George H. Estabrook was an 1882 settler in Foster County where he lived on a farm one mile east of Barlow in the township which bears his name. He was born October 5, 1830 at Springfield, Illinois. He had volunteered early in the Civil War and attained the rank of Major by the end of the conflict. Several of his war reminiscences are reported in the Independent. He maintained his farm on Section 8 in the township and a law office in Carrington. He was appointed County Judge when the separation of Eddy and Foster Counties occurred in 1885 and held the office by election through 1892. In that year he was elected States Attorney and served one term (1893 -1894).

He and his son Lewis assumed the ownership of the Foster County Independent in 1904 when the paper experienced financial difficulties under the ownership of H.H. Palmer. Palmer dropped out of sight from the area indebted to nearly everyone including the Estabrooks. The newspaper continued publication with another Estabrook son, G. Albert, as editor. In April 1907 the paper was sold to attorney C.B. Craven and E.D. Lum. The latter was a newspaperman with some experience.

The Estabrooks retired in 1908 to the state of Washington where they lived with their son Albert who had moved to Edmonds, WA. George H. Estabrook died July 17, 1916 and is buried at Chippawa Falls, Wisconsin, the home of his daughter Mrs. W.H. Bailey.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 217