THOMAS W. STOREY. The responsible position of sheriff and collector of Stone County, Arkansas, is filled by Thomas W. Storey, who is one of the most energetic, enterprising and intelligent of men. He is a native of Jackson County, Ga., born September 22, 1841, a son of William H. and Elizabeth (Garner) Storey, who were also born in Georgia, he in Franklin County and she in Gwinnett County. In 1869 they went from Georgia to Arkansas and after one year’s residence in Izard County the father died, in his fifty-seventh year, the mother’s death occurring in 1885. Mr. Storey was a tanner by trade and carried on this business in several counties in Georgia, and also in Izard County, Arkansas, up to the time of his death. He was captain of a company during the Seminole War in Florida, and in 1863 was elected lieutenant of a cavalry company, and was in the service of the Confederacy until the close of the great conflict between the North and South. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was a local minister of the same for about twenty-five years, and did a great deal of good for the cause of Christianity. Politically he was a Democrat.
Thomas W. Storey was one of a family of five sons and four daughters, and was the eldest of the family. He secured a good education in the common schools of Georgia, and afterward finished his education in the State University, and the La Crosse Academy in Izard County. August 24, 1861, he left home to give his aid to the Confederacy, and became a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Georgia Infantry, and fought at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville and Fisher’s Creek, October 13, 1864. On the 19th of October, of the same year, he lost one of his legs at Cedar Creek by a cannon ball which closed his service.
His education was finished after he left the army. He also assisted his father in his business, and three years after coming to Arkansas went to Riggsville from Melbourne and there successfully conducted a tannery until 1879, when he purchased a farm of 200 acres four miles west of Mt. View, where he has since made his home. He was elected justice of the peace in 1878, held the office two years; in 1884 was elected sheriff, then was appointed deputy United States marshal, and in 1892 was again appointed to that position. He was then elected sheriff and collector of Stone County, and has discharged the duties of this position with marked ability up to the present time. In December , 1875, he was married to Miss Dollie L. Bailey, of this county, but who was born in Tennessee. Seven sons and two daughters have blessed their union. Mr. Storey is a member of the Methodist Church South, and in his political views has ever been a pronounced Democrat. He possesses sterling straits of character, is honored and respected as a citizen and official, and numbers his friends by the score.