JUDGE W. F. STORY, one of the leading lawyers of
Sparta, Tenn., is a descendant of Sir Thomas Story, who
came over to America with William Penn. He was born in
Fentress county, Tenn., Dec. 20, 1846, his parents being Noah
W. and Catharine (Woolsey) Story, the former born in North
Carolina, in 1809, and the latter in Tennessee. Judge Story's
paternal grandfather was Joshua Story, who came to Tennessee about 1811, settled on Wolf river, in Fentress county, and
died there. He married a Miss Lewis while living in North Carolina. On the maternal side the grandparents were
Jeremiah and Mary (Beaty) Woolsey, the former a native of Kentucky. They both died in Fentress county. Judge Story's
father was a fanner, an active Democrat, and he and his wife
were members of the Baptist church. They had eight children, four yet living. He died March 30, 1879, and his wife
in August, 1885. W. F. Story was educated in the common
schools and at the Nourse seminary, of Sparta. He then read
law with Colonel Colms, and was admitted to the bar in 1872.
He soon won a high position at the bar, and has been in
active practice at Sparta ever since his admission. In September, 1885, he was appointed the first county judge of White
county; held the office until the election a year later, when
he was elected for a term of eight years. He is a Royal Arch
Mason, and takes an active part in the political affairs of his
county and state. He is also interested in farming, owning
365 acres of land near Sparta. Judge Story has associated
with him Harry Camp, born in White county in 1875, educated
at Burritt college, admitted to practice in May, 1901, and one
of the rising young attorneys of White county. Mr. Camp is
a Mason, a Democrat, and has served as superintendent of
public instruction. Judge Story was married, in 1878, to Miss
Hattie E. Cole, a niece of his old preceptor, Colonel Colms, a
prominent attorney and a colonel in the Confederate army. To
Mr. and Mrs. Story there have been born seven children:
Mary, deceased; John W., Joseph E., deceased; Mabel, Lucile.
Edna and William F., Jr. The parents were members of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church until it went down, and since
then Mrs. Story has been a Methodist.
Notable Men of Tennessee -- transcribed by, Amanda Jowers
