Of southern birth and lineage, Thomas Alexis Mack displays in his character many of the qualities that have distinguished citizens of that section of our country for generations, and have won for himself a popularity and esteem which place him among the influential citizens of Merced County. He has been an active participant in public affairs for the past thirty-five years; for ten years he served as a constable of Merced, then became shotgun messenger for Wells, Fargo Express Company, a position he held for nine years, during the time when gold was transferred from the mountains to the railroad, and each trip was fraught with danger. Mr. Mack established a reputation for courage and fearlessness, which led to his appointment as a deputy sheriff in 1911. Upon the death of Sheriff Cornell, Mr. Mack was appointed to fill his position, and in 1916 he was elected without opposition; again in 1919 he was elected to succeed himself and still again in 1922. His service has been characterized by the strictest integrity, unbounded courage and a spirit of progress that has had a beneficial influence upon the community in general.
Thomas Alexis Mack was born in Carter County, Kentucky, in 1857, a son of John and Catherine (Roach) Mack, farmer folk in the southern State. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. Mack attended public school in Kentucky and assisted his father on the farm until 1880, when he removed to Washington County, Iowa, where he farmed for three years. His desire to come West was realized in 1883, when he settled at Snelling, Merced County, and found work on the Montgomery ranch. It was not until 1888 that he became a resident of Merced, which has been his place of residence ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Mack united him with Miss Nettie Yoakum, a native daughter of California, and of this union three children have been born. Maude is now the wife of A. T. Munn and they have one daughter, Virginia; the family resides in Los Angeles. George Thomas is an engineer for the State Highway Commission; during the World War he served in France for two years; and William Alexis is with the Yosemite Lumber Company. In politics Mr. Mack is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Merced Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Outcalt, John. A history of Merced County, California : with a biographical review of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present; Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Company, 1925.