Obituary, copied from newspaper clipping dated December 5, 1877
Death of Isaac Estill
Isaac Estill, Esq. died at his residence on the Jackson Trace one mileNorth of Talladega, on Monday evening, the 3rd day of December, 1877, at quarter past 3 o'clock in the Eighty seve nth year of his age.
Isaac Estill was born near Richmond, in Madison Co., Kentucky on the 11thday of November, 1791. His father, William Estill, and his mother, whose maiden name was Wright, removed from Virginia to Kentucky in the early settlement of that state. His father died when the deceased was quite a small boy leaving three children, James, Isaac and Jane. James Estill was one of the early settlers of Alabama and was Clerk of the Circuit Shelby County, for many years. He has been dead fifty one years. His widow, Mrs. Eudocia Estill is now a resident of this County, in the Eighty-fourth year of her age. Jane married the late Rev. Leonard Tarrant and although in the eighty-third year of her age, was with her brother to
cheer and comfort him in his dying hour. Before Isaac Estill was grown his mother removed to Franklin Co., TN. From his early boyhood he was fond of adventure, long before he was grown was noted as a successful bear hunter in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. On the breaking out of the war, in 1813; he joined as a volunteer in a cavalry company,attached to the command of Col. Coffee and served a campaign under Gen'l Andrew Jackson. Sixty-four years ago he aided in cutting out a road through a then savage country, from Fort Strother at the Ten Islands to Talladega. This road since known as the Jackson Trace "passed through theplace on which he resided at the time of his death". He was not engagedin the battle of Talladega. The company to which he was attached wasacting as a guard to the baggage train and did not reach Talladega until the evening of the battle. He had a vivid recollection of the men and incidents of that interesting period and delighted to talk of them in his advanced years.
Soon after his return from the Creek war to his then home in Franklin County, TN. he entered on a cattle speculation driving large droves of beeves from Tennessee, into Pennsylvania going as far East as Philadelphia. Regarded at that day as quite an adventurous trip.Returning from Pennsylvania he was some sixty-nine other young men organized a trading expedition to Santa Fee in Mexico. Mounted on thefinest horses that could be procured in Tennessee and Kentucky and with a troop of substantial pack horses well laden with goods, they set out fromSt. Louis than a distant out post on the frontier settlement to traversea wild Indian country to Santa Fee. This party was out between twelve and fifteen months living except the time they were at Santa Fee exclusively upon the flesh of the buffalo killed by themselves on the plains. They exchanged their goods for Mexican mules, many of which they lost by stampedes on their return but succeeded in getting into the States with asufficient number to make the trip a very profitable one. On their trip across the plains and back the party was captured and made prisoners bythe Indians as many as twenty-seven times. They in turn captured squadsof Indians and holding them as prisoners until it was deemed safe to turn them loose.
Esquire Estill served a term as sheriff of Franklin County, Tennessee. Hemarried in 1815 a Miss Embry of Franklin county, who died within abouttwo years after their marriage. In 1824 he removed to Alabama and settledin Shelby County, near Montevallo. He was amongst the first whites that ventured into the Creek nation and settled in Talladega County early in 1832. Daniel Welch, Col. George Hill, Leonard Tan-ant, Drury Sawyer (thef ather of Maj. John Sawyer) and Allen Killough being among the few whitesthat settledd that year in the lower portion of Talladega county.
Esquire Estill, as soon as the lands were surveyed and the Indianslocated, entered into land speculation being a member of the firm of Estill, Hogan and Duren, composed of himself, Col. William Hogan and Jesse Duren. The two latter being among the first merchants that everlocated at Talladega. Esquire Estill had been a citizen of Talladegacounty for more than forty-five year and was perhaps as conversant withits settlement and early history as any one now living.
After the death of this father, his mother married the Rev. Reuben Mardisand the Hon. Samuel W. Mardis and Dr. John Mardis, two of his halfbrothers were largely indebted to him for their education and preparationfor entering upon their professions.
He was married to his second wife who survives him in 1838. There werefive children of this union, one died in infancy, two fell in the army of Northern Virginia and two survive.
To his step children he was kindly affectionate as to his own and theyhave a grateful appreciation of his fatherly care.
He was a kind hearted man remarkably amiable in his disposition and yet aman of true courage. He was scrupulously truthful and of unswervingintegrity. He had in earlier years been connected with the MethodistChurch, but had not of late years been able to attend church. His mindwas clear until about two days before his death. Four weeks ago he wasstricken down with his last illness. He was fully aware of his condition,talked freely of his death and devoted much of his times to prayers. Heexpressed his hope of salvation through the merits of his Redeemer anddies with unshaken faith. He was buried by the side of his half brother,the Hon. Samuel W. Mardis to whom in life he was devotedly attached. The Rev. J. J. D. Renfroe conducted the funeral services, assisted by the Rev. Daniel Duncan.
