Leonidas Jefferson Storey

Leonidas Jefferson Storey
13th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
January 18, 1881 – January 16, 1883
GovernorOran Milo Roberts
Preceded byJoseph D. Sayers
Succeeded byFrancis Marion Martin
Railroad Commissioner of Texas
In office
November 21, 1894 – March 28, 1909[1]
GovernorJim Hogg
Charles A. Culberson
Joseph D. Sayers
S. W. T. Lanham
Thomas Mitchell Campbell
Preceded byWilliam P. McLean
Succeeded byWilliam D. Williams
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 31st district
In office
April 18, 1876 – January 11, 1881
Preceded byDistrict Inactive
Succeeded byWilliam Henry Burges
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
January 14, 1873 – April 18, 1876
Preceded byAnderson J. Dorris
Succeeded byGeorge U. Mead
Philip Edward Peers
Personal details
Born(1834-10-06)October 6, 1834
Chattooga County, Georgia, U.S.
DiedMarch 28, 1909(1909-03-28) (aged 74)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Lucinda J. Ellison
(m. 1859)
Children10
Alma materAustin College
Military service
AllegianceConfederacy
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Years of service1862–1865
Rank First lieutenant
UnitCompany B, 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars

Leonidas Jefferson Storey (October 6, 1834 – March 28, 1909) was an American politician and military officer who served as the 13th lieutenant governor of Texas from 1881 to 1883. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in both houses of the Texas Legislature from 1873 to 1881.[2]

Biography

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Leonidas Jefferson Storey was born on October 6, 1834, to John Thompson and Lucy (née McLester) Storey in Chattooga County, Georgia, near Summerville. Margaret (née Thompson) and Edward Storey, both of old families of Virginia, were his paternal grandparents. His mother's parents, John and Araminta McLester, were of North Carolina. John T. and Edward Storey both fought in the War of 1812–1815, serving in the same regiment when the former was seventeen years of age. His father later moved from North Carolina to Jackson County, Georgia, in 1818, later participating in the removal of the Cherokee from Georgia in 1833. John Thompson Storey served many years in the Georgia Legislature and was a member of the Whig party. In 1845, the family moved to Gonzales, Texas, and two years later, to Lockhart.

Leonidas Jefferson Storey attended Austin College under Rev. Daniel Baker for one term, which he passed. He returned home due to sickness, and later began to read law in Lockhart in 1858, under Rogan and Whitis.[3] He married Lucinda J. Ellison a year later and they would go on to have ten children together.[4]

Before the Civil War, Storey earnestly opposed and canvassed against secession.[3] After secession he fought in the 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment.[4][5] He rose from the rank of second lieutenant to first lieutenant of B Company.[3]

From January 14, 1873, to April 18, 1876, Storey represented the 27th district, which included the county of Caldwell, in the Texas House of Representatives. After his tenure in the house, he was a member of the Texas Senate from 1876 to 1881, representing District 31.[4][6]

In 1880, Storey was elected as the 13th lieutenant governor of Texas. He served in the office from January 18, 1881, to January 16, 1883, before leaving after a single term.[2] Governor Jim Hogg appointed Storey to the Railroad Commission of Texas in 1892, eventually becoming chairman on January 20, 1903. He held the position until his death on March 28, 1909, at the age of 74.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Railroad Commissioners Past through Present". www.rrc.texas.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Leonidas Jefferson Storey". Lt. Governors of Texas, 1845 - present. Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas: Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and Many Early Settled Families. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Company. 1889. pp. 795–96 – via University of North Texas Libraries. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b c d "Storey, Leonidas Jefferson (1834–1909)". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. July 1, 1995. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Storey, Leonidas J." Civil War Soldiers. National Park Service. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Leonidas Jefferson Storey". Texas Legislators: Past & Present. Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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Leonidas Jefferson Storey at Find a Grave

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 27 (Lockhart)

1873–1876
Succeeded by
Texas Senate
Preceded by
District Inactive
Member of the Texas Senate
from District 31 (Lockhart)

1876–1881
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by 13th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
1881–1883
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Railroad Commission of Texas
1894–1909
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas
1903–1909
Succeeded by