Estes, Dana, son of Joseph and Maria (Edwards) Estes, was born in Gorham, Cumberland county, Maine, March 4, 1840; removed to Augusta, Maine, in 1855, and to Boston, 1859.
His early educational training was obtained in the public schools. At the beginning of the war of the rebellion he enlisted as private in the 13th regiment, Massachusetts volunteers; was three times wounded at the battle of second Bull Run, August 31, 1862, in which battle his only brother, Albert S. Estes, was killed.
Returning to Boston, he became the head of the publishing house of Estes & Lauriat, 1872; removed to Brookline, 1881; edited a series of volumes entitled "Half Hour Recreations in Popular Science;" compiled several volumes of juvenile and standard poetry, 1872–'74; became life member of the American Archæological Institute, 1882; Bostonian Society, 1883; American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1884; Boston Memorial Association, 1885; director of the latter, and first secretary of the Pine Tree State Club, 1886 to '89; visited England, and was entertained by Lord Tennyson and Thomas Hughes, 1887; organized the International Copyright Association, and was its first secretary, November, 1887; brought from northern Italy a large collection of Paleo-Italian antiquities of great archæological value, 1888; was president of Brookline Club, 1888–'89; won the celebrated series of "Chatterbox" international trademark law-suits, 1884 to '89, by which foreigners can acquire copyright in certain classes of books in America.
Mr. Estes was first married at Newton, April 11, 1867, to Louisa S., daughter of Peter and Mary (Filgate) Reid, of England. Of this union were three children: Frederick Reid, Dana, Jr., and Philip Sydney Estes. His second marriage occurred November 10, 1884, with Grace D. (Coues) Page, daughter of Samuel E. and Charlotte Haven (Ladd) Coues of Portsmouth, N. H.
Mr. Estes is a lineal descendant in the eighth generation from Robert Estes, of Dover, England. Richard, the son of Robert, came to America in 1684, according to the record in the Bible now in possession of Mr. Estes. Benjamin, son of Richard, was born in Lynn, Mass., and died in Berwick, Maine, to which state he had removed at an uncertain date. This branch of the Estes family settled in Maine —Henry, son of Benjamin, born in Berwick; Samuel, son of Henry, born in Portland, and Robert, the grandfather of Dana, born in Windham, Me.
Mr. Estes' mother was the great granddaughter of Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, who came from Londonderry to Gorham, Me., in 1733. Hugh was a lineal descendant of Sir Hugh McLellan of Argyle, Scotland.