Additional information available.[1]

NOTE: Anna & Chad's third great grandmother.

Sarah Isabell Pine and Jacob Clark and their two children, Olive and Spencer, moved to a farm in Black Rock, Arkansas around 1857. Shortly after Elva Ann was born. Sarah was widowed and left with three young children to raise, and a farm to run.

Sarah tells the following story that is in the book, "Descendants of Archibald Burris Estes and Isabelle Pine", W. A. "Bill" Estes 1983:

"My Most Unforgettable Character" by Effie Blankenship Estes (married to son, Jack and Daughter-in-law of Sarah Isabell Pine)

There was trouble brewing between the North and South. We lived about midway between the two. War was declared. Archie didn't go, but we were troubled by raiders from both North and South........

One day, a polite well-dressed young man stopped and asked for dinner for himself and several men. He was so polite and gentlemanly that I prepared a good dinner for them. One man stood guard at the gate while the others ate, then he came in and ate and the others stood guard.

The young man paid handsomely for the dinners which surprised and delighted me.

A couple of days later, a neighbor woman called and told me that Jesse James, a former neighbor of theirs, called on her. She was crying. He asked her the trouble. She told him that Mr. H. , a well-to-do man, held a $200.00 mortgage on her place and if she couldn't pay it he would return that afternoon, and if she didn't have the money, he would take the property.

Jesse told her not to worry. He gave her $200.00 and told her to give it to him and not forget to demand a receipt.

Jesse hid himself by the roadside and when the man came back with the money, Jesse held him up and took the $200.00.

My neighbor was happy. She said Jesse told her a lady down the road gave them a good dinner!

Sarah married Archibald Burris Estes in 1859. Their 11th child, Jack was born in 1874. They sold their belongings in the spring of 1875 and joined a wagon train for Oregon.

David and Spencer were both married and stayed on in Arkansas. The trip was good. We had two wagons. Olive, my oldest daughter, and her husband went along and drove one wagon. We had a small bunch of young cattle. Calvin and John looked after them. We had a noisy rattle-brained passenger that caused more or less trouble. He tried to make up to our daughter, Laura, 16, but she wouldn't look at him for which I was very thankful.

When we reached the Indian country, he made brags that he would get his Indian. The Indians came but made no trouble, just wanted to trade horses, but that night this rattle-brain sneaked out, found and killed an Indian. He was tracked back to camp next morning and the indians demanded that he be given to them. He was scared stiff and begged the travelers to keep him. Some begged for him, others said he sould be given tp the Indians.

Finally, the Indians settled for some horses. They selected the best, of course. One of our best horses was taken. We had to put our milk cow in harness. She worked in that capacity till we reached Moscow, Idaho.

We had some trouble crossing the Snake River, but nothing serious.

My sister had died several years ago, but her family lived in Moscow. We were tired and worn. We stayed a week with them.

Archie wanted to settle here. He bought a farm of 160 acres, a hut and small barn. The boys, Cal and John, 18 and 16 years of age, cut trees and added logs to the hut making three rooms and a small kitchen. We crowded into the place. The boys had one room, the girls another and Archie and I slept in the living room, but we were never more happy!

We learned to get along together, had fun and each one had his share of work. We had three good horses. Archie bought farm implements and the boys plowed and planted wheat and oats. We planted a big garden of vegetables, berry wines, fruit trees and every thing we could get hold of.

That summer the Nez Perce Indians were a little troublesome. We were frightened and took bedding into the wheat fields and spent our nights there. The trouble was soon over and no harm done.

But, two years later they really made trouble for us. A fort was built in Moscow, and our families took refuge there. Will, our youngest child was 11 days old, but we all huddled in the fort and were thankful to have it. The trouble didn't last too long. Considerable damage was done but not too near Moscow. Several people were killed and some crops were ruined. We were happy to get off with only fright and inconvenience.

Archie's health was improved for which I was very thankful. The crops were good. The boys would haul wheat to Lewiston where a small mill would grind it in to flour. They sold flour to the neighbors. Many of our friends came from far East and settled nearby. Schools and churches were built and we began to really live again.

John decided to return to Arkansas-that left Archie and Cal to run the farm. Laura, our oldest daughter, was 18. She married John Benjamin. We were not too happy about it, but they got along nicely. Frances was 16. She wanted to teach school. There were no schools here but we sent her to Pullman, Washington, to go to college. She studied one year, then taught one term and married Niram Hawley. Phebe and Mary, the younger girls, were married some years later. Calvin decided to get married. He had been so faithful that we couldn't be unhappy about it. Just wished him happiness. That left Tom, about 18 years old, to manage the farm. Archie's health was poor but he helped all he could. Jack was about 15 and altogether they got along pretty well.

One evening we were sitting quietly talking when Archie took a coughing spell and died without saying a word.

I didn't know what to do. Again, I was left a widow with a large farm and three young boys. Tom was a good worker, but he and Jack didn't get along well. When jack was 17, he and a neighbor boy decided to see the world. We got help and Tom and Will did well.

We had lived in the old house with added requirements and we decided to build a new home. tjhe farm was good. Tom had fallen in love and was married. Anna was a splendid girl and I loved her dearly.

The Nez Perce reservation was opened for settlement and Tom and Anna wanted to go there. Jack came home. he and Will got along fine. They raised good crops, built a good big barn . They bought a threshing machine and made good money., Will decided to go to college, that left Jack and I alone.

You know about the rest, Effie. You and Jack got married and Jack wanted to leave the farm. Tom was alone and wanted to come back on the old farm. I stayed on the farm for a couple of years, but decided it was too much for me and I moved in to town. I wasn't too happy, but I had my church and lots of old friends. Finally, I became ill. I wanted you and Jack to come and take care of me. We had family and I was afraid the children would annoy her, but she wanted us. She was 82 years of age at that time. The doctor said it was doubtful if she recovered. We came in August. She continued ill until in March she recovered and was really well. We got a larger house and she wanted to go with us.

She was a darling, never made any trouble. "Give me mending, Effie, I can mend anything except the children's black stockings", and she did. She did lots pf litle things that helped me lots. She kept a good memory until she was eighty-eight years old. She was not too well but was kind and good.

I most always went to see her before I went to bed. I know that she wasn't too well. When I went in that night, she said, "Effie, will you put another blanket on my bed, I'm a litle chilly?"

I tucked the blanket on her bed, then tucked some stray hairs under her cap. She reached up, put her arms around my neck, pulled me down and kissed me and said, "Effie, you are so good to me." "Mother, " I said, "I couldn't be anything but good to you."

Two days later, she died. Three of her daughters were sitting by her bedside. Her last words were, "Effie, will you get me a drink of water?"

I often think of her and the busy life she led.

I only wish that I may grow old, sweet and graceful as Mother Estes.

[1] See also