In the 1850 Oregon County census there was a James Story age 5 in the Wilson Howell household. I think this household was located in the area between Thomasville and West Plains. Remember in 1850 Oregon was still a huge county in area, comprising an area from roughly the Northfork river in current Howell County to highway 60 in Shannon County with West Plains receiving it's name for its location in the western plains of Oregon County. With all that said, the 1860 Howell County census might be a good place to check and I don't have it.