Estep Family Genealogy & History

Maggie Estep, born Margaret Ann Estep on March 20, 1963, in Summit, New Jersey, was a renowned American writer and poet. She gained recognition during the 1990s spoken word and poetry slam movement, publishing seven books and releasing two spoken word albums, "No More Mr. Nice Girl" and "Love is a Dog From Hell." Her poetry was praised for being direct, aggressive, and modern. Estep's career highlights include appearances on Lollapalooza, MTV's Spoken Word Unplugged, PBS's The United States of Poetry, and HBO's Def Poetry. Her novels, such as "Diary of an Emotional Idiot" and the Ruby Murphy mystery series, further cemented her literary reputation.

Maggie Estep was survived by her mother and three half-siblings, reflecting a close family circle at the time of her passing in 2014.

Preston "Pete" Wayne Estep III is a prominent American biologist and advocate for science and technology, known for his work in genomics and genetics. A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard University, Estep conducted groundbreaking research under Professor George M. Church. He co-founded Veritas Genetics and established the Rapid Deployment Vaccine Collaborative (RaDVaC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Estep is featured in the Netflix series "Unnatural Selection" and authored the book "The Mindspan Diet," which explores the link between diet and mental longevity. His career highlights include advising the Personal Genome Project and engaging in longevity research, with a focus on challenging existing anti-aging strategies.

Mary Jo Estep, also known as Mary Josephine Estep, was a Shoshone child survivor of the Battle of Kelley Creek, dubbed "the last massacre" of Native Americans in the United States in 1911. Despite the tragedy of her early life, Estep built a significant career as an elementary school music teacher, serving for about forty years before retiring in 1974. She studied music and attended Central Washington University, contributing greatly to education and music. Estep's story gained wider recognition in 1975 after author Dayton Hyde highlighted her origins in his book, The Last Free Man.

Born in 1909 or 1910, Mary Jo Estep was the daughter of Wenega Daggett and the granddaughter of Mike Daggett, known posthumously as "Shoshone Mike." After surviving the massacre, she was adopted by Maj. Evan W. Estep, a white superintendent of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and his wife, Orrell Marietta "Rita" Garrison Estep. Estep lived with her adoptive family across Montana, New Mexico, and Washington, where she eventually settled in Yakima.

William Roscoe Estep (1920–2000) was a distinguished American Baptist historian and professor, renowned for his expertise on the Anabaptist movement. He served as a professor of Church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1954 to 1990, continuing to teach until 1994. Estep's influential works covered Baptist and Anabaptist history, religious liberty, and world missions. He was actively involved in numerous church organizations, including the American Society of Church History and the Southern Baptist Historical Society. His colleague, James Leo Garrett, recognized him as one of the leading American scholars on Anabaptism in the 20th century.

Estep was married to Edna Alice and had six children: William Merl Estep, Martin Andrew Estep, Rhoda Elaine Macdonald, Mary McDowell Morgan, Lena Jane Gipson, and the late Alice Ann Estep. He was survived by nine grandchildren.