Descendants of Elizabeth Johnston Barker Estes will meet for a family reunion on Sunday, May 29 at the Vanzant Community Building in Douglas County. Registration begins at 10 a.m. The reunion will commemorate the family journey from Tennessee to Indiana and finally to Missouri in 1878.
Elizabeth, her husband Andrew Jackson Estes, her six children, Charley, Russell, Henry and Issac “Burney” Barker from her first marriage, Viola and her infant brother Newt Estes and also Elizabeth’s father, David Johnston all arrived in Douglas County in 1879 by covered wagon. Traveling with them were members of the James Ousley family. Johnston and his grandsons quickly established saw mills within a five county area and were major pioneers of the lumber industry in the area. They furnished ties for the railroad being built between Rolla and Springfield, and established a lumber yard and planing mill at Mountain Grove, and shipped commercial grade lumber throughout the country by rail.
All descendants of the family are invited to attend and bring family photographs or artifacts. A covered dish lunch will be served at noon with a short program to follow.
Friends are welcome to drop by to visit and may stay for the afternoon program.
Tim Barker, Jr., Springfield, Mo., serves as chairman of the reunion committee.
