ESTEY

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 06:00:33 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, June 30, 1904
Page 1

AN OLD PIONEER IS LAID TO REST
Thomas H. Estey Passes Away Thursday

Thomas H. Estey, the well-known pioneer passed away at his home on the Mason ranch on San Antonio creek on Thursday morning. He had long suffered from dropsy and recently sustained a stroke of paralysis which resulted in his death.

He was one of the best known of Marin county’s pioneers and a life long friend of Mr. Mason and when the latter bought his present ranch west of town, Mr. Estey followed him here and built a home on the ranch where he has since resided in peace and contentment.

Thomas H. Estey was born in Sharon, Massachusetts, August 12, 1826. At the age of seventeen he left his native state and followed the sea until the gold excitement of 1848. On February 10, 1849, sailed from Boston, arriving in San Francisco, September 12th of the same year. He went to the mines in October, at Mud Springs, Placer county, and worked there for the most part of three years. Afterwards he followed hunting in the Sacramento Valley in the winter. In May, 1857, he came to Marin county from San Luis Obispo county, bought stock and lost them in the drouth of 1863-4. Returning to Marin in 1865, he leased for five years, nine hundred acres of land and one hundred cows from the late James Black, in partnership with his brother Charles. At the end of the lease, in 1871, he bought two hundred and forty acres of land just south of Nicasio where he resided until about four years ago when he removed to Sonoma county, across the line at San Antonio. On January 15, 1875, he married Hannah E. Gannon, a native of New York, who still survives him. She was a sister of the late Jack Gannon. Mr. Estey was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1878, and was a member of the twenty-ninth session of the State Legislature in 1891, and always took a prominent part in Marin county affairs. He assisted in organizing the Republican party in Marin county, and was always a firm advocate of Republican principles.

Mr. Estey was a member of San Rafael Lodge of Odd Fellows and of Nicasio Grove of Druids.

Mr. George Mason took charge of the funeral arrangements and did all that could be done for his faithful friend. The remains were brought to San Rafael on Friday afternoon and were laid to rest at Mt. Tamalpais cemetery Saturday morning. The funeral was under the auspices of Marin Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was largely attended. Many of his former neighbors from Nicasio and many pioneers were present.

Mr. Estey left hosts of friends throughout Sonoma and Marin counties. Many remember when he was regarded the best deer hunter in the section and many a friend has enjoyed juicy venison roasts furnished by him. In the olden days he never came in from his Papermill cabin without a deer. His passing removes another familiar to the pioneer history of the vicinity.