Thomas J. Stocks has passed through the trying experiences of pioneer life and stands among the few corateous ones who withstood its many hardships, its panics, its drouth and its general hard times and have lived to see a substantial and wealthy city and county grow from a former wilderness. The town of Ballinger, which had been selected for the county seat, was opened for settlement by a public sale of lots on June 29, 1886. Mr. Stocks had arrived on the 25th, four days previously, and he took part in the beginning as well as the subsequent history of Ballinger. For several years he was in the lumber business, the most of the time being yardman for the Cameron Lumber Company, and he was also for a time engaged in the cattle business. In 1894 he was elected the treasurer of Runnels county, and served two terms in that office, and in 1908 he was returned to that office and is its present incumbent. He has large property interests in Ballinger, conspicuous among which is the Stocks Hotel, of which he is the proprietor.
Mr. Stocks was born and reared in LaFayette county, Mississippi, born on the 7th of June, 1849, and his home was there until in 1870 he came to Bell county, Texas. After five years there he moved to Lampassas, and in June of 1886 he came to Runnels county. While living in Bell county he was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Wright, a childhood companion back in his native county in Mississipi, and they have become the parents of eight children: Mrs. Callie Lewin, Joe Stocks, Mrs. Ada Brooks, Thomas Stocks, Jr., Mrs. Lela Sparks and Boyd, Mildred and Roscoe Stocks.

SOURCE: History of Central and Western Texas, pgs. 364-265.