William Storey, the founder of this family, was born in England in 1800, died in 1870. In England he lived at Early, Cambridgeshire; in 1847 he came to America, settling first at Seneca Falls, Seneca county, New York. For a short time also he lived at Brownstown, Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania. In 1851 he came to Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and worked for several years in Snowdon 's machine shops, at his trade of machinist. He and his wife were both Methodists. He married (second) Elizabeth Palmer, of Early, Cambridgeshire, England, who died in 1882. Children, two by first, one by second wife: William, deceased; Susan, married William Dean; they live at Atchison, Kansas; he is an extensive land owner; Matthew, of whom further.
(II) Matthew, son of William and Elizabeth (Palmer) Storey, was born in England, August 29, 1839, died December 6, 1905. He attended public school. Coming with his parents to Brownsville, he learned the trade of machine blacksmith under John Snowdon, with whom he remained for five years. In 1859 he changed this employment and learned the trade of steamboat engineer. For twenty years he was engaged thus in packet trade on the Mississippi river and its tributaries. He was assistant engineer on the "New Falls City," one of the boats which carried the confederate troops from New Orieans for the capture of the United States arsenal at Baton Rouge. Mr. Storey, however, was a loyal Union man; from Columbus, Kentucky, he walked to the Ohio river, opposite Cairo, and came home by way of St. Louis. Two months later he returned to St. Louis and became engineer on a government transport; in this service he continued until the close of the war. For sixteen years thereafter he was chief engineer on boats, being employed for a long period by Gray's Iron Line. In 1881 he returned to Brownsville and successfully conducted the Bar House for several years. After this he purchased the Snowdon House, which he refitted, remodeled, and renamed the Storey House. He was proprietor of this hotel for nineteen years. When he retired he sold the good will and furnishings of the hotel to J. J. Cauley. He retired November 6, 1904, and lived just thirteen months thereafter. He was a member of Brownsville Lodge, No. 60, Free and Accepted Masons; Brownsville Chapter, No. 164, Royal Arch Masons; St. Omar Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar; also of Charleroi Lodge, No. 494, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a Democrat. In England he had been a member of the Church of England, baptized in Ely Cathedral, and he was therefore an Episcopalian in America; his wife, however, was a Methodist, and of a Quaker family. He married, in 1860, Julia, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1843, daughter of Charles Baker, of St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio; she is now living at South Brownsville. Children: Albert G., deceased; Margaret, married C. T. Baldwin, lives at South Brownsville; Lewis, deceased; Minnie, died in infancy; Charles H., of whom further; Blanche; Matthew, living at South Brownsville.
(III) Charles H., son of Matthew and Julia (Baker) Storey, was born at South Brownsville, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1873. He attended the public schools and Chalfant's Business College. He learned the trade of glass cutter, and followed this trade for some years. Since 1906 he has been right of way agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He has served as a member of the school board for several years, and for about nine years was a member of the city council. His fraternal societies are Brownsville Lodge, No. 60, Free and Accepted Masons; and Charleroi Lodge, No. 494, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Democrat.
Mr. Storey married, November 25, 1903. Elizabeth E., born at Brownsville, May 18, 1881, daughter of Edward and Margaret (Wheaton) Cox, Her grandfather, David Cox, was born in Maryland, July 12, 1814, and married, December 25, 1838, Elizabeth Lee, who was born in England, November 4, 1821. He lived at what was then known as Coxtown, now Hempstead, Maryland, and removing from Maryland was an early settler of Brownsville. He was a bricklayer and built the Bar House. His politics were Republican. Children of David and Elizabeth (Lee) Cox; 1. Ann Eliza, born July 18, 1841, deceased; married, March 27, 1862, Henry Madeira, also deceased. 2. John Francis, born May 25, 1843, died in Washington, D. C.; served for three years in the civil war, 3. Edward, born July 8, 1845, brought up at Brownsville, where he attended the public schools; he has been for twenty-eight years engaged in the hand-ling of coal on the river, having spent twelve years with one company, nine with another; he is a Republican. 4. Margaret Ann, born September 19, 1847, died in infancy. 5. Harriet Matilda, born February 11, 1850, deceased. 6. May, born January 9, 1852, died August 31, 1852. 7. Louisa. born March 3, 1854, died October 1, 1886. 8. Martha Jane, born November 27, 1856, died in 1912. 9. George, born January 16, 1860, died August 26, 1886. Of these children Edward is the father of Mrs. Storey; he married, in 1879, Margaret Wheaton, who was born in Fayette county; their children were: Elizabeth E., married Charles H. Storey, of whom herein; Nannie J.; George P.; Bruce Madeira; and Grace; all are living. Children of Charles H. and Elizabeth E. (Cox) Storey : Julia Louise. born September 23, 1904; Virginia, March 2, 1909.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.