Thomas was a native of North Carolina, where he was married to his first wife, Millie Cates. They moved, along with his parent's family to Henry County, Tennessee. After the death of Millie, he remarried to Irena Malone while still in Tennessee. They subsequently removed to Arkansas, where they resided until 1861. In that year they crossed the plains with ox teams to Washington. The wagon train with which they traveled had a great deal of trouble with the Indians and one man who had lingered behind the others in order to fish was scalped, while another was shot through the leg but succeeded in eluding his pursuers and later joined the train.

They arrived in Walla Walla, where they spent the hard winter of 1861 and 1862. Thomas, however, soon after reaching his destination, homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on Dry Creek, about six miles northwest of Walla Walla, and there built a log house which he weather boarded and made habitable. He lived upon that ranch until 1879, at which time he sold four hundred and eighty acres and removed to Pleasant View on the Eureka Flats. There he bought three hundred and twenty acres and made his home at that place until his death, which occurred in August, 1886 when he was eighty-six years of age. His wife passed away two years later at the age of sixty-seven years.

Updated Information from: Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County
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The tombstone stone of Thomas Estes has his date of death as November 18, 1886, aged 87 years. The correct date is August 18, 1886, aged 86 years, as reported in the newspaper at the time. The memorial marker is four sided. To the right of Thomas is his second wife, Irena Estes, died November 15, 1888, aged 74 years. This would make her birthday April 24, 1814, as opposed to 1817, as reported in the "Sketch of the Thomas Estes Family." The opposite side to the stone list their son, John R. Estes, died February 10, 1882, aged 37 years. John fell from a horse and struck his head.