1912. 
 
 The young family visited relatives in Grandview during 
 the summer of '10, and it was there that little Lillian was 
 christened in the same church in which her parents had been 
 married and by the same officiating pastor, Rev. T. A. Wil- 
 liams. 
 
 While living in Newton, Preacher took the work of the 
 Blue Lodge in Masonry. An elder in Preacher's first congre- 
 gation in Elletsville, Indiana, Captain Faulkner, who ranked 
 high in Masonic circles (and who loved Preacher dearly and 
 called him "his own boy") had promised to go anywhere to 
 take part in this initiation whenever it might take place. So 
 it was that Captain and Mrs. Faulkner journeyed to Newton 
 to assist in conferring the Third Degree on the Preacher. 
 This incident particularly impressed local people, for both 
 Captain and Mrs. Faulkner were over seventy years of age, 
 and their journey had been a long one. 
 
 The week immediately following the dedication of the 
 new building in Newton was marked with a series of special 
 evangelistic services. Preacher was assisted in these meetings 
 by Rev. Walter Edward Spoonts, the "Cowboy, Lecturer, 
 Preacher-Evangelist" of Jacksonville, Illinois. Since Spoonts 
 was the oldest friend Preacher had "in the North," and since 
 both were former Texans, Spoonts made his stopping place 
 at the manse. Both gentlemen were fond of black-eyed peas 
 
 19 
 
(an almost unknown vegetable in that part of the country), 
 and Preacher's wife had never seen and certainly had never 
 prepared any of this type of vegetable. Some Texas friends 
 had sent some dried black-eyed peas to the family in the 
 manse, so the Mrs. decided to serve them in honor of Rev. 
 Spoonts' visit. She put them in a large stewer, covered 
 them with water and placed the container on the stove. 
 About every fifteen minutes or so, as the water over the 
 peas would darken, she would drain the peas and add more 
 clear water. But still the liquid turned very dark, and yes, the 
 dark spots remained on the peas! Eventually she poured all 
 the flavor, and food value, too, down the drain, and the 
 black-eyed pea dish was a failure. But Mrs. Preacher soon 
 learned how to prepare them the right way, and today is as 
 fond of black-eyed peas as any Texan who insists on eating 
 black-eyed peas each New Year's Day for good luck in the 
 year to come. 
 
 At Newton, the church organist was Mrs. Arnold, mother 
 of Gene Arnold, who even then was winning renown as a 
 singer, and later became a popular radio artist. Many years 
 later, in honor of the Presbyterian church (where he served 
 as guest soloist on many occasions) Gene wrote the song, 
 "The Little Church on the Hill." Preacher corresponded 
 with Gene at this time and was given a copy of the number. 
 
 Newton had also been the home of the late Honorable 
 Hale Johnston, whose family lived there during the Preach- 
 er's pastorate. Hon. Johnston headed the National Prohibi- 
 tion ticket for president of the United States in the 'eighties. 
 One of the Johnston girls, Mrs. Will Evers of Denton, Texas, 
 with her baby daughter, Lottie, spent the summer of 1912 
 in Newton visiting the family. Of course, the Preacher's 
 family met the Texas guest and visited together many times. 
 
 Years later, in 1930, when Preacher and his family moved 
 
 to Denton, Texas, this friendship was renewed, and younger 
 
 daughters of the two families, Jessie Evers and Ruth Estes, 
 
 (who was Preacher's fourth daughter) became the best of 
 
 friends and attended school together. 
 
 Typical of Preacher's experiences was the "Billy Trainer 
 
 20 
 
story" which took place at Newton: Billy Trainer was the 
 husband of a member of Preacher's congregation, who had 
 become a victim of the drinking habit. He had a certain 
 position in the community, serving the county as county 
 clerk, but he persisted in his bad habits. One Sunday, just 
 as Preacher and his family were sitting down to dinner, a 
 note came for Preacher from "Miss Emma," the aristocratic 
 sister of Billy. Miss Emma feared that her brother had over- 
 done the thing this time and would not live through this 
 "sick spell." Apparently, Trainer had been in his room at 
 home for three days suffering the "d.t.'s." 
 
 The good Dr. Burton, a mutual friend of the Trainer 
 family and of Preacher also, sent for the Preacher, and 
 the two men worked together all through the long after- 
 noon on up until time for Christian Endeavor services at 
 the church. As the sick man improved, he promised the 
 doctor and the Preacher that he would give up drinking, this 
 time "for good." 
 
 Billy Trainer was completely sober and signed a pledge 
 which had been made out by the Preacher and witnessed by 
 the doctor and the Preacher. Preacher returned home just 
 in time to clean up a bit for his evening service, and Billy 
 Trainer became a devout and loyal church member and 
 worker, and also, a dearer friend of Preacher's. 
 
 In 1933, Preacher and wife returned to Newton to at- 
 tend the first homecoming and anniversary of the dedica- 
 tion of the "new" church building. Upon arriving at their 
 former home, Preacher and his wife found no one but Billy 
 Trainer serving the Newton congregation as Senior Elder. 
 Preacher and wife also returned to Newton in 1940 to attend 
 the seventh Homecoming Service of that church. 
 
 The church building erected at Newton was Preacher's 
 first monument, that is, built under his direction, to the 
 Living Church, and therefore, has always held a very special 
 spot in the hearts of the Estes family. 
 
 21 
 
CHAPTER 6 
 
 A Broader and Fairer Field 
 
 TN SEPTEMBER, 1912, Preacher received a call inviting 
 him to spend a Sunday in the Neoga, Illinois, church as 
 a candidate to become its pastor. This field seemed very 
 promising: a large modern church building, well equipped, 
 and a large comfortable manse — fairly new! Just prior to 
 receiving this call, Preacher had suffered a very severe ill- 
 ness — one which couldn't quite be explained or diagnosed. 
 Just as the doctor had made up his mind to move Preacher 
 to Effingham to a hospital, the patient began to improve. 
 However, he was so ill for three or four days that members 
 of his family and congregation were quite concerned. He 
 became worse on a Saturday night, and was so seriously 
 ill the next day that the doctor thought he might not re- 
 cover. During the whole afternoon, his elders and other 
 friends held prayer service in the church, and at the close 
 of the service, Preacher did respond to the treatment; and 
 by nightfall, seemed out of danger. The hand of the Lord! 
 But there was a humorous side to this harrowing ex- 
 perience, for one of the members of the church, a wealthy 
 widow and a "good dresser," did not learn of Preacher's 
 improvement that Sunday evening (she was not present at 
 the prayer service), so when she came to call early Monday 
 morning and found him so much better, all she could do 
 
 23 
 
was to chide the Preacher and his wife for not letting her 
 know Sunday of the good news, and exclaim, "You should 
 have sent me word, I spent most of the night praying for 
 you, and you were already better!" 
 
 Anyway, following the strenuous building campaign 
 and the illness, Preacher was advised to get some rest (if 
 such a thing be possible for a devout preacher). So to him, 
 for many reasons, the invitation to come to Neoga was a 
 pleasing one. After prayerfully considering the move, the 
 Preacher did feel it was the thing for him to do. So, by the 
 middle of October, the family found its home in the manse 
 at Neoga. 
 
 The oldest child was enrolled in elementary school, and 
 the work began as it usually does in a new field — with great 
 interest. In the church was a group of music-minded individ- 
 uals who were also earnest Christians, and an exceptional 
 choir was organized. The Young People's work became very 
 forceful and developed with speed. And here, the Preacher's 
 wife became a member of the Sewing Club, which met once 
 a month. This was her first experience in being affiliated 
 with "just a sociable group" that was not even connected 
 with the church. 
 
 One of the young men of the congregation, Roscoe Coen, 
 had given his life to be used of God on a foreign field. Ros- 
 coe was attending school at Milligan University at Decatur, 
 preparing for his service to the church. The Neoga pianist 
 for Sunday School and for the Young People's services, was 
 Miss Mary Buchanan, who was engaged to be married to 
 young Mr. Coen. This grand couple was married at Neoga 
 by Preacher in 1918, and left that fall for Seoul, Korea. 
 From that time on, the ties between this church, the congre- 
 gation, the members and pastor, and all of Neoga, for that 
 matter, and Korea, were very much strengthened as the years 
 passed. Years later, the Coens found time to visit the Preach- 
 er and his family during each of their furloughs from the 
 foreign field. Then, much later, in 1940 and in 1941, when 
 Coen was forced to leave Korea, he assisted Preacher in meet- 
 ings in Texas. 
 
 24 
 
May Day, 1913, was marked with the arrival of a boy in 
 the Estes home: Charles Morris was his name, and his coming 
 made a total of two sons and two daughters in the manse. 
 This occasion was celebrated by the full membership of the 
 Neoga church, which was playing host at that time to the 
 District Christian Endeavor Convention. And what a celebra- 
 tion! 
 
 The following July, Preacher attended the Ministers' 
 Bible Conference at Winona Lake, Indiana. It was here that 
 Preacher sang in the choir of over 300 voices directed by Pro- 
 fessor E. O. Excell. In speaking of this wonderful experience, 
 Preacher often said it was one place "where I could sing ten- 
 or as loud as I pleased." Such conferences and gatherings 
 lend greatly toward making ministers more zealous in the 
 work of their calling. One of the noted preachers at this 
 conference was Dr. G. Campbell Morgan of London, Eng- 
 land, and it was from him that Preacher received much re- 
 newed religious enthusiasm. 
 
 The family of the manse spent a real vacation in Au- 
 gust of 1913, when they visited in Charleston, Illinois, for 
 two weeks, camping out in the Coles County Fair Grounds. 
 The chautauqua was being held nearby during this vacation 
 time (which was referred to as an "outing"), and one of the 
 notable speakers on the program was the Honorable William 
 Jennings Bryan. Preacher served on the welcoming commit- 
 tee at Charleston, and it was his privilege to greet and enter- 
 tain the Hon. Mr. Bryan, and also to accompany him in the 
 ride to the fair grounds at the head of a parade. This asso- 
 ciation with Mr. Bryan and the vacation were events talked 
 of with great pride by Preacher and by members of his fam- 
 ily for many years. 
 
 The Neoga Presbyterian church was growing; members 
 were added every Communion Sunday, and it was a splendid 
 and thriving field. At one of the revival meetings, a young 
 couple, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Garvin, from the Moodv Bible In- 
 stitute, came to Neoga to assist with the music. During the 
 last of the series of meetings, Mr. Garvin, himself a marvel- 
 ous Gospel singer, joined the Presbyterian church and was 
 
 25 
 
taken under the care of Mattoon Presbytery and began serv- 
 ing the Church at Grandview, the former home of Mrs. 
 Preacher. In a year or two, Garvin went to Cincinnati, where 
 he entered the Lane Seminary and at the same time served a 
 smaller church in the community of Seven Mile, Ohio. With- 
 in three years he completed the required work at Lane and 
 became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, 
 USA. Later, he returned to Neoga as pastor to the congre- 
 gation in the very church in which he had been consecrated. 
 
 26 
 
CHAPTER 7 
 
 Unfinished Building Needs 
 Preacher's Help 
 
 AT TAYLORVILLE, Illinois, the pastor had become 
 ** ill just when his congregation was in the middle of a 
 building project. For this reason, the pastor resigned and re- 
 tired; and so it was that the members of the Taylorville con- 
 gregation extended an invitation to "Preacher" Estes asking 
 him to speak for them, hoping they could persuade Preacher 
 to leave Neoga and come to their aid. A visit was arranged, 
 and Preacher came to visit Taylorville, where he found an 
 old friend serving as an elder. The two had worked together 
 previously in the church at Newton. This family, particular- 
 ly, was anxious that Preacher accept the work at Taylorville, 
 for they knew of Estes' experiences in church building pro- 
 grams. 
 
 The result of the visit? Naturally, Preacher decided he 
 should attempt the project, after prayerful consideration. So 
 just before Christmas, Preacher and family left Neoga for 
 Taylorville where there was no manse. 
 
 It was in Taylorville that Preacher had his first experi- 
 ence of renting a house. Before many months, the church 
 leased a more comfortable and larger house across the street 
 
 27 
 
from the new church building. Once more, Preacher and the 
 Estes' found themselves happily situated in a Presbyterian 
 manse. In the attic of this house, the Estes family found a 
 large extension dining table of solid quarter-sawed ' 'golden' ' 
 oak, complete with a set of ten leaves. Fully extended, the 
 table held covers for twenty to twenty-four, depending on 
 how many were little ones. The table was polished and given 
 a place of honor in the dining room. Preacher's family began 
 having all meals, including breakfast, every day at this table. 
 The table was also the center for family worship; for every 
 morning, when all the family was seated, Preacher read verses 
 — sometimes a whole chapter — from the Bible, and followed 
 it with prayer. This practice was never neglected, even in the 
 later years when the children were hurrying to early morning 
 classes in college. 
 
 Dining and devotions were not the only activities Preach- 
 er's family started around the massive oak table. Many a- 
 rithmetic problems, many spelling lists, numbers of algebraic 
 equations, and reams of paper used for themes and short sto- 
 ries, covered the big table throughout the years, as the seven 
 children in the Preacher's family prepared school assignments 
 on this dining table. 
 
 If the big oak table could talk, there would be hilarious 
 accounts of tall tales, practical jokes, funny stories as well as 
 pathetic accounts of sorrow and tragedy and sparkling con- 
 versation. For hospitality at the Preacher's house nearly al- 
 ways included a meal with evervone seated at the same time. 
 Friends of the children were always warmly welcomed along 
 with visiting ministers, missionaries, evangelists, some fa- 
 mous artists, speakers and other near-great men and women. 
 And alwavs, guests remarked at the length and breadth of the 
 massive dining table, as well as the deliciously prepared and 
 informallv served meals. The table had been in continuous 
 use for dining by some of the family since it was found that 
 winter in 1913. 
 
 In April, 1914, the Ministers' Association of Taylorville 
 led the dry forces in a campaign to vote out the saloons of the 
 town. Mass meetings, prayer meetings and committee meet- 
 
 28 
 
ings were planned and held. Volunteer workers assisted in 
 transporting "dry" voters to the polls on election day. No 
 man worked any harder than Preacher, who was driving a 
 matched team of cream-colored horses (a team used by a local 
 undertaker when the new hearse was in use). With this beau- 
 tiful team hitched to an old-style cab, Preacher sat proudly 
 erect in the driver's seat disregarding the pouring rain. To 
 be sure: the dry votes carried that rainy day! 
 
 An interesting experience of Preacher's during this time 
 was the role he played during the year of 1914 when, as a 
 representative of Springfield Presbytery, he received into the 
 membership of the Presbyterian Church, USA, an active 
 church congregation complete with members, their building 
 and a sum of money and other property, valued at about one 
 million dollars, in all. This group had been formerly asso- 
 ciated with the Dutch Reformed Church, but the members 
 of the congregation felt they were more or less isolated from 
 any sister churches of their own faith. They unanimously ex- 
 pressed their desire to become a part of the Presbyterian fam- 
 ily, and Preacher officiated on behalf of the Presbytery of 
 Springfield. This group of people happily and thankfully 
 continued in their program of worship and study in their 
 same buildings, and the merger was deemed successful. 
 
 Four cases of measles at one time can be a bit of a trial! 
 But not so for Mrs. Preacher, when the four children of the 
 manse all had measles in March, 1914. This was the initial ex- 
 perience of many such cases of multiple illnesses in the manse. 
 
 Late in the summer of 1914, among the guests in Preach- 
 er's home were the Rev. T. A. and Mrs. Williams, the 
 Grandview pastor and wife — old and dear friends of the 
 Estes'. After prayer meeting one Wednesday night, the Rev. 
 Williams officiated in a christening service for the youngest 
 baby, Charles Morris. This was another highlight in the 
 family life at the manse. 
 
 Hewetsville, Illinois, was a small mining community near 
 Taylorville. Each Sunday afternoon Preacher made the short 
 trip to serve in a Presbyterian Mission which welcomed num- 
 bers of coal miners and their families. He directed Sunday 
 
 29 
 
School classes and morning worship services every Sunday. 
 On nearly all occasions of these visits, Preacher would meet 
 people speaking as many as eight different tongues — but all 
 worshipping together. Serving as an interpreter, and also as 
 superintendent of the Sunday School, was the wife of the 
 owner of the coal mines. Hers was a wonderful Christian 
 work at this mission, and she was dearly loved by the num- 
 bers who attended, for she always taught them to say a "gold- 
 en text" in their own tongue. 
 
 It was in this small mining community where working 
 conditions were deplorable that Preacher's wife saw, in a 
 measure, "how the other half of the world lives." Opportuni- 
 ties to serve these humble, less fortunate "strangers in Ameri- 
 ca" were at every hand. The Preacher and his wife grew to 
 respect and to cherish these friends. 
 
 The new church building, in town, at Taylorville, was 
 completed and dedicated in July, 1914, and this large con- 
 gregation was a successful example of the merger between 
 churches in the Presbyterian, USA, and the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian branches. A Dr. Darby, pastor of the church at Ev- 
 ansville, Indiana (Darby had earlier been an elder in the 
 Presbyterian Church at Newburgh, Indiana, when Preacher 
 served there in 1903-04), was invited to deliver the sermon of 
 dedication for the new building. Dr. Darby was a long and 
 tireless worker during those years for the union of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian branch with the "Mother Church" of 
 Presbyterianism. 
 
 30 
 
CHAPTER 8 
 
 How Larger Congregations 
 
 Are Formed 
 
 WflTH THE COMPLETION AND SUCCESS of the 
 
 ** Taylorville building project, Preacher was winning 
 some renown as a church builder, also as a leader who was a 
 man of strong convictions and of great courage. Already in 
 his chosen work, he was known for his optimistic approach to 
 any problem in the face of all circumstances, and also for his 
 enduring faith in people and in good projects. He was always 
 conscious, however, of the Divine Call, and thus, his faith 
 strengthened as his service broadened. 
 
 Preacher planned his work, with the Lord's help, always 
 trying to hunt out those who might be left out — those who 
 might need the help of Christian people; his goal was to fur- 
 ther the Kingdom of God by adding Christians, as well as 
 church members. 
 
 In Ashmore, Illinois, located also in Mattoon Presby- 
 tery, were two small church groups: one, a Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian congregation, and the other, a Presbyterian, USA. 
 Each church was served by a half-time minister. Both con- 
 gregations owned buildings which were very old and in rather 
 bad repair. The Cumberland Presbyterian group was the 
 
 31 
 
owner of a manse in Ashmore. These two groups had met on 
 occasions, and were contemplating a union. 
 
 After much correspondence and some investigations, the 
 two groups jointly asked Preacher to visit them. The result of 
 that visit, you may well have guessed, for apparently it was 
 love at first sight, as far as the people of Ashmore and the 
 Preacher's family were concerned. 
 
 The formal call from the Ashmore group was accepted 
 in October, 1914, and again the Preacher's family moved into 
 a new community to make their home in the manse, a small 
 frame house next door to the two-story brick building which 
 had been erected in the 'sixties by the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. The town of Ashmore was not entirely new 
 to the Preacher and his wife, for her family, the Morrises, 
 still lived in and around Crandview, only fifteen miles to the 
 east. 
 
 The United congregation used both buildings, which 
 were maintained by separate boards of trustees until the un- 
 ion was perfected. At this time, all officers resigned, and new 
 ones were duly elected to serve the united organization. Keep- 
 ing everyone happy in regard to the union was the big prob- 
 lem, so a plan was formed under which the morning serv- 
 ices were held in the "north" building, as it was called be- 
 cause of its location in the city of Ashmore, while evening 
 services were held at the building in the southern part of 
 town. The real reason for this solution was that the "south" 
 building was the only one wired for electric lights. 
 
 Constructive Christian work, the type needed almost 
 everywhere and at Ashmore, takes prayer, time, patience, en- 
 ergy and planning. Detailed arrangements for carrying on the 
 business of building had to be made before any monies could 
 be received. In short, a strong, old-fashioned Christianity was 
 necessary to strengthen the faith of the members and to con- 
 vert new souls. In due time, all the old properties were sold, 
 and a new location was purchased in the central part of town. 
 The new church was a beautiful red brick building with 
 white marble trim, and columns at the front. Included was a 
 two-story educational department at the rear. Then a lovely 
 
 32 
 
two-story manse was erected just across the alley from the 
 church. And the Preacher and his family moved into their 
 new home, the manse. 
 
 The prayers had been answered, and the work had 
 brought results. For now there was a wonderful united con- 
 gregation, with members all working together for the King- 
 dom of God. 
 
 In May, 1915, the third daughter of the manse, Anna 
 Lou, made her appearance in the family which totaled three 
 girls and two boys at this time, sometimes filling even the 
 larger new home to overflowing. The children all grew 
 strong and active as they developed. The grove of beautiful 
 walnut and maple trees in the yard contributed much to the 
 pleasure and hours of play for these youngsters. 
 
 Preacher had been so busy with his congregations and his 
 building programs, he had not returned to Oklahoma very 
 often to visit his father and family. So in July, 1915, he, 
 together with the three older children, John Dillon, Lillian 
 and Eleanor, made a trip south to visit the relatives, and of 
 course, to hold a revival meeting. En route from St. Louis to 
 Oklahoma City, the Preacher's family spent a night on the 
 train, and early the next morning the children had to be 
 dressed, washed, brushed and combed. The two girls were 
 wearing their hair in two long tight braids, each tied with 
 large ribbon bows. So, displaying his usual initiative, 
 Preacher fastened the braids, with safety pins (which method 
 served very well until the girls met their grandmother Estes, 
 who took over the hair ribbons). 
 
 About Thanksgiving of that same year, Preacher pur- 
 chased his first automobile — a Maxwell, vintage 1915. How 
 the family did enjoy the car! And also, the members of his 
 congregation. Now Preacher could more easily serve his 
 charge, and the entire family could enjoy visiting relatives 
 and friends even at a distance. 
 
 During their residence at Ashmore, the children all had 
 chicken pox, and this was followed with a siege of mumps. 
 However, everyone seemed to manage these so-called "chil- 
 dren's diseases" with no complications. The patience of even 
 
 33 
 
a preacher and his wife can be tried when five children go 
 through the long weeks of mumps and chicken pox I 
 
 During the months of the quarantines, Preacher and 
 other church leaders were busy integrating the two branches 
 of the Presbyterian faith on their local level, and foremost in 
 their minds was the building program. Plans for the new 
 church were progressing smoothly, and the congregation was 
 surely growing rapidly. 
 
 Preacher was again elected a Commissioner to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly in May, 1917, when the largest governing body 
 of the Presbyterian Church would convene in Dallas, Texas. 
 To be chosen as delegate was a signal honor, and Preacher 
 headed for Texas full of pride in his church and love of the 
 church's leader. During his stay in Dallas, Preacher enjoyed 
 the hospitality of the John M. McCoy home. Colonel McCoy 
 was a distant relative of Preacher's wife, and the colonel was 
 a leader and an elder in the City Temple Presbyterian 
 Church of Dallas. A devout Christian, intensely interested 
 in spreading the word of God, Col. McCoy, at seventy- 
 five years of age, was confined to his wheel chair, for he 
 had suffered amputation of both legs. Preacher often re- 
 called how Col. McCoy refused to keep his handicap from 
 preventing his church activities, and this dedicated Chris- 
 tian was a great source of inspiration to Preacher. 
 
 As he returned to Illinois, Preacher had earlier planned 
 to visit an uncle, the Rev. W. L. Morris, in Dodge City, 
 Kansas, but his plans were changed when he received news 
 that a damaging cyclone had struck in Coles County, Illinois. 
 So he hurried directly home, to Ashmore, Illinois, where 
 he found the church, the manse and the family safe and 
 sound. 
 
 The next big event was the wedding ceremony Preacher 
 performed, uniting his young brother-in-law, Allyn Morris, 
 and Miss Zilphia Zink, both of Kansas, Illinois, in mar- 
 riage. This was the second such ceremony performed by 
 Preacher for his wife's brothers. For, earlier while the Estes 
 family lived in Taylorville, Preacher had officiated at the 
 
 34 
 
wedding of another brother-in-law, Myron Morris, and Miss 
 Ethel Black of Paris, Illinois. 
 
 Moving day came in June, 1917. Preacher moved the 
 family and furniture — including the golden oak dining table 
 
 — into the beautiful new two-story manse, that was complete 
 with basement. A glorious house for a home with children. 
 
 An outstanding social event of the early summer was an- 
 other wedding in the manse. A sister of Preacher's wife, Miss 
 Lola Morris, and Mr. Sherman Pinnell of Kansas, Illinois, 
 were married in the "new" manse. Another family wedding 
 followed in September of that same year; Miss Marjorie Mor- 
 ris, Mrs. Preacher's youngest sister, was married to Mr. Mer- 
 ritt Bennett, also of Kansas. But this ceremony was held in 
 the Morris home at Grandview. Preacher's mother-in-law, 
 Mrs. J. S. Morris, could now say that her favorite Preacher 
 Estes had married all her children! 
 
 Upon completion of the new church building in Ash- 
 more, the memorable dedication services were planned and 
 held October 28, 1917. Once again, Preacher called for his 
 former pastor, Rev. W. E. Spoonts, to help in this service, 
 which was one of the high points in Preacher's ministry. The 
 day was a great one in the life of this Ashmore congregation. 
 So much had been added to the physical plant of the church, 
 but perhaps the greatest advancement had been made spirit- 
 ually, for all concerned felt as if they had reached a "moun- 
 tain-top" of blessings. 
 
 On October 31, 1917, the fourth daughter, Ruth, was born 
 
 — just two days after the dedication of the new building! 
 This growing family was certainly filling the "new" manse. 
 
 During the Christmas holiday that winter, an epidemic 
 of whooping cough began "making the rounds" in Preacher's 
 family, and all the children together with the mother became 
 patients. So all of January and February were busy weeks; 
 anyway, they certainly had a "whooping big time!" 
 
 To make things worse, a coal famine was staged. Our 
 country suffered from labor strikes even in 1918. Coal piles 
 were diminishing rapidly all over Ashmore, and when the 
 Preacher had carried upstairs the last bucket of coal from 
 
 35 
 
the basement coal bin for the cookstove (they had already 
 been using every scrap of rough wood in the furnace), he 
 said to the family, "Don't fret. We will be supplied with fuel 
 to keep warm some way." 
 
 And that very day a coal train was accidentally derailed 
 four miles west of Ashmore, so the mayor and other leaders 
 in the town got mighty busy. The coal was hauled into 
 Ashmore in an orderly manner, and fairly distributed 
 during this emergency. Within a few days, the coal com- 
 panies could be supplied from the mines near Terre Haute, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Once more, faith in their Heavenly Father, and their 
 assurance that He would care for them, was strengthened in 
 the Preacher and in his wife. 
 
 War brought destruction and heartbreak to Ashmore and 
 to the entire country in that winter of 1917. But at home in 
 the manse, Preacher's wife seemed unable to recover from 
 her coughing and whooping. She couldn't seem to regain 
 her strength; she had never really been strong since the last 
 baby, and the severe winter weather aggravated her general 
 run-down condition. It was then that the family doctor 
 recommended that the Preacher move the family to a climate 
 with less severe winters and less dampness. The healing 
 warmth of sunshine was needed for her health, their doctor- 
 friend insisted. 
 
 As a result, the Preacher began to make inquiries as to 
 churches who needed pastors in the Southwest. As a candi- 
 date, Preacher made a trip to Hobart, Oklahoma, during 
 the early summer months. And after much prayerful con- 
 sideration and an exchange of correspondence, the big de- 
 cision was made! Another move to a different manse was 
 planned. 
 
 Before Preacher and his family left Illinois, however, the 
 dear friend, Rev. Spoonts, made a visit to the manse at Ash- 
 more, with his wife. At the time of this visit, Spoonts 
 christened both the new baby, Ruth, and the next youngest, 
 Anna Lou. And that warmed the hearts of Preacher and his 
 wife, for now all of the children had been dedicated and 
 
 36 
 
christened by either the Rev. Spoonts or the Rev. Williams, 
 the two ministers whom Preacher loved as his own father. 
 It may be noted that both these older ministers often spoke 
 and wrote of Preacher as "their very own son." 
 
 37 
 
CHAPTER 9 
 
 Trek Over the Cteark Trail 
 
 TN AUGUST OF 1918, the household goods and two tons of 
 red clover hay were loaded into one-half of a boxcar at the 
 Ashmore railroad siding. You see, this Preacher's family 
 nearly always had their own Jersey cow, what with six chil- 
 dren to keep healthy. The one sure way of having feed on 
 hand was to take along the necessary hay. Preacher had been 
 warned of the hot, dry weather conditions in Oklahoma, 
 and had been told that, during some of the seasons, not 
 much feed was raised because of drought. So to him, the hay 
 was just about as important as the household furnishings. 
 
 The good-bys were said, and some of them were quite 
 tearful. Many members of the Illinois Morrises and their 
 friends thought of Oklahoma as a land of uncivilized In- 
 dians, Wild West cowboys and a frontier of hardships. In 
 fact, some even considered it "the jumping-off place," and 
 even suggested that they would never again see Preacher and 
 his family. But all conceded that if it meant better health 
 for Mrs. Preacher, the trip West was well worth it. 
 
 Two weeks were necessary for the worldly possessions of 
 Preacher's family to make the trip to Oklahoma by rail. But 
 he and the children and their "Mom" set out in a big new 
 cocoa-brown Empire touring car (complete with side-cur- 
 
 39 
 
tains when necessary). The Preacher's family had long since 
 outgrown the Maxwell. 
 
 The first night "out" was spent in the home of a fellow 
 minister at Will, Illinois. The second day took them into 
 St. Louis on what was then known as "The Big 4 Trail." 
 In the city, the Preacher's family visited with aunts, uncles 
 and cousins of his wife, and found much-needed rest in the 
 home of one of the aunts. The third day, early in the morn- 
 ing, the big Empire headed southwest out of St. Louis on 
 the Ozark Trail, now known as U. S. Highway 66, or the 
 "Main Street of America." Narrow and steep grades up and 
 down the mountains (and they were dirt or gravel roads, 
 too) took two days of driving. So one night was spent in a 
 small hotel, and the other at a farm home, before Preacher 
 and his brood reached Springfield, Missouri, where they 
 planned to visit more relatives. 
 
 Four days were spent in Springfield, visiting Preacher's 
 cousins, and washing diapers and resting. Naturally on Sun- 
 day morning, Preacher occupied a pulpit — that of a Baptist 
 church in which one of his cousins was a deacon. For there 
 was never a Sunday, no matter where he might be, that 
 Preacher failed to deliver a message of the "Good News of 
 Christ," to anyone who might listen. 
 
 In the early morning hours, the family started out again, 
 bound for Oklahoma. That night was spent in Bluejacket, 
 Oklahoma. The next day they made it on to Bartlesville, 
 where Preacher's dear brother, "Uncle Tom" and his wife, 
 "Aunt Myrtle" Estes lived. For two days the traveling family 
 rested; the necessary laundry work was accomplished. And 
 the entire family immensely enjoyed the restful visit in this 
 favored uncle's home. 
 
 Resuming their travels, they motored through Oklahoma 
 City and on to Chickasha, near which was the home of 
 Preacher's father, James Estes, and his family. The children 
 had been looking forward to visiting in Grandfather Estes 
 home, and it was here that a most upsetting discovery was 
 made! The big telescope suitcase, in which the "Sunday" 
 clothes for most of the children had been packed, had been 
 
 40 
 
soaked with the muddy, red waters of the Canadian River 
 when they forded that river. Preacher had tied and wrapped 
 all the "cases" with stout tarpaulins on the running board 
 of the car, but this one suitcase had not been water-tight. 
 There just was not enough time to launder all the clothes, 
 for the roads were muddy, the driving slow, and Preacher 
 was already behind schedule. All they could do was dry the 
 clothing to prevent mildew, and proceed to their new home. 
 
 The trip over the country, especially through the Ozark 
 Mountains, was most interesting to the older children who 
 used road maps to locate rivers, towns and other important 
 landmarks. Sometimes the roads were almost impassable, 
 and more than once, kind farmers of the area would be wait- 
 ing near the worst mudholes with their teams of mules to 
 pull a car through. Some anticipated making a few dollars, 
 but others were generous and neighborly Oklahomans who 
 more often than not would say, "Nope, Preacher, I don't 
 need your money. I'm a Christian and glad to help out a fel- 
 low in trouble." 
 
 Although the land was different, and the people strange, 
 at nearly every farm home or cabin along the way was noted 
 a service flag in a window, many with gold stars on them. A 
 grim reminder of the war, but also a warm symbol of our 
 national flag and a united country. 
 
 The Estes group arrived in Hobart late in the evening 
 on Saturday, with no clean clothes for four little girls to 
 wear on Sunday! 
 
 Hobart was the site of the only Presbyterian church in 
 Kiowa County, and the congregation was a well-organized 
 group of interested and happy people. The church building 
 was extraordinarily modern, and boasted a large, beautifully 
 installed Estey pipe organ. Preacher began his work here the 
 first Sunday in September, just about the time school opened. 
 And the family was again at home in the manse. It was a bit 
 crowded, however, in the small six-roomed cottage, practical- 
 ly in the same yard with the church. 
 
 One of Preacher's first acquaintances was George Deihl, 
 a farmer from one of the rural communities nine miles east 
 
 41 
 
of Hobart. Deihl's parents had been friends of Preacher Estes 
 in Illinois. Thus, another strong tie was made, and a lifelong 
 friendship begun. The Deihls invited Preacher to come out 
 to their schoolhouse to hold Sunday afternoon services. Reg- 
 ular preaching appointments were set for this, the Pioneer 
 Community, where George Deihl served his church and 
 school for many years. After the Sunday School was or- 
 ganized at the Pioneer School, Preacher drove out there 
 every Sunday afternoon except for the times he was ill, for 
 eight years. It was a non-denominational Sunday School, 
 and well attended by farmers and ranchers from many miles 
 around. The number grew, and Preacher held a three weeks' 
 revival out there. At the close of this series of services, eighty- 
 six persons made their personal professions of faith and were 
 baptized. About forty of this number joined the Hobart 
 Presbyterian church while the others joined the churches of 
 their choice. 
 
 About a year later, Dr. Warren J. Wilson, chairman of 
 the Rural Work Committee of the National Board of the 
 Presbyterian Church, USA, visited in Hobart. He was so 
 deeply impressed with the results of the work in the Pioneer 
 Community, and the efforts of Preacher and his session, that 
 he wrote a story for the Board of National Missions. This 
 story was printed and sent to all churches throughout the 
 denomination. 
 
 In another district near Hobart, called the "Stone School- 
 house," a second Sunday School was organized, and Preacher 
 held services for these people regularly. A third community 
 school, called the Babbs Switch, on the Frisco Railroad, was 
 the site of another Sunday School. In this school, about 
 seven miles southeast of Hobart, Preacher held regular 
 "preaching" days on Sunday afternoons, and members of 
 the community carried on the Sunday School. Remarkable 
 growth took place in all these rural communities where 
 Preacher took time out from activities in town in order to 
 work with the farmers and their families. 
 
 In town, the congregation was growing, and so much in- 
 terest was displayed in the Sunday School that even a fine 
 
 42 
 
orchestra was organized. Composed largely of young people 
 of high school age, the orchestra was directed by Professor 
 James Murphy, local music teacher. The Ladies Aid Society 
 and the Guild were well-organized branches of the women's 
 work, and accomplished great things. 
 
 During the "flu years" of 1918 and 1919, Preacher found 
 many opportunities to work with branches of the American 
 Red Cross. He and many others worked tirelessly during 
 the epidemics, locating the sick, and a few times even find- 
 ing some isolated victims in their little homes at the edge 
 of town, already deceased. All available help was needed 
 during this terrible epidemic. Anyone who could help with 
 the nursing, did so, and others organized soup kitchens and 
 kept them going. But there was some good to come out of 
 such experiences, said Preacher, "for it was a wonderful way 
 to meet new people and to serve old friends and neighbors." 
 
 In March, 1919, Preacher's busy times came to a halt. 
 He became ill, acutely ill of appendicitis. It was necessary 
 for him to undergo surgery, and Dr. Rogers of Clinton was 
 called to Hobart to perform the operation. Preacher suf- 
 fered peritonitis, and his own good doctor, Dr. Barkley, 
 worked long and well to save him. When he began to mend, 
 his recovery was rapid. In fact, two days after going home 
 from the hospital, he got out of bed to conduct a funeral 
 service. 
 
 Five other leading business and professional men of 
 Hobart, together with the Preacher, organized the first Ro- 
 tary Club in that area. Preacher was one of the charter mem- 
 bers, and found the work interesting and inspiring. He 
 thoroughly enjoyed lunching with the men, serving on com- 
 munity committees, and joking with the members. Lasting 
 friendships were made among this number of "boys." In 
 June, 1919, Preacher was named delegate to the Rotary Inter- 
 national which was to meet in Salt Lake City, Utah. He en- 
 joyed the convention activities, and returned home full of 
 enthusiasm for spreading the idea of Rotary, and laden with 
 pictures of Salt Lake's attractions and other souvenirs for 
 the children. Soon after this convention, Preacher helped 
 
 43 
 
organize a Rotary Club at Clinton, Oklahoma. 
 
 He became such an enthusiastic Rotarian that at a later 
 date, during a 100% attendance campaign in the Hobart 
 club, Preacher was called to Indiana to conduct a funeral 
 service for a dear friend. In preparing for the trip by train, 
 Preacher noted the meeting days of the Rotary Clubs along 
 the way and planned his journey accordingly. His friends 
 have enjoyed the story about the club at Mt. Carmel, Illi- 
 nois, where Rotary met at noon on Thursdays. A fellow 
 Rotarian wired ahead to Mt. Carmel, and the secretary of 
 that club met Preacher at the depot, rushed him to the meet- 
 ing place where he registered and ate hurriedly, then 
 hastened back to the waiting train. It was the old L&N, and 
 they say it actually waited twenty minutes so that Preacher 
 could keep up his attendance record! Preacher was happy 
 he could do his part in helping his own Rotary Club to 
 achieve such a record. Then he continued on his way to 
 Indiana. 
 
 During the happy eight years at Hobart, Preacher made 
 friends with many Indians, one of whom was Chief Lone 
 Wolf of the Kiowa Tribe. Years later, when the chief died, 
 it was the sad duty of Preacher to assist with a Christian 
 burial service for Lone Wolf. Three miles out from Hobart 
 was a Baptist mission for the Indians. To this little mission, 
 Preacher was asked to come to speak to the Indians gathered 
 there. Not minding the heat and the dust, Mrs. Preacher 
 would occasionally go along and play the organ. On one 
 occasion, three Indian men and one Indian woman from 
 the mission came to the manse asking that Preacher and his 
 "woman" teach them the tunes and the words to "Brighten 
 the Corner Where You Are," "Love Lifted Me," "The 
 Touch of His Hand on Mine," and "Count Your Many- 
 Blessings. " All these Gospel songs proved to be favorite 
 songs of the Indians at the mission. The friends Preacher 
 made among the Indians were among his most cherished 
 throughout the years he gave to the church. 
 
 In February, 1920, the fifth baby girl, Lola May, was 
 born to the family in the manse. Her appearance happened 
 
 44 
 
to occur on the same night of a Rotary Club's Ladies Night 
 affair. Well, this was one night when Preacher missed Rotary 
 Club! 
 
 The family of the manse made a return trip across the 
 country to Illinois in August of 1920, in the big, brown car 
 which was pretty well loaded. En route, a stop for the week 
 end was made at Nevada, Missouri, where it was discovered 
 that the six-month-old baby was taking the whooping cough. 
 She apparently was having a light case of the disease, so the 
 journey was completed. The family camped out in the open 
 along the way, much like gypsies, but their Indian papoose 
 was none the worse for the adventure. One of the highlights 
 of this visit with the friends and relatives in Illinois was 
 the occasion of the christening of the last baby, Lola May, 
 with her Great-uncle W. L. Morris officiating, at Grandview, 
 home of the maternal grandmother. 
 
 Following his example of never staying idle on Sunday, 
 Preacher delivered sermons two Sundays in his former pas- 
 torate, Ashmore, the site of the successful building program 
 of both a church and a manse. Members of the Ashmore 
 congregation, who were then without a pastor, at first hinted 
 and later insisted that Preacher resign the Oklahoma duty 
 and return to Ashmore. These persistent Christian friends 
 almost persuaded Preacher that such a change would really 
 be a part of God's plan. At any rate, he boarded a train for 
 Hobart and left Mrs. Preacher and the "kiddies" doing 
 "light housekeeping" in the vacant manse at Ashmore. Mem- 
 bers of the church had temporarily furnished essential 
 equipment in order for the Preacher's family to remain. 
 
 Down in Oklahoma, members of the Hobart church 
 simply refused to accept the Preacher's resignation, and he 
 finally reached the decision that his work in Hobart was un- 
 finished. So busy was he with the demands of the commu- 
 nity that he merely wired his wife the plans. So it was that 
 Mrs. Preacher loaded the seven children, ages ranging from 
 six months to fourteen years, into one of the railway pas- 
 senger cars on the "Big 4" at the Ashmore depot. 
 
 One of the many incidents happening on this trip was 
 
 45 
 
the time one of the little ones wandered off to see the inside 
 of the wicker elevator in the Union Station at St. Louis 
 where the family had to change trains. For a short time, 
 redcaps and policemen were mighty busy looking for the 
 stray. 
 
 They boarded a "fast" Frisco train, "The Meteor," 
 which they took to Tulsa where they again changed for a 
 branch train to Hobart. What a trip! But Mrs. Preacher 
 was very happy to return to her home in the manse, with 
 all the children hale and hearty. 
 
 In order to save expenses, and because no one in the 
 family but Preacher could drive, the automobile had been 
 left in Ashmore, and was driven to Kansas (state) by a friend. 
 Within a few days, Preacher went by train to Hutchinson, 
 Kansas, and returned to Hobart with the auto. So life in 
 the manse was about back to normal! 
 
 Months of hard work and good planning culminated in 
 the spring of 1922 when the Hobart Rotary Club chartered 
 two Pullman coaches and sent every member of the club 
 with their "Rotary- Anns," and all the members of the Boys' 
 Booster Band (one of the civic projects of the club) to the 
 District Convention in Wichita, Kansas. Thirty-two Hobart 
 boys made up the band, directed by Mr. James Murphy. 
 Among the boys was the Preacher's elder son, John Dillon, 
 playing the cornet. Naturally Preacher and his wife went 
 along. 
 
 The other children were left in competent hands at 
 home, with wonderful neighbors assisting, and the trip was 
 a joyous one for the Estes'. It was a wonderful experience for 
 old and young — full of singing, practical jokes and good 
 times long recalled by many who termed Preacher and his 
 wife the "life of the party." The Hobart delegation used 
 their Pullman coaches as sleeping quarters during the con- 
 vention, for they were parked on a railroad siding through- 
 out the convention. Years later, Hobart Rotarians were still 
 joyously reminiscing of this trip, fondly referring to Preach- 
 er as "Brother Charlie." 
 
 Another outstanding trip in the life of this family of 
 
 46 
 
the manse was an event of August, 1922, when Preacher's 
 wife accompanied a delegation of young ladies from Hobart 
 Presbyterial Society (a division of the denomination's 
 women's work) to a summer conference held on Presbyterian 
 Hill at Hollister, Missouri. A beautiful setting, along Lake 
 Taneycomo on the White River, was the campsite, and 
 Mrs. Preacher received a great inspiration from the example 
 of God's handiwork in Nature, as well as from the fine pro- 
 gram slated for the delegates. 
 
 Perhaps the greatest result was the fact that the three 
 young ladies from Hobart who made up a part of the dele- 
 gation, chaperoned by Mrs. Preacher, made a decision to 
 devote their lives to the work of the church as life recruits 
 for Christ. The three young ladies were Misses Margaret 
 Lee Wright, Icey Buchanan and Lucile Heiney. They all 
 later attended Presbyterian schools, and served for years as 
 Christian Education Directors, church secretaries, Vacation 
 Bible School leaders and youth work supervisors. Miss 
 W r right later served as an assistant pastor at a church in 
 Baltimore, Maryland, for many years after she attended Mc- 
 Cormick in Chicago. 
 
 At the close of the Hollister Conference, Preacher's wife 
 visited her mother and other family in Illinois. On her re- 
 turn trip home, she was almost stranded in St. Louis because 
 of a railroad strike. She was able to catch the last train that 
 ran before the strike stopped all operations, and reached 
 Hobart safely where she found that Preacher, assisted by 
 friends and neighbors, had served successfully as nursemaid 
 with a minimum of mishaps. 
 
 More progress was reported by the spring of 1923. The 
 governing board of the local church purchased the residen- 
 tial property across the alley, east from the house now oc- 
 cupied as the "little" manse. Large maple and locust trees 
 shaded the lawn around the large two-story frame house. 
 The property also boasted a large garden "spot" and a 
 chicken house. Soon a new garage was built to give protec- 
 tion to Preacher's trusty auto — a necessity in his work. How 
 the family enjoyed spreading out just a bit in this more 
 
 47 
 
spacious manse. The house formerly used as the manse was 
 sold and moved, making way for a large lawn at the side of 
 the church building. This area was the scene of many gar- 
 den parties and outside revivals, and even was used as a 
 practice area for the Sunday School orchestra. 
 
 During the severe winter weather of January, 1924, the 
 annual Week of Prayer was observed with a series of services 
 at the Presbyterian church in Hobart. The temperature 
 dropped, and the snow fell; so the furnace at the church 
 was roaring. Either the furnace was overheated or the wind 
 blew sparks onto the shingle roof — who knows? At any 
 rate, at 7 p.m., just as the early worshippers were beginning 
 to gather, the building caught fire! Great damage was 
 wrought; the fire completely destroyed the roof of the struc- 
 ture; and the walls were partially burned. Many valuable 
 volumes in Preacher's library were destroyed, and other 
 editions were water-damaged. But due to some freakish way 
 the fire spread, the large pipe organ was undamaged, except 
 for some water and smoke damage to the mellow wood 
 finish. One of the largest personal losses of the Preacher's 
 was his visual aid equipment, a Stereoptican machine or 
 projector, and his collection of slides. 
 
 The children of the manse long remembered the leaping 
 flames that silhouetted the tall steeple of the church that 
 night. They helped Preacher to check his books, cleaning, 
 drying, airing and sorting the ones that might be rebound. 
 This experience made a deep impression on the seven chil- 
 dren of the household, and no surer way of teaching fire 
 prevention could be used! Fire-safety was just nearly as im- 
 portant as the Golden Rule. 
 
 Regular services observing the Week of Prayer were 
 held as usual that year — in the Kiowa County Courthouse. 
 And a rebuilding program was immediately started and 
 soon completed. Just another big task in Preacher's ministry. 
 
 Interest and activities out at the Babbs Switch Sunday 
 School increased so much that, in November, 1924, follow- 
 ing a series of meetings Preacher conducted out there, a 
 Christian Endeavor group was organized under the sponsor- 
 
 48 
 
ship of Miss Terry, the schoolteacher who was also a mem- 
 ber of the Presbyterian church in Hobart. Young people of 
 this group planned and rehearsed an extraordinary program 
 of entertainment to be held in the school building on 
 Christmas Eve. The building was cleaned up, repaired and 
 painted with the help of volunteers in the community. And 
 last, the tall, beautiful cedar tree was added, complete with 
 colorful adornment and branches tipped with many small 
 candles which would be lighted at the last minute. 
 
 Gifts galore were piled deep around the base of the tree 
 which had been wrapped in cotton batting to simulate snow. 
 For many families in the area used this occasion for "Santa 
 Claus" to visit their little ones. Nearby was a box of "Christ- 
 mas treats" bought and wrapped with loving care by teach- 
 ers and officers of the Sunday School. The one-room building 
 filled rapidly as the hour for the program drew near, for lots 
 of visitors attended the Christmas tree program! Just as the 
 program got underway with the singing of carols, one of the 
 tiny candles slipped from its holder on the tree and imme- 
 diately a string of decorative rope caught fire. 
 
 One of the visitors (who was said to have been celebrat- 
 ing the holidays in the wrong way) tried to knock down 
 the little blaze by striking out at the tree with a small "Sun- 
 day School" chair. The chair failed in its mission, but did 
 knock down a kerosene lamp which fell near the pile of 
 gifts. In an instant, gifts, cotton, decorations, tree and all 
 were blazing. And before anyone could lead out the tiny 
 tots who had gathered as near the tree as possible, the entire 
 room was full of flame. The newly painted walls and ceiling 
 seemed to catch fire instantly! 
 
 There was no escaping! The windows were permanently 
 screened with heavy hail-screen wire fastened on the outside. 
 And the only exit was at the rear of the school, a door which 
 opened into the room. So very few escaped before bodies 
 were piled like cordwood about this one doorway. 
 
 Word of the tragedy reached Preacher just as he was 
 leaving the Christmas program at the Hobart church — leav- 
 ing a bit early in order to attend the "Christmas Tree" out 
 
 49 
 
at Babbs. The fire whistle and all church bells sounded the 
 alarm, and Preacher joined the other helpers who rushed 
 to the burning schoolhouse. Thirty-six bodies, burned al- 
 most beyond recognition, were recovered from the smoul- 
 dering ashes. To assist in this task, the utility companies in 
 Hobart sent out men and trucks and long-handled forks 
 and shovels, which were used literally to scoop out the dead. 
 
 Throughout the night, victims of the fire were brought 
 to the hospitals in town, and all who knew anything at all 
 of nursing were pressed into service. The one funeral home 
 could not take care of all the victims, so other places were 
 used until proper identifications could be made of the 
 charred and twisted bodies. 
 
 Immediate attention went to those who lived; suffering 
 and bandaged, they lined the corridors of the hospitals, on 
 cots, on chairs, on beds — awaiting their treatment. Among 
 the helpers tending the victims that night was Preacher's 
 wife. 
 
 Christmas gifts went unopened that year at the manse 
 and throughout the county. Preacher, with hundreds of 
 other leaders, worked all through the night and all of 
 Christmas Day trying to identify the dead — a heartbreak- 
 ing duty, for Preacher had learned to love the people of 
 Babbs Switch Community as he had worked with them. In 
 the manse, the turkey prepared the day before had to be 
 cooked to prevent spoilage, but it was not stuffed, and the 
 "trimmin's" were not added. Quarts of soup and broth 
 were made of it to be served the sick. Groups of local women 
 organized to work in shifts at the hosptials, and to serve the 
 families broken by the tragedy. 
 
 Preacher planned and officiated at the funeral services 
 for most of the victims. Some of the dead with relatives still 
 alive were given individual funeral services. Many complete 
 family units had died together that Christmas Eve. 
 
 But twenty^me of the victims were so badly burned they 
 were never positively identified. So a "Community Grave" 
 was planned. A never-to-be-forgotten sight — twenty-one 
 caskets lined up and interred. Great numbers from through- 
 
 50 
 
out the Southwest attended the solemn Memorial Service in 
 honor of all the victims. Preacher directed this service, one 
 he later referred to as perhaps the most stirring moment 
 of his ministry. Among the funerals he conducted that week 
 was one for a family of four — all victims of the fire, either 
 directly or indirectly. 
 
 The largest single group who died that night were the 
 members of the Babbs' Christian Endeavor Society, and 
 their sponsor, who had worked tirelessly trying to get the 
 youngest children of the Sunday School out of the way of 
 the fire. 
 
 As a result of this fire, legislation immediately was passed 
 regarding the use of candles on Christmas trees and at other 
 public gatherings. New laws were written regarding the con- 
 struction of all public buildings, schools, churches and the 
 like, requiring numerous well-marked exits with doors hung 
 to be opened to the outside, and certain regulations were 
 set up concerning window screens of public buildings. 
 
 Another result of the fire was the building of a new 
 brick, model fireproof school to replace the small frame one 
 destroyed by fire. Preacher worked closely with the directors 
 of the Babbs School on the planning of this structure. When 
 it was dedicated, he spoke with tears streaming down his 
 face. It was a memorable occasion for all the residents of 
 that area. 
 
 Prior to the Babbs tragedy, Preacher had made plans to 
 officiate at the wedding of his niece, Miss Winnie Estes, in 
 Bartlesville on January 5. Winnie was the daughter of Uncle 
 Tom and Aunt Myrtle, and she was very dear to his heart. 
 But on this occasion he had to say "No," for he felt he could 
 not leave the saddened people who were still caring for the 
 sick and dead of the fire. 
 
 Varied experiences came to this family in the manse 
 while living in Hobart, and many were the wonderful last- 
 ing friendships formed in this field. Among the dearest 
 friends were two families in particular, all active workers in 
 the church. But the two men had never joined into the 
 fellowship of the church, although they attended services 
 
 51 
 
regularly and helped in many ways to carry on the work of 
 the church. When Preacher held his last regular service 
 in Hobart prior to moving to another field, these two 
 wonderful friends did make a public confession of faith and 
 asked that their names be included on the church role. 
 Preacher always said that waiting so long for such a glorious 
 event was certainly worthwhile. 
 
 In the summer of 1925, another tragedy struck in Ho- 
 bart, and one that directly affected the family in the manse. 
 The members of the Junior Christian Endeavor Society and 
 their adult leader attended a picnic at the Hobart City Park. 
 Of the fifteen children present, thirteen became quite ill, and 
 their cases were diagnosed as typhoid fever. The three 
 youngest daughters of the family in the manse were among 
 the number stricken, while the second son was one of the 
 two children who played in the park on that picnic who did 
 not contract the dreaded fever. 
 
 For seven long weeks Preacher and his wife and a friend, 
 Mrs. Lora Wyatt, R. N., assisted every day by members of 
 their congregation and by neighbors, tended the three little 
 girls during their many days of high fever. Many other 
 families in the church had at least one patient in their homes 
 ill of the same disease, so the town was in an epidemic situa- 
 tion. All the children who made up the membership of the 
 church's Junior C. E. did recover, although the convalescent 
 period necessary for some of them was many months. Even 
 today, the family in the manse can well remember the 
 generosity of the people of Hobart, Oklahoma, that year — 
 the "year of typhoid" — and can say the Lord always takes 
 care of His own. 
 
 Preacher and his wife always felt a particular closeness 
 to the wonderful people of that little city. Experiences such 
 as that one reminded Preacher of the song, "If you have a 
 kindness shown, pass it on; pass it on." And that is just 
 what Preacher always tried to do — finding those he might 
 help, and making the necessary contacts somewhere with 
 someone, so help could reach the persons who needed it. In 
 fact, the phrase "He went about doing good to all who came 
 
 52 
 
his way," was often quoted in reference to Preacher Estes. 
 
 When the time came to move from Hobart in 1926, 
 there were three children in the senior high school, one in 
 junior high school, and two in elementary school. The 
 parents in the manse had busy schedules with all the church- 
 centered activities, but you may well see that they also had 
 to be active in supporting the school teams, bands, glee 
 clubs, school plays and the Parent-Teachers Association! 
 Well, they were. 
 
 The children of the manse — with abilities and training 
 
 — could always "fill in" if another were ill, or just couldn't 
 make it for some other reason. Likewise, Mrs. Preacher al- 
 ways sang in the choir and did her share of "filling in." 
 
 Some of the joyous experiences of Hobart recalled by 
 the family in the manse were the Sunday School programs 
 and parties, especially those in the Primary Department, 
 under the supervision of Mrs. W. M. English; then, there 
 was the big wiener roast, a church-wide affair held out on 
 the Big Elk Creek near the homes of Mr. and Mrs. John 
 Naylor, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Naylor and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kemper Hinds — all lifelong friends of Preacher and his 
 family. Other gala affairs were the great trips made by the 
 Rotary Club and the parties honoring the Rotary-Anns. 
 
 Children of the manse were always taught to help one 
 another and themselves, and this reliability enabled the 
 mother of the manse to attend many conventions such as 
 Presbytery and Presbyterial Societies, Synodical meetings 
 of the church and Rotary International meetings. Her very 
 first Presbyterial meeting, which was the first of many, was 
 at Frederick, Oklahoma, where she and Mrs. C. C. Clark at- 
 tended as delegates. 
 
 One of the cherished honors that came Preacher's way 
 was the time he was invited to deliver the annual Baccalaur- 
 eate sermon to the graduating seniors of Hobart High School 
 
 — not once, but SEVEN times out of the eight years he lived 
 there! Quite a record for any preacher! 
 
 An avid interest in Four-H club work, and in purebred 
 livestock, developed into a chief avocation for the Preacher. 
 
 53 
 
He worked continually in improving agricultural methods 
 and in raising standards of the livestock on the prairie farms 
 of Oklahoma. It was he who owned the first Jersey cow to 
 make the Register of Merit Test in Kiowa County. The 
 children of the manse remembered well how Preacher in- 
 sisted that the boys keep the stalls spotlessly clean, and how 
 he checked and rechecked the quantities of milk produced, 
 the percentage of butterfat, and the feeding schedules of 
 that cow. This special one was named "Lady Lahoma," and 
 she was the pride and joy of Preacher. The men of the com- 
 munity had a laugh when the County Agent called Preacher 
 after this cow had had her first calf, and said, "Well, I guess 
 the Lord was with you again, Preacher, for it's a heifer 
 calf." 
 
 Friends in all walks of life were welcomed into the home 
 in the manse, and among those who called were missionaries 
 who had returned from various stations in far, far lands. 
 They always found the welcome warm and the food ample 
 at the big oak dining table in the manse. 
 
 During the twenty-one years of his life that followed 
 after moving away from Hobart, Preacher returned there to 
 officiate at funeral services for fifty of his friends — some 
 from denominations other than the Presbyterian — and 
 many were among the faithful members of the church "in 
 town" at Hobart, as well as his groups in the country. Typi- 
 cal of Preacher's service to the people of Hobart were these 
 return trips, even after his health was breaking. 
 
 54 
 
CHAPTER 10 
 
 The Family Meets Texas 
 
 (~) NE OF THE MEMBERS of the Presbyterian church at 
 ^^ Hobart was visiting her son in Dallas, Texas, and ap- 
 parently bragged on her pastor to the Dallas minister, Dr. 
 Glenn Snead, so much so that she really set into motion the 
 chain of events which led up to — well, another part of the 
 Preacher's story; for Dr. Snead's former home, McKinney, 
 Texas, was in need of a Presbyterian minister. 
 
 After much correspondence, Preacher made a trip down 
 to the city of McKinney. He found the field much in need 
 of a pastor who knew something about the construction of 
 new edifices. And it was interesting in other ways — for he 
 was beginning to feel that the Lord meant for him to go on 
 — that the eight fruitful years at Hobart were ready to be 
 turned over to someone else. After prayerful meditation, 
 Preacher decided he would submit his resignation, and the 
 usual procedure of changing churches began. 
 
 You see, the prospect of another building campaign was 
 something not to be treated lightly. So the call was accepted 
 from the church at McKinney, Texas, and plans were made 
 to move. The date was set for March. This meant a terrific 
 interruption of school work for all the children, but as 
 usual, the work of the church came first. So the household 
 goods were loaded into two trucks and started Texas-way. 
 
 55 
 
And the family followed — in the Dodge touring car. John 
 D., the older boy, remained in Hobart to complete his sen- 
 ior year in school. The family in the Dodge got as far as 
 Iowa Park, Texas, just across the Red River, where they 
 rested and enjoyed a visit with one of Preacher's brothers, 
 Arthur H. Estes, and his fine family of boys and girls. 
 
 Late in the afternoon on the second day, they arrived 
 in McKinney, where they found the newly decorated 
 manse, well stocked with deliciously prepared food — 
 enough for several meals — and a generous amount of staple 
 foods on the pantry shelves. The house itself was most invit- 
 ing; the people who greeted them, most gracious; so the 
 family was once more at home in the manse — where they 
 had room enough for church gatherings, children's parties, 
 and always the "front" room ready for any wedding. 
 
 The manse and the church building sat side by side on 
 a hill, on Mounts Avenue. Additional attractions were a 
 fertile garden spot and a rose bed, and some trees in the 
 yard, affording some shade and a good place for a "bag- 
 swing." 
 
 The church structure, dating back to Civil War days, 
 was run-down, and an active campaign for funds had been 
 underway for some time at McKinney. Therefore the sub- 
 scriptions to the building fund became the popular topic of 
 conversation. Gifts and pledges were made by all — large 
 and small, and it was not so long before the organization 
 moved into the theatre downtown for regular Sunday serv- 
 ices, while the old landmark — the Presbyterian Church, 
 USA — was torn down. The same site was cleared, and ex- 
 cavations were begun for the foundation of the new building, 
 which would face the opposite end of the block — thus, the 
 two-story part of the building housing the women's parlor, 
 and some classrooms, would be nearest the manse. 
 
 The new structure was of buff-colored brick, with a full 
 basement for a large dining room, fellowship hall, kitchen 
 and rooms for children's classes. The sanctuary was large 
 and impressive and designed to lend itself to a more wor- 
 shipful atmosphere. Included in the building plans was a 
 
 56 
 
comfortable and private study for Preacher, who spent many 
 hours there in prayer and meditation and study in prepara- 
 tion for his sermons. Also, it was there that he received his 
 numerous visitors, who unfolded their stories of joy and 
 sorrow. 
 
 Upon the day of dedication of the new building, the total 
 cost (approximately $25,000) had been met with gifts and 
 pledges of the membership! 
 
 During the family's first summer at McKinney, Preacher 
 introduced the children of the manse to many of their Texas 
 cousins, and second and third cousins. A visit was enjoyed 
 down in Covington, Itasca, Hillsboro and Meridian, where 
 two of Preacher's uncles, their children and grandchildren, 
 all lived. Uncle Tom Barron and "Uncle Bug" Barron (his 
 real name was Henry) of Covington were especial favorites 
 of the children in the manse. 
 
 As pastor of the McKinney Church, Preacher was a mem- 
 ber of Dallas Presbytery, and he often attended meetings in 
 Dallas. The children were studying Texas history in the 
 public schools, so Mrs. Preacher began to study the same 
 Texas history, too. Years later when the Lone Star State cel- 
 ebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 1936, Mrs. Preacher 
 joined in and felt as much a Texan by adoption as anyone 
 else. She had to keep up in some way with Preacher, who 
 loved to boast of the fact that he was a Texan by birth! 
 
 The first Christmas season at the manse in McKinney 
 was truly a White Christmas, for there was a beautiful snow 
 for the first time on Christmas in twelve years. And how 
 the children did love it! 
 
 A memorable visit at the manse during this time was the 
 occasion when "Cousin Willie" came. She was Preacher's 
 first cousin, Mrs. J. B. Barton of Itasca, a very attractive and 
 vivacious person loved by all the children. The two older 
 girls, in senior high school, still wore long thick braids of 
 hair, sometimes tied with ribbons, and sometimes pinned 
 into neat knots, low on their heads. Many hours of work 
 went into the combing and brushing and parting necessary 
 for them to look so sleek and neat, so the girls pleaded 
 
 57 
 
with "Cousin Willie" to help them get permission to "bob" 
 their hair and be like so many of the other young ladies. With 
 a half-promise from the Preacher that he wouldn't scold too 
 much, "Cousin Willie" cut Eleanor's braids, and it was 
 quite an event in the manse on the hill. Lillian, the elder, 
 however, decided that "Father knows best" and wore her 
 hair in the long braids for another year. 
 
 As in their former home, the children took part in and 
 enjoyed the class plays, the operettas, the ball games and all 
 such school events. These were happy days, and the entire 
 family enjoyed the town and the wonderful people who 
 lived there. 
 
 But miles away, in Rolla, Missouri, there was a small 
 Presbyterian congregation without a pastor, and they too 
 had a building project to talk about. In addition, Rolla was 
 located in the Ozark Mountains, a beautiful part of the 
 state, and was the home of the Missouri School of Mines 
 and Metallurgy. A former friend of Preacher's was living in 
 St. Louis, and serving as Synodical Secretary. He began 
 writing letters to Preacher describing the field at Rolla, the 
 missionary opportunity in the hills, and the need for some- 
 one who could work with college-age boys, as well as with 
 farmers. Inevitably, the call came, and after some exchanges 
 of correspondence, naturally Preacher accepted. Not only 
 was the building of another edifice important work to him, 
 but also, he was thinking that the older girls would be soon 
 ready for college, and they would be followed by the other 
 children. So a college town seemed to be the answer. 
 
 How else could a minister's family send two boys and 
 five girls to college? Probably there was another factor, for 
 Rolla, Missouri, was just about halfway between home ties 
 in Illinois and in Texas. 
 
 58 
 
CHAPTER 11 
 
 The Move to the Show-Me State 
 
 TN SEPTEMBER OF 1927, the family in the manse said 
 good-by once again, while the piano, the big oak dining 
 table, and the other household goods were loaded into a 
 freight car for the trip to the Ozarks. The children always en- 
 joyed such jaunts, for they always had fun doing things to- 
 gether, and besides, such cross-country trips furnished quan- 
 tities of "theme" material. Certainly the children were mis- 
 chievous and loud on occasions, thinking up escapades, just 
 as any other group of normal, hearty and healthy youngsters 
 might be. 
 
 En route to Missouri, a night was spent in a tourist camp 
 in Durant, Oklahoma, then, the following week end, in 
 Waggoner, Oklahoma, where the Estes family visited in the 
 home of another uncle, Sam R. Estes, Sr., pastor of the Wag- 
 goner Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The two families 
 enjoyed greatly the visit and renewing of old ties. The chil- 
 dren of the two Estes' homes certainly did enjoy the rough- 
 and-tumble play. This occasion was one of the few times 
 all the children in the two homes were together. 
 
 The Preacher's family loved the mountains and the 
 scenery as they continued on through the Ozarks to Rolla, 
 Missouri, a small college city located on two of the great 
 highways of the nation: No. 66 and No. 63. 
 
 59 
 
The manse at Rolla was an old structure in good repair 
 and comfortable, but a bit unusual in arrangement. The 
 house sat "at an angle" on the lot, so that the entrance faced 
 the very middle of the intersection of the two streets. One 
 entered the front hall where the staircase to upper floor was 
 situated, and passed on into an elongated room consisting 
 of three "areas:" that large central portion where the for- 
 midable base burner reigned, and which was used as a family 
 living room, and where, also, stood the big oak dining table 
 always ready for all uses, meals, lessons and gabbing; the 
 second "area" was to the right and contained Preacher's 
 roll-top desk (where the typewriter, an Oliver, was almost 
 obliterated with stacks of notes and reference books) and 
 several book-laden shelves nailed in and around the west 
 windows; the third "area" was really a separate room con- 
 nected with double doorways. This portion was the "front" 
 living room complete with settee, piano and the music racks. 
 This section was ever-ready for weddings, and was dusted 
 each morning. 
 
 The large coal stove almost filled the kitchen, so all 
 meals were eaten — three a day — in the very middle of the 
 large three-area room, just out of the front hall. The family 
 in the manse was fairly comfortable in the large three-bed- 
 room house. Well, they did use a fourth bedroom upstairs, 
 but it was in an oddly shaped little room which could be en- 
 tered only by going through the bathroom! 
 
 Fraternity houses were all around. Opposite the inter- 
 section and filling a half-block was the home of the Lambda 
 Chi Alphas; across the street was the Kappa Alpha; up the 
 block and around the corner was the Sigma Nu; and others 
 were not far. Also in the neighborhood were the Rolla Jun- 
 ior and Senior High Schools. And adjoining the very lot on 
 which the manse was nestled was a large many-windowed shoe 
 factory of red brick. So you see, there was, in fact, an ever- 
 present hum of activity surrounding the Rolla manse, either 
 from young people or machines. 
 
 Activities in the manse were not hindered by its loca- 
 tion, and young people who were students at the School of 
 
 60 
 
Mines soon were made welcome at all times here. It was 
 an ordinary thing for the "Miners," or college boys miles 
 away from home, to visit often, to help wash and dry dishes, 
 to bring in the washing from the clotheslines; to help empty 
 wash water, carry in coal, or to make and eat candy, pop corn 
 or otherwise help with the chores. Making cocoa, pulling 
 taffy, beating chocolate fudge and assisting in writing 
 themes for freshman English assignments were ordinary ac- 
 tivities, cooperative activities carried on by the Preacher's 
 "kids" and the "miners." Within one year, students from 
 seven different countries visited in the manse. The little 
 city was full of students, and so was the manse. 
 
 The little old-fashioned church, two blocks away from 
 the manse, was also full with a high proportion of college 
 boys. Inadequate classrooms prompted the question of the 
 congregation, "To build or not to build?" Times were 
 changing; money was scarce; and the growth of this con- 
 gregation — of the adults, that is to say — seemed at a stand- 
 still. After long and prayerful consideration, this small band 
 of organized Presbyterians did purchase some property in a 
 newer part of town for the purpose of a new edifice. But 
 after another year, the trustees sold the lots to an oil com- 
 pany, and the building program was dropped. 
 
 However, the little church was remodeled, enlarged 
 somewhat and repaired to meet better the needs of this con- 
 gregation. 
 
 Big doings were going on in the manse when Preacher 
 purchased the family's first radio — an Atwater Kent table 
 model topped with a large round speaker, and also equipped 
 with earphones. The family of nine in the manse and their 
 numerous visitors spent many hours around this impressive 
 appliance. Political conventions were some of the earliest 
 remembrances of the youngsters on radio, particularly the 
 Herbert Hoover-Al Smith battles in 1928. Among the col- 
 lege boys who spent much time visiting in the manse were 
 some from Chicago (two especially who played football for 
 the Miners and who always had their noses broken or other- 
 wise scratched up from scrimmages); these boys would often 
 
 61 
 
get homesick and would listen, as late as Preacher would 
 permit, to the music broadcast from the "Black Hawk Res- 
 taurant" and other spots in Chicago. 
 
 Members of the Preacher's family were privileged to 
 make their own radio broadcasts when they went to Jeffer- 
 son City, Missouri, to present a "Rolla Program," sponsored 
 by the local Chamber of Commerce. Preacher spoke, and 
 three of the children participated in the high school glee 
 clubs and in presenting "Penrod and Sam," a prize-winning 
 declamation given previously in the Interscholastic Meet. 
 
 A few miles out in the country from Rolla was a small 
 Presbyterian church in the community called "Elk Prairie," 
 historic and beautiful. Preacher visited the people there, 
 and two Sundays a month he conducted "preaching" for 
 them. 
 
 Another neighboring settlement was the Belleview Com- 
 munity where a deserted church was actually rotting away 
 — the building, that is. The Belleview people invited 
 Preacher to visit them and to organize a Sunday School. Af- 
 ter some time, the reawakened farmers and their neighbors 
 built a new small church, erected on the site of the old one. 
 Non-denominational Sunday School services were held here 
 twice a month, and Preacher drove out there regularly to 
 conduct these services. 
 
 In all these efforts, Preacher was assisted by a Sunday 
 School missionary, the Reverend W. A. Boyd, who also was 
 an elder in Preacher's congregation in Rolla. Rev. Boyd 
 worked under the Board of National Missions in the Presby- 
 tery of St. Louis, and supervised more than forty Sunday 
 Schools scattered throughout the mountains in six or seven 
 counties. 
 
 The fine work of these two great Christian gentlemen 
 can never be measured. Rev. Boyd traveled in a Model "T" 
 Ford, taking along a portable pump organ. Sometimes he 
 would, of necessity, drive up damp or dried creekbeds, and 
 walk the rest of the way to hold a mission class on the 
 front porch of some woodsman's home where the "folks" 
 for miles around would be waiting. 
 
 62 
 
In 1927, Lillian, the oldest of the five girls, was grad- 
 uated with honors from Rolla High School, and traveled to 
 Tulsa, to enter Tulsa College (formerly the Henry Kendall 
 College, of which Preacher had been a director). At Tulsa, 
 Lillian played the piano for girls' gym classes to help defray 
 the expenses of her schooling. 
 
 In the same year, the second daughter, Eleanor, suffered 
 a severe attack of appendicitis and was taken to St. Louis, 
 where she underwent surgery in the Frisco Hospital. Since 
 Rolla was a distance of 110 miles from the city, frequent 
 trips there were big events in the lives of the members of 
 the family in the manse. 
 
 At the close of one year at Tulsa University, Lillian still 
 insisted that she wanted to become a nurse, so Preacher 
 finally gave his consent and allowed her to enroll in the St. 
 Luke's School of Nursing at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis. 
 There she remained three years, for the regular course, for 
 some orthopedic work at Barnes' Hospital and for her 
 "Visiting Nurse's" work; and in 1932 she received her cap 
 and her cherished R. N. degree. By this time, however, the 
 Estes family had moved down Texas way. 
 
 In the meantime, life in the manse at Rolla moved with 
 speed: Eleanor was graduated from R.H.S. and enrolled at 
 Missouri Valley College at Marshall, Missouri. There she 
 worked in the college dining room to help pay expenses. 
 
 About this time, Preacher realized that no matter how 
 good the school, a boys' school of mining and engineering 
 was not the best place to educate several daughters. Well, 
 he began to pray for guidance. Strangely enough, the idea 
 of Oklahoma kept popping up in the thoughts and the 
 conversations of this family. And it might as well be truth- 
 fully stated that Stillwater, Oklahoma, the home of the co- 
 educational Oklahoma A. & M. college, seemed the most 
 likely solution. "Oklahoma" was just possibly the theme 
 song of these children in the manse, for, at the moment, 
 the problem was college! 
 
 "Man proposes, but God disposes," remained to be true. 
 Soon the mails brought a letter inquiring, "Would Preach- 
 
 63 
 
er Estes, since he is a native Texan, consider returning to 
 the Lone Star State? Would he be interested at all in the 
 town of Denton, Texas, the home of two fine state-sup- 
 ported colleges?" 
 
 Ideas and songs of Oklahoma were forgotten, then and 
 there, for July was nearly gone; vacation from school was 
 waning; and this seemed to be a part of more than mortal's 
 plans and desires. 
 
 Accompanied by one daughter, Eleanor, who was inter- 
 ested in Texas because of her "best" friend, Mary Elizabeth 
 Hughes, living in McKinney, Texas, Preacher visited Den- 
 ton the town, and the church. Apparently the visit was mu- 
 tually pleasing, for in due time the official call came from 
 the Denton elders, and the Preacher accepted. 
 
 Once again, good-bys were really sad, for all the family 
 had been actively engaged in living, loving and making 
 friends. Junior high and high school ties seem the strongest, 
 sometimes, and furthermore, Lillian was left behind in St. 
 Louis to complete her nurse's training. So this was certainly 
 a sad farewell. 
 
 The accumulation of the years in such items as rocking 
 chairs, library tables, books, lamps, the piano and the big 
 oak dining table, the Haviland "wedding" china and the 
 family silver, were all once again loaded into a freight car. 
 The family piled into the Ford sedan, sadly. For all the 
 youngsters felt they were leaving "the best friends they 
 would ever have" behind. 
 
 If it were not for "going back to Texas" for the Preacher 
 and his crew, he would indeed have had a bad time getting 
 the children to leave — or so they thought. 
 
 64 
 
CHAPTER 12 
 
 Texas-Bound in 1930 
 
 QN LABOR DAY, September 2, 1930, we find the family 
 ^-^ leaving Rolla via a long, hot and dusty detour on High- 
 way 66. They spent the first night at Vinita, Oklahoma, in a 
 tourist camp, then drove on into McKinney, Texas, late in 
 the afternoon for a brief visit with old friends. They arrived 
 in Denton just about dark, in time for supper. 
 
 And what a supper! It was served in the home of Mr. 
 and Mrs. J. W. McClurkan, with many of the church of- 
 ficers and their wives assisting — and watching. At the large 
 manse, the newly varnished floors were not quite dry, so the 
 Estes family was divided into pairs and invited to spend 
 the night in the homes of various church members. After 
 two days of driving, the children felt mighty dirty and 
 rumpled and not very presentable to be introduced to so 
 many strangers so quickly. 
 
 All were refreshed by early morning, which was moving- 
 in-day; and before evening the family was once more truly 
 at home in the manse. 
 
 This particular manse — and it, too, became a very spe- 
 cial one for all the Estes' — was a nine-room, two-bath, frame 
 house, high on a hill near the Denton Junior High School, 
 the Senior High School, and about six blocks from the 
 "square." Five blocks away to the east was the church build- 
 
 65 
 
ing, and for the first time in many years, the Estes family 
 really missed living next door to, or near, the church build- 
 ing. 
 
 Preacher and his wife had always felt it most convenient 
 to live near the church, especially when the children were 
 small, although it sometimes meant that Mrs. Preacher had 
 to lay in an extra supply of salt, sugar, tea, coffee or soap 
 before a church supper. But this was always gladly done by 
 the homemaker in the manse, for she considered such little 
 things as part of her job. Besides, many, many times she was 
 made a gift of any foods left over, and she always got the 
 chickenfeed or "scraps" to help in feeding her two-legged 
 "biddies" in the back yard. For this family nearly always 
 had a few chickens and at least one registered Jersey cow 
 to help expand the larder. In fact, such livestock was one of 
 the family's prized possessions, and understandably so. 
 
 Next door lived the C. L. Oliver family, who fast be- 
 came close friends to the Preacher's family. Dr. Oliver, a 
 dentist, had milk goats, while the Preacher had his Jersey; 
 and the children of the two homes had many hours of fun 
 together, teasing, kidding, and later, double-dating and 
 growing up together. This lovely family remained close 
 friends throughout the years, and Mrs. Preacher counted 
 Mrs. Oliver as one of her "special" friends. 
 
 At the opening of the fall session of school, Eleanor was 
 enrolled in North Texas State Teachers' College; Charles 
 Morris and Anna Lou, in high school, as a senior and sopho- 
 more, respectively; Ruth, in junior high; and Lola May, in 
 the West Ward. The parents in the manse found them- 
 selves busy with the Parent-Teachers' Association, the Sports 
 Club, the football and basketball activities, and other ex- 
 tracurricular activities. But the main task at all times for 
 the Preacher and wife was to do the will of God, with and 
 for these good people of Denton, and also for the hundreds 
 of college youth there. Here began a grand work that lasted 
 five years with not one uneventful day in all that time. 
 
 "Our Young People" were the most talked of folks in 
 the church. There was a large group of local, interested 
 
 66 
 
and talented youngsters in the congregation, and this num- 
 ber was swelled by the scores of college students enrolled in 
 what was then the College of Industrial Arts, and the North 
 Texas State Teachers' College — wonderful institutions for 
 boys and girls seeking higher education. 
 
 Here again, as in other fields, the Preacher and the Den- 
 ton congregation faced the same old problem: inadequate 
 buildings to serve the needs of the people, especially the 
 younger ones. Previous to Preacher's coming, this member- 
 ship had purchased a large corner lot and was in debt for 
 the property. The red brick sanctuary was in need of re- 
 pairs — major ones. The officers felt that the indebtedness 
 should be cleared before any other progress was begun. Not- 
 withstanding, a building fund was started, and the Women's 
 Auxiliary made many of the payments for the new lot. 
 
 At the end of his first year in Denton, Preacher, during 
 one of the congregational meetings, voluntarily took a re- 
 duction in salary, provided that the same amount of money 
 be applied on the "new location." These were the depres- 
 sion years; church pledges sometimes could not be met; of- 
 ferings were small; and, with three children in college and 
 two in high school, this decision of the Preacher's was made 
 only after much prayer for guidance. It represented very 
 definite sacrifices for all the family in the manse, for some 
 time to come. 
 
 Through church, school, civic and college activities, new 
 acquaintances were made every day. New friends grew out 
 of these meetings. Visiting students and their parents were 
 welcomed at the manse. Many a homesick girl and boy en- 
 joyed the hospitality at the "Preacher's House on the Hill." 
 Frequently, "blind" dates were contrived by the children 
 for other friends, for, you see, with one daughter in the 
 girls' college and another daughter and a son at the teachers' 
 college, the Preacher's family was a natural halfway place 
 for students of both schools. 
 
 Every Sunday at noon, the big dining table was stretched 
 to its limits to include three or four extra places, which 
 were nearly always filled by visitors, either formally invited 
 
 67 
 
in advance or of the drop-in type. At this big oak table, boys 
 and girls dined, worshiped and laughed, much as they might 
 have done in their own homes. Everyone helped wash dishes, 
 clear the table, and dry dishes, then all would join in sing- 
 ing, playing the piano, telling jokes or indulging in plain, 
 ordinary "gab fests." 
 
 During the stay in Denton, nineteen different college 
 students were "at home" in the manse for several days, 
 weeks or semesters, until proper rooming and boarding 
 places could be found for them. Three students spent as 
 much as an entire school year with this family. They were 
 Miss Mary Elizabeth Hinds of Hobart, Oklahoma, Miss Jack 
 Virginia Barron of Covington, Texas; and Miss Margaret 
 Estes, a cousin from Norge, Oklahoma. 
 
 W. A. Stanley of Piano, Texas, stayed with the family 
 in the manse nearly a year, and Lloyd Stowers visited tem- 
 porarily until permanent rooms could be found. Miss 
 Marian Arnold, daughter of the Presbyterian minister at 
 Cleburne, Texas, lived in the Estes home for a while. All 
 these boys and girls loved to sing as much as the children 
 of the manse, and many a joyful and noisy hour was spent 
 by all. Popular music, rounds, parodies, etc., made up a 
 large part of the entertainment, but the religious side of life 
 was ever felt. All who lived here took very active roles in 
 church-centered activities. Young Stowers, one of the house 
 guests, later was graduated from the Presbyterian Seminary 
 at McCormick, and is now a Presbyterian minister. 
 
 The entire family planned college as a matter of course, 
 as do most of the residents of Denton. Various members of 
 the faculties of the two colleges were listed among the 
 friends of the family in the manse. And the children had 
 marvelous and rare opportunities to meet and to interview 
 and to hear performances by visiting celebrities, including 
 the late Amelia Earhart, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Vladmir 
 Goldschmann, Ruth Bryan Owen, Ted Shawn, Eleanor Roo- 
 sevelt, Wallace Beery, Carl Sandburg and others. 
 
 Preacher was an active member of the Denton Lions 
 Club and of the Denton Farm Club, composed of county 
 
 68 
 
farmers and businessmen interested in better farming. 
 They met on Saturday nights twice a month, and here last- 
 ing friendships were formed by Preacher. He also worked 
 in the Jersey Cattle Club and served this group as presi- 
 dent for one term. Agriculture development continued to 
 be of great interest to 'Treacher" Estes, as he was now called 
 by so many men in all walks of life. He enjoyed giving 
 much of his time to 4-H Club work for boys and girls in 
 the county. He was nearly always ready and willing to assist 
 the County Agent and the Home Demonstration Agent in 
 their projects and their public meetings. 
 
 One instance, proof of the fact that friends and visitors 
 were welcome at all times in the manse, was the visit of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Prentice Barnett of Valley Mills, Texas. He 
 had been a classmate of Preacher's years before, and the 
 Barnetts arrived in Denton while Rev. and Mrs. Estes were 
 attending Synod and Synodical in Texarkana one October. 
 The girls of the manse had not expected their parents home 
 that night, so they cleaned up the "master" bedroom of the 
 manse for the Barnetts. 
 
 Late in the night, Preacher and Mrs. Estes returned 
 home, only to find their bedroom already occupied. Every- 
 body had a good laugh over this incident, and cots were put 
 up for two of the youngsters. Soon all were sleeping peace- 
 fully in the manse, which was certainly full that night. 
 
 When the Texas Synod and Synodical met in Denton, 
 Preacher and his church officers worked long and hard as 
 pastor and church host. He loved performing every small 
 and large duty, however. Among the guests at this time in 
 the manse was Dr. Cleland B. McAfee, chairman of the 
 Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 
 USA, and Dr. A. B. Keeler, chairman of the finance depart- 
 ment of the Board of National Missions, both of New York. 
 
 On another great occasion during Religious Emphasis 
 Week at the two colleges, guests at the manse were Dr. 
 Daniel Poling and Dr. Ira D. Landrath, one-time national 
 president of the Christian Endeavor movement, and presi- 
 dent of Randolph-Macon College. Other visitors during this 
 
 69 
 
meeting were Dr. J. C. Burma, Dr. A. B. Hodges and Dr. 
 Matthew Arnold, all outstanding leaders in the denomina- 
 tion in the Southwest. Memorable visits also were made by 
 other Presbyterian ministers and evangelists, including Dr. 
 Jaspar Manton, Rev. Reece Jones, Rev. Everett B. King, Dr. 
 George Fender, Rev. R. L. Hogan, Rev. Alvin Carter, and 
 many others, all devoted to the work of the Kingdom of 
 God, and all intimate friends of Preacher Estes. 
 
 In 1932, the eldest daughter, Lillian, was graduated from 
 the nurses' training school in St. Louis, and she came to Den- 
 ton to do special nursing duty. Within a few months, she 
 was made night supervisor, then superintendent of the Den- 
 ton Hospital and Clinic, where she worked for more than 
 eleven years with Dr. M. L. Holland and his associates. 
 
 Some of the women of the church, especially Mrs. A. J. 
 Swenson and Mrs. A. S. Keith, both of whom were profes- 
 sors' wives, made it possible for Mrs. Preacher to make the 
 trip to St. Louis to attend Lillian's graduation exercises. 
 Preacher stayed at home with the other children, for the 
 Commencement exercises for the Denton High School were 
 held on that same night. One of the daughters of the manse, 
 Anna Lou, was delivering the Valedictory Address at that 
 ceremony. After the program, Preacher treated all the chil- 
 dren to an ice cream soda at Brooks' Drugstore on the Den- 
 ton square. This was quite an occasion, for hardly ever was 
 there money or time for such treats. 
 
 Lillian loved being a good nurse and still does, for she 
 has made many staunch friends during her years of sendee 
 to the Denton area, helping babies to be born, standing by 
 when the aged die, working swiftly and efficiently in times 
 of accident — she has forged for herself a permanent place 
 of honor in the hearts of all Dentonites. 
 
 In January, 1934, Eleanor was graduated at NTSTC, 
 majoring in elementary education. She went "West" to 
 teach at Jacksboro for her first "position." Since classes at 
 the teachers' college were not so large at that time, the 
 school had only one graduation program for the regular ses- 
 sion of school. Mid-term graduates were invited to return 
 
 70 
 
to the campus in June for the commencement and baccal- 
 aureate services. 
 
 This June, the members of the Jacksboro school board 
 thought Eleanor should remain at her job, since it was at 
 the close of the term. So she was unable to return to Den- 
 ton for graduation. Believing that she would be able to at- 
 tend, Eleanor had signed up for the cap and gown, had been 
 scheduled a place in line, etc. Therefore, she asked her sis- 
 ter, Anna Lou, to don her cap and gown, and to be her 
 proxy. As such, Anna Lou took the assigned place in the 
 lines and marched across the platform to receive the diplo- 
 ma from the president of the college, who congratulated her, 
 saying, "You have made a wonderful record, Margaret 
 Eleanor!" 
 
 During the summer of 1934, the elder son, John Dillon, 
 returned to Denton from Missouri, where he had been work- 
 ing, and took some special work in music at the teachers' 
 college, where he played cornet in the stage band and was 
 active in other musical circles. He later married Miss Mary 
 Bess Austin from Sherman, a student at the time at CIA, 
 and together they moved to Fort Worth to make their home. 
 
 In December, 1934, the family in the manse had their 
 first experience of announcing an engagement and in plan- 
 ning a marriage. Eleanor brought the Jacksboro coach home 
 with her one week end and, from all appearances, the family 
 knew "this was it." His name was J. L. McCullough, and 
 his home was Dallas, where he had attended the public 
 schools, and later gone to Rice Institute at Houston where 
 he had been graduated. 
 
 Each member of the family had some part to play in the 
 parties which followed. The announcement tea, of course, 
 was the first big affair that fall, and the wedding was set for 
 Christmas Day at 6 p.m. Again, all the family participated 
 and Preacher officiated. Miss Lillian played the traditional 
 wedding music on the piano, and Anna Lou was an attend- 
 ant. Charles Morris lighted the candles, and the two young- 
 er girls, Ruth and Lola May, assisted in serving the cake 
 
 71 
 
and coffee. And all the ladies of the church stood by with 
 their able assistance. So it was quite an affair. 
 
 Nearly all of Preacher's time was needed with the acti- 
 vities of the church at Denton, but he still found time to 
 render service to the smaller churches in nearby commu- 
 nities such as Krum, Grapevine and Justin. Hardly ever did 
 he miss a Sunday holding afternoon services at some church 
 or schoolhouse. On some of these occasions, Mrs. Preacher 
 accompanied him, but more often she remained at home 
 chaperoning the "bunch," for all the girls, and sometimes 
 Charles, too, had their "dates" at the manse nearly every 
 Sunday afternoon. In addition, there would always be visit- 
 ing boys and girls of all ages— taking part in games, singing, 
 making candy or conversing in serious tones on the big 
 porches of the manse. 
 
 A regular Sunday afternoon visitor at the manse was 
 Tom Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Mitchell of Denton. 
 Tom came to see Ruth regularly for five years, and they 
 later married. Tom was the only Denton boy to "win" an 
 Estes girl from the manse. 
 
 While living in Denton, Preacher and his wife had the 
 privilege and gratification of seeing four of their children 
 receive their degrees from higher institutions of learning. 
 Lillian, from St. Luke's School of Nursing; Eleanor and 
 Charles from NTSTC; and Anna Lou from CIA (later chang- 
 ed to Texas State College for Women, and still later, to Tex- 
 as Women's University). 
 
 Charles received his Bachelor of Science Degree August, 
 1934, and accepted a position as principal of the elementary 
 school and coach at Carbon, Texas, where the peanuts grow. 
 It wasn't his first job, for he worked at grocery stores, fill- 
 ing stations and in the lab at college. But it was his first 
 time in West Texas and away from the manse. He served as 
 scoutmaster, then even (to his surprise) found himself di- 
 recting the music at the Methodist church in Carbon. He 
 had had little formal musical training, but had enthusiasti- 
 cally taken part in high school and college glee clubs, in 
 the church's Young People's Quartette, and just the ordinary 
 
 72 
 
singing that always seemed to go on at the manse. He filled 
 every minute of his days just making himself useful to the 
 little community of Carbon. 
 
 When driving Charles M. to his job at Carbon, Preacher 
 visited, in Eastland, Texas, the home of the famed "Old 
 Rip" horned frog. There, he learned, was a small Presby- 
 terian church, nearly extinct. Many of the members had 
 moved away from Eastland during the depression. The small 
 manse was in need of rebuilding, but the sanctuary was in 
 good shape and was well tended by the few faithful mem- 
 bers of the congregation. Preacher saw at once that here at 
 Eastland was a "real job" for a minister with a mission — for 
 someone who could possibly work to salvage what was left 
 of the organization, and to do so for the glory of the Lord. 
 
 During 1934 and 1935, Preacher really worked too hard, 
 and finally had to face the fact that his body could no longer 
 continue at the rate he had been living and working. Duties 
 of the Denton church increased daily, and he had long re- 
 alized the need there for a student pastor. But there was 
 none to be had and little money for such projects. College 
 students attended the services in increasing numbers, and 
 Preacher continued to drive himself to get around to every- 
 thing. 
 
 The Building Fund at Denton was making very slow, if 
 any, progress, but some of the workers and officers refused 
 to become discouraged. To build a new building sufficient 
 to the needs of the Denton congregation required a large 
 sum of money, but the faithful ones insisted that the new 
 building would become a reality. 
 
 One of Preacher's "pet" projects was initiating a Young 
 People's Retreat and camp-conference at Lake Dallas. He 
 helped to establish such a camp as an annual project for the 
 Presbyterian church at Denton. This was a big task, but he 
 had lots of able assistance in planning the schedule of classes 
 and worship, securing the teachers and chaperones, and 
 making arrangements for using one of the college campsites 
 at the lake. He was proud of his assistants from the young 
 people, and the other workers from his congregation. These 
 
 73 
 
annual Youth Retreats became well known as important 
 features of the youth work in the church for developing 
 meditation, inspiration and recreation experiences. 
 
 Later on, however, Preacher again had to admit he was 
 not well enough to continue the rapid pace of activities. 
 Medical advisors suggested that to continue as he was work- 
 ing might mean nervous exhaustion for him. He realized 
 he was growing older, that his job might very well be with 
 a smaller congregation, with fewer demands on a pastor. 
 He knew also that a younger man might better serve the 
 Denton field. 
 
 He had not forgotten the neglected church at Eastland; 
 so, in due time, he made some inquiry. Officers of the Texas 
 Synod and especially the Abilene Presbytery discussed the 
 opportunities at Eastland and used some real persuasion on 
 Preacher after they heard he might be interested in a smaller 
 congregation. So in March, 1935, he submitted his letter of 
 resignation at Denton and left for Eastland to begin a ter- 
 rific rebuilding job — of a congregation, not a structure, this 
 time. 
 
 This project was partially under the auspices of the Board 
 ■of National Missions, and the arrangement included part- 
 time preaching at Strawn, a few miles east, as well as at East- 
 land. 
 
 74 
 
CHAPTER 13 
 
 West Texas Dust Storms 
 
 A LTHOUGH PREACHER HAD GONE to Eastland in 
 "■ March, Mrs. Preacher and the children remained in 
 Denton until later because of school. Ruth was graduating 
 from Denton High that spring. She had been selected May 
 Queen and had earned other honors. But on the night of her 
 Junior-Senior "Prom," her steady boy friend, the same Tom 
 Mitchell, was unable to get off work to escort her. As a young 
 boy, Tom had started selling popcorn at the Denton theaters, 
 and, by this time, was holding down a very responsible job 
 at the show. 
 
 Lola May, the baby, was busy with her high school activ- 
 ities, and Anna Lou was a junior journalism major at 
 TSCW. So everyone of the girls was "snowed under" with 
 classes, work and school activity of some kind. 
 
 At any rate, "Nannie" (as Mrs. Preacher was familiarly 
 known to all the youngsters and their friends) remained in 
 the manse with the three schoolgirls, while the Preacher 
 moved his books, desks, typewriter and a few essential pieces 
 of furniture with which he did "light housekeeping" in the 
 grubby little manse at Eastland. During the weeks he was 
 there alone, he did many of the minor repairs the house 
 needed with his own hammer and saw. 
 
 At the close of the spring semester, Anna Lou and 
 
 75 
 
Charles joined him, and the house was papered and painted 
 —the interior, that is — and the three of them batched until 
 the end of the first summer session of school, when the whole 
 family was again united late in June. They spent a happy 
 summer in Eastland where the youngsters met many nice 
 young girls and boys. But they always felt cramped in their 
 quarters, especially after moving from the very large house 
 in Denton. Actually the Eastland manse consisted of only 
 five small rooms, supplemented with a long sleeping porch 
 for the overflow. 
 
 School bells rang again in September, with Anna Lou 
 returning to Denton for her senior year at TSCW, where 
 she had been elected editor of the weekly campus news- 
 paper, The Lass-O. During this year, the publication made 
 all-American rating for the first time — a record of which 
 the school, the journalism department, and the family in 
 the manse were justly proud. 
 
 Ruth enrolled for some post-graduate work in typing 
 and shorthand at Eastland High School where Lola May was 
 attending. Charles was teaching, and Eleanor's husband 
 was coaching at Mesquite. So the opening of school terms 
 everywhere vitally affected the entire family. 
 
 On Christmas Day, 1935, the first grandchild of the fam- 
 ily in the manse, discovered America. A little girl, Margaret 
 Ann McCullough, the little daughter of Coach and Mrs. Mc- 
 Cullough of Mesquite, was born at the Denton Hospital, 
 with big sister of the new mother, Miss Lillian, as head 
 nurse. 
 
 At the end of school in the spring of 1936, Lola May 
 was graduated from Eastland High, and the PTA ceased to 
 be a regularly scheduled activity of these parents in the 
 manse. This was the second time the Preacher's family had 
 had two graduating at the same time, for Lola May received 
 her high school diploma the same week that Anna Lou was 
 given her college degree, a B.S. in journalism and English. 
 
 Events, important ones, continue, even during the after- 
 math of a depression. And especially is this true in a large 
 family. On Thanksgiving of that year, Anna Lou was mar- 
 
 76 
 
ried in the Presbyterian Church at Graham to Ed. B. Hart, 
 a young businessman of Olney who was employed in an 
 automobile agency just across the street from The Olney 
 Enterprise, the weekly newspaper where she was employed 
 as society editor, news editor and general "flunky." They 
 were married, and then came home to the manse to disclose 
 the good news. This was one children's wedding at which 
 Preacher did not officiate. 
 
 Along about this time, the two younger girls came home 
 from Denton where they had been in college, because fi- 
 nances just could not be stretched to include the costs. They 
 both found jobs in Eastland, and Charles was teaching at 
 Breckenridge. The Estes family was more or less spreading 
 out. 
 
 Preacher prayed and worked tirelessly, seeking the an- 
 swer to these problems: reviving the congregation at East- 
 land and finding security for his family. But for the first 
 time in his life, he seemed to meet with defeat. There were 
 many drawbacks. But the biggest reason was that so few 
 people, new citizens and particularly Presbyterians, were 
 coming to Eastland at that time. And slowly but surely, 
 some of the "regulars" and the faithful were being trans- 
 ferred away from there. 
 
 One of the highlights of his life at this time, however, 
 was the opportunity he had of attending the evangelistic 
 meeting conducted by the great Gypsy Smith at Abilene. 
 This was an experience he never forgot. 
 
 Among the friends he made in Eastland was Judge Clyde 
 Garrett, who shared the same birthdate with the Preacher, 
 December 21. One of the fondest memories of the Eastland 
 days was the birthday dinner the two gentlemen celebrated 
 together, with their families. Turkey and all the trimmings 
 were on the menu. And in later years, when Judge Garrett 
 was a candidate for the office of Representative from the 
 Seventeenth Congressional District of Texas, Preacher 
 traveled with the booster caravans, making seventeen 
 speeches to help his friend. The judge was elected, and 
 
 77 
 
moved with his family to Washington, D.C., for the sessions 
 of Congress. 
 
 Finances for everyone in those years were hard to man- 
 age, but times were "really hard" as far as money in the 
 manse was concerned. Preacher, almost in the depths of 
 discouragement and despair, felt it was imperative that he 
 find another place to work, where he would be needed and 
 be useful, and where he could better support his family. 
 
 The Sunday School missionary, Rev. J. L. Cleveland, 
 who served the Abilene and the Brownwood Presbyteries, 
 was a frequent visitor to the manse and had been a school- 
 mate of Preacher's in the early days. Through Cleveland's 
 efforts, Preacher was introduced to the members of the ses- 
 sion at the Winters, Texas, Presbyterian Church, and he 
 forthwith went to visit them. 
 
 So in March, 1937, Preacher found himself and Mrs. 
 Preacher resigning from the work at Eastland and Strawn in 
 order to accept the pastorate at Winters. 
 
 78 
 
CHAPTER 14 
 
 Westward We Go 
 
 pORTY-SIX MILES south and west of Abilene and not 
 very far from the Presbyterian Conference campgrounds at 
 Buffalo Gap, Texas, was Winters. It was a nice little city, with 
 ranching and cotton as the chief industries. The church 
 building there was a large red brick one with a full basement 
 adequately equipped for all church activities. A very comfort- 
 able manse was next door, and it, too, was in good repair. 
 So the family in the manse was once more at home, with 
 only a wide expanse of lawn between the house and the 
 church. 
 
 Throughout West Texas, dust and sandstorms were 
 menacing farmers and ranchers, and water supplies were 
 getting low at this time. And that year was one of the very 
 worst, Mrs. Preacher remembers, for it was virtually her 
 first experience with such weather. The water supply at 
 Winters was 'Very hard," and not so tasty as it might have 
 been. This situation was the source of many family jokes, 
 because making suds and lather was almost impossible. 
 
 The work of the local church was growing, and Preacher 
 and his wife did enjoy their Christian service. Especially did 
 they look forward to the summer encampments at Buffalo 
 Gap, where many old church friendships were renewed. 
 Lola May was employed in the local hospital at Winters that 
 
 79 
 
year, and Ruth returned to Denton to attend NTSTC. 
 
 Frequently, Preacher did not feel well, during that first 
 year at Winters, and he began to face the fact that he was a 
 "fur piece" from Denton, where his nurse-daughter, his hos- 
 pital and his doctor were located. In the spring of 1937, he 
 became seriously ill, rather suddenly, and was returned to 
 the Denton Hospital in an ambulance. Treated for perni- 
 cious anemia, he responded to the blood transfusions and 
 the medications, and was soon able to return to his work 
 at Winters. 
 
 The following year, another wedding took place in the 
 Preacher's family: Tom and Ruth finally set the date for 
 March 1, 1938. Once again, members of the family had the 
 pleasure of planning and arranging the activities surround- 
 ing the wedding ceremony. This one was to be held in the 
 church sanctuary at candlelight time. Again the Preacher 
 read the ceremony for his daughter, and Charles Morris 
 "gave away" his sister. Lola May was her sister's only at- 
 tendant, and Anna Lou, of Olney, lighted the candles. 
 Among the out-of-town guests for the occasion were "Aunt 
 Marjorie" Bennett, one of Nannie's (as Mrs. Preacher was 
 now known) sisters, from Kansas, Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. 
 John Naylor of Hobart, Oklahoma, beloved friends of the 
 whole family, and some other relatives and friends. 
 
 During 1938, Preacher was given a signal honor: that 
 of being named Grand Prelate of Texas for the Masonic 
 Lodge. To clarify his lodge standing, it might be noted that 
 Preacher had become a Mason while living in Newton, Illi- 
 nois, in 1912, then in 1913 at Neoga, Illinois, he took the 
 work in the Knights Templars. At Hobart, Oklahoma, in 
 1924, he had been made a member of the Shrine. Anyway, 
 one of his old friends, and a former church officer at Mc- 
 Kinney, was Will J. Rhea, who was serving as Grand Master 
 of Texas. It was Rhea who suggested Preacher for the of- 
 fice of Grand Prelate. The two old friends attended a state 
 convention in Wichita Falls, where Preacher had the honor 
 of giving the speech on the opening night of the convention. 
 
 At Winters, transient workers helped harvest the large 
 
 80 
 
cotton crops, and during this time, many small children, 
 white, black and brown, were more or less left to roam 
 the streets while parents worked. On some occasions, local 
 officers called on Preacher Estes and Nannie for assistance 
 in solving problems of delinquent children. The Estes' knew 
 that homemade ice cream and cake could solve lots of 
 troubles for "bad" little boys and girls, so on many Saturday 
 afternoons they invited numerous children to play on the 
 lawn and to eat refreshments. 
 
 The numbers increased until Preacher needed other 
 help to feed and to entertain the group. Many members of 
 his congregation co-operated in every way possible, but there 
 were others, some of whom were officers in his congregation, 
 who opposed such "missionary" work. Then there were 
 those who felt that Preacher should devote more time and 
 effort to the older members of his congregation, and "just 
 leave those dirty youngsters to the law." 
 
 At any rate, this youth-conservation project became the 
 center of friction in the church organization. In July of 
 1938, Preacher had attended a National Missions Seminar 
 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and when he returned to 
 Winters, he discovered that some of his plans for the boys' 
 project had been cancelled without his knowledge by some of 
 the church workers. This incident brought him to the reali- 
 zation that he did not, and would never, apparently, have 
 the full co-operation of some members of his own session. 
 
 After long meditation, and with no other special field of 
 work in mind, Preacher submitted his resignation to the 
 Winters church, effective October 1. Although he had no 
 specific plans for moving anywhere yet, Preacher remained 
 firm in his belief that a place would be found if he kept his 
 faith. 
 
 After some time, a "place" found them, and their home 
 was still to be in the manse, as Preacher already was sure it 
 would be. But that is another story. 
 
 81 
 
CHAPTER 15 
 
 Back to Farms with 
 Greener Fields 
 
 TN SEPTEMBER, 1938, Preacher and his wife drove the 
 A "baby" daughter, Lola May, to Waxahachie, Texas, where 
 she was enrolled in Trinity University. Upon returning, they 
 visited a session of the Dallas Presbytery which was conven- 
 ing in their former home, McKinney. Officers of the church 
 in a neighboring town, Celina, had written Mr. Estes pre- 
 viously, in regard to his coming to Celina, just a few miles 
 from McKinney in North Texas. 
 
 Quite by accident (for our Preacher was definitely think- 
 ing of the little church in Celina), Preacher learned at Pres- 
 bytery that the pastor at the Whitesboro church had re- 
 signed just the evening before Presbytery convened. This 
 was another little town in North Texas, not far from Mc- 
 Kinney. So Preacher and Mrs. Estes drove over to Whites- 
 boro the following Wednesday, and Preacher was invited to 
 return to deliver a sermon on Sunday, and to do so as a 
 candidate for the pastorate. 
 
 Necessary arrangements for filling the pulpit at Winters 
 were made by telephone with officials of Abilene Presbytery, 
 and Preacher really "preached" that Sunday at Whitesboro, 
 
The formal call was extended to him that night after a con- 
 gregational meeting, and he accepted on the spot. 
 
 Preacher and wife returned to Winters, where he de- 
 livered his "farewell sermon" the next Sunday night. With 
 deep appreciation, the Estes' were gladdened when the con- 
 gregations of the Methodist and the Baptist churches of 
 Winters met with the Presbyterians that night. Honorary 
 tributes were made to Preacher and his wife for their great 
 part in community as well as Christian service while in 
 Winters. 
 
 At Whitesboro, our Preacher's family found a homey, 
 comfortable little town, apparently just waiting for them. 
 Called the "biggest little town in North Central Texas," 
 Whitesboro is located between two county-seat towns, Sher- 
 man in Grayson County, and Gainesville in Cooke County. 
 Surrounding the community in all directions were opportun- 
 ities for rural church work, badly in need of rejuvenation, 
 Preacher discovered. Since this type of Christian service had 
 always held Preacher's interest, he set to work avidly. There 
 was much to be done — actually more pastoring than could 
 really be done by one man, for this area extended twenty- 
 six miles north to the Red River, and about the same distance 
 in other directions. 
 
 Rev. Whitwell, who had preceded Preacher at Whites- 
 boro, had worked hard at this rural work and had organized 
 a Sunday School in the Riverside Community, twenty miles 
 north of town. Regular worship services were scheduled 
 out there twice a month, and Preacher added to their 
 calendar a regular Young People's Group meeting, and also 
 made plans for Vacation Bible School sessions. Each fall, 
 thereafter, Preacher conducted a series of revival meetings 
 at the Riverside church. In one such meeting, an entire 
 family, parents and nine children, received the sacred rites 
 of baptism and were made members of the church. Most of 
 the people who attended Sunday School at Riverside eventu- 
 ally moved their membership to the Whitesboro congrega- 
 tion in later years. 
 
 Four miles northwest of Whitesboro was another rural 
 
 84 
 
community called Bones Chapel. There was located a school 
 building and a small church structure, so run-down that it 
 was unsafe for use. Work was begun at once on a new 
 structure, after the old one was torn down. This little organ- 
 ization had been one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in 
 Grayson County, so the passing of this old landmark took 
 widespread notice in the area. 
 
 Members of this congregation at Bones Chapel were hard- 
 working and devoted Christians, and Preacher was happy in 
 his ten years of leading them. In August, 1939, people from 
 far and near gathered to dedicate the new building. Prayer 
 meetings of thanksgiving, praise services of worship, and 
 finally a big dinner for all, took up most of the day. This 
 was established as an annual homecoming, and has brought 
 much joy to the hearts of the people as they return there 
 each year. 
 
 The church in town also became more active, with mem- 
 bership slowly growing. Preacher's health was much im- 
 proved by this time, and he probably did one of the best 
 works of his life while in this field — as far as helping more 
 people in all walks of life is concerned — and teaching them 
 to live more abundantly. 
 
 If ever a place needed a pastor who was a man's man, 
 this little city, with its surrounding communities, did. Preach- 
 er soon came to know and enjoy every man for miles around, 
 business, professional, farmers and oil field workers — all. 
 He just about knew the condition of each's spiritual life — 
 for that was his business. 
 
 At Whitesboro, the manse was large, aged and very 
 roomy — a place just right for this family to stage their 
 homecomings, their reunions and to share their hospitality 
 with all who might come their way. 
 
 Here again, the Preacher's family enjoyed planning and 
 staging two other weddings for the children. The fifth girl, 
 Lola May, had met her "special" young man while visiting 
 her sister in Olney. So on September 4, 1939, Lola May was 
 married to Theodore Rozsa, whose parents lived in Grand 
 Rapids, Michigan. "Ted" was a seismologist employed by 
 
 85 
 
the Shell Oil Company at Olney, but he had been transferred 
 to Stroud, Oklahoma, before the wedding took place. 
 
 Preacher officiated at the ceremony in the church. Charles 
 Morris presented the bride in marriage, and Anna Lou was 
 her sister's only attendant. The other children who were able 
 to come home assisted in the reception which followed at 
 the manse. Many funny stories are told in the family con- 
 cerning this event — when new fall clothes were in order, 
 and the temperature soared. 
 
 The second wedding was May 2, 1941, when Charles 
 Morris (now serving as principal and coach in Celina High 
 School) was married to Miss Mildred Helms, who also was a 
 teacher at Celina. This ceremony turned out to be a double 
 wedding, for another couple, also teachers, decided to share 
 in the wedding plans. The ceremony was at the church, 
 with Preacher officiating, with a reception at the manse fol- 
 lowing. The rainy Friday evening did not seem to mar the 
 joy and festivity of the occasion in honor of the two young 
 couples, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morris Estes, and Mr. and 
 Mrs. J. T. Morrow. Guests attended from Celina, Denton, 
 Honey Grove, Bonham and Whitesboro, and the manse rang 
 with laughter that night. Also present for the affair were 
 the family's dear friends from Hobart, Oklahoma, Mr. and 
 Mrs. John Naylor and Mr. and Mrs. Perry Foltz. 
 
 Preacher and his wife had always been especially in- 
 terested in seeing their children happily married. It was 
 important to them that such an occasion be properly planned 
 and dignified. Not only for their own children, but for 
 many, many, many other couples — young and old — the 
 Estes' made such arrangements and carried out ceremonies 
 in the church and, very often, the manse. 
 
 A dark cloud of tragedy fell on the Preacher during this 
 time, that seemed only to emphasize to those around him his 
 great understanding, his humbleness, and yet, his great 
 courage in the face of hardship, heartbreak and even phy- 
 sical danger. In the summer of 1940, a call came from rela- 
 tives in Grandview telling of a criminal and fatal attack on 
 Mrs. Edna Earl Allen, 19, daughter of Preacher's cousin, 
 
 86 
 
J. E. Barron and Mrs. Barron of Itasca. A Negro man had 
 been charged with the attack of the young girl, who was an 
 expectant mother, and feeling was dangerously high in 
 Grandview, and the neighboring towns of Itasca and Cle- 
 burne and Hillsboro. The colored man had confessed to 
 the crime and was being held in jail. 
 
 Preacher and his wife went to Grandview to be with 
 the girl's family, remaining throughout much of the ordeal. 
 "Charlie," as the folks in Hill and Bosque counties called 
 him, was one of the family, and in addition, he had officiated 
 at the wedding ceremony which united his young cousin and 
 Hortan B. Allen, the young grocery clerk, in November of 
 1938. 
 
 More than 1000 friends and relatives of the young couple 
 attended the funeral service on that Sunday afternoon in the 
 First Baptist Church at Grandview, where the Preacher 
 read verses of scripture and spoke to them over public ad- 
 dress systems. The crowd, shocked and saddened, contained 
 many full of hatred and determined to avenge the girl's 
 death. 
 
 Officials of the area gave credit to the Preacher's funeral 
 message and his plea for the "course of the law" rather 
 than violence, for quelling the bad sentiment that day. Ac- 
 cording to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's story of the oc- 
 currence: "Rev. Estes plead for no interference with the 
 process of law. 'We need to think and to think seriously and 
 to act sensibly,' Rev. Mr. Estes said. 
 
 "He declared," the newspaper story continued, "in em- 
 phatic tones that civil government is a divine institution, 
 deserving of greater respect than it is being accorded by 
 American people today. He said he had never known a more 
 dastardly deed than the one which cost the life of Mrs. Allen, 
 but added that 'What's been done can't be undone.' He 
 placed the blame for the crime on the fact that many per- 
 sons have lost the proper respect for law enforcement and 
 loyalty to good government. A secondary cause, he asserted, 
 was the fact that many penal institutions 'are veritable 
 breeders and trainers of professional criminals who are par- 
 
 87 
 
doned or paroled and turned loose to prey further on so- 
 ciety.' " 
 
 The newspaper stated: "Feeling continued high in John- 
 son County, Tuesday, for early trial of Harris," (the Negro 
 who confessed) "but since Rev. Estes' funeral plea, County 
 Attorney Lowell Crosier of Johnson County feels there is 
 no danger of mob action as long as the Negro is kept out 
 of sight. Harris is now in the Dallas County jail where he 
 was taken Saturday night from the Tarrant County jail." 
 
 Numerous letters of praise for his words that day were 
 received at the manse in Whitesboro following this tragic 
 event. Apparently, the fact that Preacher represented the 
 church as well as the victim's family, and that he stood on 
 the side of law and justice, helped to change the opinion 
 of the hundreds who were ready that day for revengeful 
 action. 
 
 Throughout his Christian service wherever he lived, 
 Preacher visited the jails and prisons regularly to encourage 
 and to read scriptures with the prisoners. When he made his 
 home in Oklahoma, members of the family well remem- 
 ber the regular speeches he made to the inmates of the 
 State Penitentiary at Granite, Oklahoma, where one of his 
 closest friends was warden for many years. 
 
 So you see, he was ministering at all times to all kinds. 
 
 88 
 
CHAPTER 16 
 
 War Clouds 
 
 DREACHER AND NANNIE were in the manse alone after 
 the two weddings. Members of the family were scattered 
 into all sections of the country, busy in their chosen profes- 
 sions and making their own homes. How quiet life at the 
 big manse would be! 
 
 But rumblings of war were heard, first distantly across 
 oceans, then nearer home. And all kinds of new works were 
 beginning for the Preacher. As chairman of the Red Cross 
 organization in Whitesboro for several years, he carried out 
 a variety of duties in that line of service. He was president 
 of the Grayson County Child Welfare Board. He helped 
 to reorganize the Whitesboro Rotary Club with "Service 
 Above Self" as its motto. He was elected president of the 
 Highway No. Ten organization (whose sole purpose was to 
 seek the erection of a bridge spanning the Red River for 
 Highway 10 connecting Oklahoma and points south to- 
 wards Denton at the location then known as Willis Ferry. 
 The proposed bridge was allowed, but postponed with the 
 onset of World War II.) 
 
 When Camp Howse was built near Gainesville, hun- 
 dreds and hundreds of soldiers entered that part of the state 
 for temporary homes. Many found apartments and dwell- 
 
 89 
 
ings in Whitesboro and the other small towns of the area, 
 for the cities became overflowing immediately. Preacher was 
 appointed chairman of the Whitesboro Soldiers' Housing 
 Committee, and most of the time he was the committee, 
 which served as a clearing house for all rental property 
 available to boys in service and to their families. 
 
 The manse was always open to the servicemen, and final- 
 ly Preacher and Nannie rented the extra bedrooms to serv- 
 icemen's families. Preacher just could not turn them down, 
 and many young couples made their home for weeks at a 
 time in the manse, snaring the one bathroom, and eating 
 at the large oak dining table, while the boys received their 
 training at Camp Howse. 
 
 Preacher and Nannie enthusiastically planned wedding 
 ceremonies for some of the boys and their girls, who might 
 have traveled miles and miles to be wed in Texas. The 
 manse fairly buzzed with such activities, and the Preacher 
 always stood ready to help on any occasion. 
 
 Charles Morris had enlisted in the coast guard and was 
 awaiting his call about the time the school semester closed 
 at Celina in the spring of 1942. He and his wife, Mildred, 
 moved to Denton, temporarily, to await both his call and 
 the birth of their first child. Notice of induction came June 
 10, and Charles left for Manhattan Beach Coast Guard Sta- 
 tion for his officer's training. 
 
 Three weeks later, the baby arrived — a boy named 
 Charles William Estes II, born July 3, 1942, at the Den- 
 ton Hospital. Within a few days, the new mother and son 
 moved into the manse at Whitesboro with Preacher and 
 Nannie. When Charles was stationed on a permanent basis 
 at Manhattan Beach in September, his wife and son returned 
 with him to New York after his first leave. Living in New 
 York City was a new experience for the young couple, but 
 Charles was happy in his work, for he was director of phy- 
 sical training and, naturally, coached the basketball team — 
 most all of whom were much taller and heavier than he. 
 
 In large families, crises seem to occur simultaneously to 
 all concerned, and this was certainly the case that September 
 
 90 
 
of 1942, to the family in the manse: Preacher and Nannie 
 were at home with the daughter-in-law and new grandson, 
 when they received word that Lillian, the nurse, was to have 
 major surgery the following day. The night before the 
 scheduled operation, they received an S.O.S. call from Con- 
 roe that the daughter, Eleanor, was seriously ill of typhus 
 fever — and there were two children at home. Their daddy, 
 who was en route to Hutchinson, Kansas, to be inducted in- 
 to the Air Force, could not be located. 
 
 After much conflab and planning, Nannie boarded the 
 bus for Conroe, where she felt she was most needed. The 
 Preacher was left in complete charge of the manse and the 
 new grandson, and Anna Lou, with her one-year-old son, 
 Eddie, Jr., drove from their home at Olney to Denton to 
 be with Lillian during her illness. Such a mix-up of people 
 and places was not uncommon in the family — this family 
 in the manse. 
 
 One son-in-law, Lt. McCullough, finally was stationed at 
 Ellington Field, Houston, near their home in Conroe. And 
 by this time, Charles was stationed at New London, Con- 
 necticut, and John Dillon, at Marfa Flying Field. Tom Mit- 
 chell, Ruth's husband, was at Englewood, California, serv- 
 ing as an inspector for North American Aviation, and Ted 
 and Ed were awaiting classification calls, and doing what 
 they could in their home communities towards the war ef- 
 fort. 
 
 The birth of Charles William Estes II, that summer, 
 marked the arrival of Preacher and Nannie's seventh grand- 
 child, four of whom had been born at the Denton Hospital 
 with Dr. Holland the attending physician, and Aunt Lil- 
 lian, the chief nurse. The McCulloughs had two: Margaret 
 Ann and Larry; Ruth and Tom had one son, Billy Tom; 
 Charles and Mildred, the one son; Ann and Ed, one son, 
 "Little Ed," as he was called; John Dillon and Mary Bess 
 had one little daughter, Margaret Gayle; and Lola May and 
 Ted, two children, Ruth Ann, and Sidney, the youngest of 
 the grandchildren. He was born on September 16, 1947, at 
 Jackson, Mississippi, and he was grandchild number eight. 
 
 91 
 
All the babies had been christened by Preacher in 
 Whitesboro, at one time or another. How very happy it 
 made this grandfather to know he had the privilege of 
 dedicating these young lives to the Lord! And what a bless- 
 ing for these dear ones to remember, in later years, this cere- 
 mony, officiated by their beloved "Pappaw," as they all called 
 Preacher. All these grandchildren except the very last one 
 will always cherish the memories of their grandparents, "Pap- 
 paw and Nannaw," and the visits at the manse. 
 
 Most all of the children lived within driving distance 
 of Whitesboro for holiday celebrations and other special 
 occasions. Cars arrived at all hours of day and night, un- 
 loading children, toys and good food. What meals, what 
 good times, around the big oak dining table! 
 
 The large Denison dam across the muddy Red River 
 was completed, to form the huge lake just north of Whites- 
 boro. One of the distinguished speakers for the dedication 
 ceremonies of the dam was the Honorable Sam Rayburn, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. "Mister Sam," 
 whose home was in Bonham, Texas, was a personal friend 
 of Preacher's, and had visited in the manse on several oc- 
 casions. 
 
 In token of Preacher's active interest and hard work in 
 connection with this government project, he was asked to 
 make the Prayer of Dedication as an invocation. 
 
 The prayer he used, and which was broadcast through- 
 out the nation together with the remainder of the program, 
 is as follows: 
 
 Almighty God, how excellent is Thy Name in all the 
 earth. 
 
 Thou art the creator of the whole earth and all things 
 therein. 
 
 Thou hast endowed man with Divine Strength, vision, 
 energy and skill to create and to complete mighty struc- 
 tures. 
 
 Thou hast created man for Thine own glory. 
 
 This day, we humbly give Thee thanks for this — one of 
 
 92 
 
the greatest of all of man's undertakings, a completed 
 work, by man. 
 
 Wilt Thou bless every part of wood, stone, steel, iron 
 and the soils of the two great commonwealths connected by 
 this structure. 
 
 We give Thee thanks for this mark of modern industry. 
 
 We dedicate this bridge, this link of world-traffic, to the 
 controlling of mighty waters. 
 
 To the connection of the national highway over which 
 shall pass travelers from all parts of the world. 
 
 With every improvement, bless our nation — Keep, bless 
 and guide all in authority. 
 
 Bless all who have shared in making this possible. 
 
 Bless this historic occasion. 
 
 We humbly ask in the Name of Jesus Christ . . . 
 
 Amen. 
 
 Members of Preacher's family present that day were Nan- 
 nie, the beloved wife; Lillian, and Mildred and son, Charles 
 William Estes II. 
 
 The governors of Oklahoma and Texas appointed a 
 committee to choose a name for the new lake and to allocate 
 the shoreline property. Preacher was one of the men serving 
 on this committee, and it was their job, working together 
 with the army engineers, to locate suggested sites for camps, 
 parks and resorts. Many names had been submitted for the 
 big body of water, and the popular one offered seemed to 
 be "Tex-Homa." Since there are already two towns of this 
 name, Texhoma, Texas, and Texhoma, Oklahoma, members 
 of the committee were reluctant to decide. During one of 
 the long committee sessions, Preacher suggested that the 
 letter "h" be stricken out. This suggestion of his was finally 
 made into a motion which carried the group. And the lake 
 was officially named "Lake Texoma." 
 
 Regardless of how many extracurricular projects Preach- 
 er undertook, his mission of preaching was always first. Many 
 individuals who were directed to the Christian way of 
 
 93 
 
life by Preacher's influence, joined churches of their own 
 choice, as well as the Presbyterian church. But the thought 
 that God used the Preacher as a mouthpiece to lead souls 
 to Christ, was supreme in Preacher's mind. He daily prayed 
 earnestly to be a blessing to someone each day. 
 
 During the war years, it became the Preacher's duty to 
 take the messages announcing the death or injury or loss of 
 many soldiers and sailors, to the homes of their wives and/or 
 parents. This sad duty was carried out faithfully by the 
 Preacher, who seemed to assume much of the load in such 
 times of sorrow in helping the bereaved families. Many fam- 
 ilies in the Whitesboro community to this day remark that 
 Preacher was better suited for such a task than anyone else 
 known. 
 
 Also, it was he who conducted the first funeral service 
 with full military rites in Whitesboro, for a local boy killed 
 in World War II. 
 
 For the first time in three years, all the children of the 
 manse were home together on December 21, 1945, to cele- 
 brate Preacher's seventy-first birthday. His birthday was on 
 Sunday, and all the family sat together, as always, in church 
 worship services that morning. How very proud Preacher 
 was of that family group! And how he did beam on them. 
 And how very proud all the members of the family were 
 of their "Preacher." 
 
 It was a wonderful sermon that day, all the congrega- 
 tion said. As a text, Preacher had used the 35th verse of 
 Psalm 37 — "Once I was young, now I am old; Yet have I 
 never seen the Righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging 
 bread." 
 
 In his honor, the family entertained with open house, 
 and scores of friends came to call and to shake hands with 
 their Preacher. That day in the manse was indeed a wonder- 
 ful time, but it took its toll. The long week end of celebra- 
 tion was nearly too much for the seventy-one-year-old pas- 
 tor, for on the following Monday evening (which was Christ- 
 mas Eve, when the tree lights had just been strung) he be- 
 came very ill. He was unable even to go to the church for 
 
 94 
 
the Christmas Tree Program, which was an annual affair of 
 good music, recitations, and surprises for young and old. 
 
 On Christmas Day, his condition was worse, and his 
 blood pressure sailed sky-high. His friend, Dr. Holland from 
 Denton, came over, and diagnosed the case by saying, "If it 
 is at all possible to be sick with happiness, I think Preacher 
 is." Several days of complete rest in the hospital renewed his 
 vigor and energy, and Preacher was up and about his 
 "Father's work" before long. 
 
 When spring rolled around again, the congregation pur- 
 chased a residence property just across the street from their 
 church building, and the old manse — scene of so many 
 happy gatherings of the Estes family — was sold. The "new" 
 manse was not new at all, but in much better repair than the 
 former one. A large house, it offered Preacher and Nannie 
 more room than ever in which to live and be hospitable. So 
 the Preacher and Nannie were overjoyed with this move. 
 
 There were many grand and joyous occasions during 
 those years, but in 1947 the Preacher's seventy-third birth- 
 day coincided with the anniversary of his fifty consecutive 
 years in the Gospel Ministry as a Presbyterian pastor, and 
 this occasion was the greatest! 
 
 Probably no celebration — at least in the Estes family — 
 ever quite reached the peaks of that one. All members of the 
 immediate family were present from all sections of Texas. 
 Other relatives and friends from many former pastorates ar- 
 rived. And various church officials took part in the day's 
 services. Dr. Gerrant, president of Austin College, a Presby- 
 terian US school, located in Sherman, Texas, presided at 
 the morning worship service. Congratulatory messages were 
 received from every field and church formerly served by 
 Preacher in his ministry. It was indeed a great day of thanks- 
 giving for all concerned, all the numbers who make up the 
 Presbyterian Church, everywhere, and all the family in the 
 manse. 
 
 In the message that morning, the guest speaker summed 
 up the Preacher's fifty years of service by saying: "Rev. Estes 
 has served churches in Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri 
 
 95 
 
and Texas, with mission points connected with every field. 
 He has aided in erecting and repairing eleven strong church 
 buildings and new or improved homes for the ministers. Be- 
 fore being ordained, Estes witnessed more than 560 souls 
 saved; he welcomed into church membership 2,000 souls; he 
 conducted more than 1,500 funeral services, more than 800 
 marriage ceremonies, and delivered 5,551 sermons. He aided 
 in special singing evangelistic services and directing choruses 
 in nine different states." 
 
 In reviewing his own years of service, Preacher said, 
 "Just a life of 'here a little, and there a little' is the real 
 work of God. Just to know people and to enjoy working 
 and aiding anyone, everyone. Surely this is the work of the 
 Master — going about doing good. Even in this day, the work 
 of the minister is the greatest work in all human life, and 
 I have never doubted my life work." 
 
 From Ohio came an evangelist, Rev. Tomshanty, and his 
 wife, in January, 1948, to assist the Preacher in a series of 
 revival meetings at Whitesboro. The entire community took 
 part in the services before the week was over, and it was 
 termed a most successful series. Attending during the last 
 week of the services were Mr. and Mrs. John Prather of 
 Ashmore, Illinois, old and dear friends of the Estes family, 
 and former neighbors. 
 
 Naturally, the Prathers were made at home in the manse, 
 and since this was their first visit to Texas, their host and 
 hostess tried to show them as much of the Lone Star State 
 as possible. They visited the daughter's home in Olney, 
 where they enjoyed the acres and acres of wheatfields, the 
 stock grazing and the oil wells pumping. Highlight of the 
 visit was a day spent in Fort Worth attending the South- 
 western Exhibition and Fat Stock Show. Mr. Prather, a re- 
 tired Illinois farmer, was almost ready to move to Texas 
 after one week of sight-seeing. 
 
 This visit of dear friends seemed to be a special one for 
 all concerned, and when the time for good-bys came, all 
 were a little saddened. 
 
 Severe winter weather marked that January and Feb- 
 
 96 
 
ruary. Such an abundance of activities, and the routine of 
 necessary duties, seemed almost at times to be too much for 
 the Preacher. Most of the time he had young ministerial 
 students to assist him in his pastoring. These young men, 
 and sometimes their wives, stayed in the manse and en- 
 joyed the use of Preacher's library and study. 
 
 Funerals in the snow; sermons when he was too tired; 
 firm handshakes and broad smiles to cover pain — all soon 
 began to make a difference in Preacher's generally happy, 
 optimistic and vivacious personality. He was ill, and hardly 
 anyone believed it. 
 
 Three different visits in the Denton Hospital, where he 
 stayed six weeks in all, did not seem to improve his condi- 
 tion. And on June 1, 1948, he underwent major surgery. 
 For about a week he seemed to respond well to treatment, 
 but after that he slowly weakened, regardless of the num- 
 ber of blood transfusions, and all the wonderful care he re- 
 ceived from many doctors and nurses. 
 
 On June 14, he quietly fell asleep, to awaken in that 
 Home Above, not a manse, but a mansion. 
 
 Once again, all the children were home; relatives and 
 friends from all over the Southwest were in attendance to 
 pay homage at the funeral service of this most wonderful 
 Preacher, this good man. Memorial gifts were made to 
 orphanages, medical foundations and churches, and floral 
 gifts in the hundreds were sent to hospitals, churches, and to 
 the manse itself. 
 
 His last service, one in memory, was held in his own 
 church, the sanctuary he loved and where he served. Inter- 
 ment was in the beautiful cemetery at Denton, for this choice 
 had been made some years previous. 
 
 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I 
 have kept the faith: 
 
 "Henceforth, there is laid up for me, a crown of righteous- 
 ness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at 
 that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that 
 love his appearing." 
 
 II Timothy, 4:7 & 8 
 
 J>7 
 
CHAPTER 17 
 
 Days of Readjustments 
 
 COON AFTER THE FUNERAL SERVICE, the members 
 ^ of the session of the Whitesboro church invited, or rather 
 insisted, that Mrs. Estes remain in the manse for the summer 
 months, at least until a regular pastor could be secured. 
 
 There for a few days were some of the children and 
 grandchildren. Then, one by one, they all had to return 
 to their own homes and jobs. Making their home at the 
 manse that summer were a young couple, Rev. and Mrs. 
 Mitchell, who were commuting to Sherman to attend Austin 
 College. Mitchell assisted the Preacher in all of his regular 
 duties. All the Preacher's family fondly knew them as "Ji m 
 and Jean," and deeply appreciated Jim's being on hand 
 whenever Preacher had had need of him during these past 
 four months. The Jim Mitchells remained at the manse 
 with "Mrs. Preacher" until the first semester of summer 
 school closed at Austin College. 
 
 In July, Lillian, the nurse, went to Saltillo, Mexico, to 
 serve as school nurse for the Texas State College for Wom- 
 en's summer Spanish school. Upon her return to Denton 
 the last of August, she and her mother rented an apartment 
 in Denton. Some of the extra household goods were sold 
 or given away or otherwise divided among the children, and 
 the other possessions were packed for moving. And Preach- 
 
 99 
 
er's widow left the manse on September 8, 1948, to make her 
 home in Denton. 
 
 The children were very thoughtful of their mother and 
 wanted the coming months to be as pleasant as could be. It 
 was arranged that "Mom," as she was so often called nowa- 
 days, visit in Conroe at the McCulloughs' through Thanks- 
 giving. Then she would go on to New Orleans to spend two 
 weeks with Lola May and Ted Rozsa. And by mid-December 
 she would travel up to Ruston, Louisiana, the home of 
 Ruth and Tom, where the family would spend Christmas 
 together. 
 
 Mom and all the children were striving to make Christ- 
 mas seem as much like "old times" as possible; yet, it was a 
 time of silent remembering. Each member of the family, 
 young and old, missed the hearty laugh and the poised as- 
 surance of the Preacher. But each was trying to comfort the 
 others, so that the children, the little ones, at least, could 
 have a "Merry Christmas." 
 
 Lillian was not present at that Christmas gathering, for 
 she had remained on duty at the hospital. But long-distance 
 telephone brought them all together that Christmas morn- 
 ing. After an extended week end in Ruston, the several fam- 
 ilies returned to their respective homes in Texas and arrived 
 safely before the stormy January weather began. 
 
 In April the Ted Rozsas and children were transferred 
 from New Orleans, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, so "Mom" 
 went to New Orleans to help with the packing. She ac- 
 companied them as far as Denton, where she told them fare- 
 well, and they headed for the North. 
 
 Later in the spring, she began her round of family visits 
 again. She shared in the celebration of some of the grand- 
 children's birthdays. And in August, she took part in Mac's 
 big birthday party at Conroe, where his own mother of Dal- 
 las was also present. She arrived back in Denton in Septem- 
 ber in time to see Lillian off for New York. In the big city, 
 Miss Estes spent two weeks as a representative of the Nation- 
 al Foundation for Poliomyelitis. She had served as local chair- 
 man of the Denton County Chapter and helped direct the 
 
 100 
 
"March of Dimes." She was a dedicated worker in this cause 
 and had a wonderful trip seeing the famous spots and ap- 
 pearing on radio and television promotions for the Polio 
 Fund Drives. 
 
 Another move took place that fall, and Lillian and 
 "Mom" exchanged their duplex dwelling for a five-room 
 house, new and clean, in the western part of Denton. 
 
 In Canada, the weather was changing, and one knew that 
 winter was just ahead. Lola May, homesick and homebound 
 with her small children, invited "Mom" to spend the winter 
 months with them in Calgary. The decision was made, and 
 she planned her trip North. She arrived in Calgary in time 
 to help Lola May and Ted and their many friends from the 
 United States prepare for a joyous Thanksgiving dinner and 
 celebration. Then followed a big Christmas "Holiday," Nan- 
 nie's first away from home. 
 
 Some of the other children did enjoy Christmas together 
 that year, but all the family, children and grandchildren, 
 felt the separation and knew that the Christmases past — al- 
 ways spent in the manse — were happy memories. 
 
 They also recognized that the manners and customs they 
 had all learned in the manse, were simply happy preparation 
 for the days ahead. 
 
 101 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA 
 
 B.E795E C001 
 
 MANNERS OF THE MANSE SAN ANTONIO 
 
 3 0112 025405926