Thomas Newton Reed, of Fort Smith, Ark., is county clerk of Sebastian county, and was born in Hempstead county, Ark., December 22, 1865.

His father, Finis Young Reed, Jr.. was a native of Tennessee and removed to Hempstead county, Ark., when he was fifteen years of age, and very successfully engaged in farming until 1868, at which time he removed to the county of Sebastian and resided there until his death on May 4, 1900.

The mother of Thomas N. Reed was Nealy Miller, a native of Georgia, who, at the age of twelve years accompanied her parents to Sevier county, Ark., and now resides at Greenwood.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Sebastian county, educated in the splendid public schools of this section and was graduated from the high school at Booneville, Ark. For the several succeeding years he taught school in Sebastian county with great success.

Mr. Reed is deservedly very popular in his county and has been honored with many positions of public trust. In 1891 he became deputy county clerk of Sebastian county and held this position until his election to the office of county clerk in 1896. He has filled this office with great ability and untiring courtesy and was re-elected in 1898, 1900 and 1902 and has always received a majority over all opponents, though at times there have been several strong men opposed to him.

He is a prominent Mason, having received the Knight Templar degree, and is thoroughly identified with the Elks. Woodmen and Ancient Order of United Workmen. On religious matters he is quite broad-minded, believing that all denominations achieve the same results, but his preference is the Presbyterian faith and he affiliates with this church. He was married in Sebastian county. Ark., August 22, 1894, to Ida Bell, a native of that county, and they have one son, Reuben, a student of Fort Smith public schools.