The Biographical Dictionary of America/Estes, Dana

Estes, Dana, publisher, was born in Gorham, Maine, March 4, 1840; son of Joseph and Maria (Edwards) Estes, and a descendant through Joseph, Robert, Samuel, Henry and Beajamin, from Richard (son of Robert Estes of Dover, England), who landed in Boston, Mass., Sept. 27, 1684, and settled at Piscataqua, Oct. 11, 1684. Dana was educated in the public schools, and was a clerk in a general store in Augusta, Maine, 1855–59. He engaged in the book business with Henry D. Degen & Son in Boston, 1859–61. He served in the Union army from April, 1861, until the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 31, 1862, when his only brother, Albert S. Estes, was killed, and where he was disabled from further service. He re-entered the book business as a clerk in 1864, and in 1866 became a member of the firm of Degen, Estes & Co. He was subsequently connected with the house of Lee & Shepard, until 1872, when he became a partner in the firm of Estes & Lauriat, which was succeeded by Dana Estes & Co., of which he was the head in 1898. He was elected a member of the American association for the advancement of science; of the American archæological institute and of various social and literary clubs. He received the degree of A.M. from Bowdoin college in 1898. He was married April 11, 1867, to Louise S., daughter of Peter and Mary (Filgate) Reid of England, and their sons, Frederick Reid, Dana Jr., and Philip Sydney, became interested in the publishing business. Mr. Estes' second wife, to whom he was married Nov. 10, 1884, was Grace D., daughter of Samuel E. and Charlotte Haven (Ladd) Coues of Portsmouth, N.H. He edited Half-Hour Recreations in Popular Science, and compiled several volumes of juvenile and standard poetry.