Peter Sheets

Peter Sheets, one of the first settlers of Essex township and the son of Henry and Katherine Sheets, was born in Germany in the year 1780. When but a child his parents came to Pennsylvania, and several years later removed to Virginia, and thence after years removed to Indiana, where at an advanced age they both died. Peter made his home with his parents until his marriage in 1813. His bride was Miss Elizabeth Weigal, a native of Pennsylvania, her parents being Germans. For twenty-three years after their marriage he made his home in Virginia and Indiana, starting in the latter state on a new place which he improved and put in a flourishing condition. In 1836 they turned their steps toward the new West, and having purchased a tract of nearly new land, he began at once to make improvements. Living in an old log-house for several years, he in 1838 erected a square-topped barn, which still stands in a good state of preservation and is yet one of the best barns in the vicinity. In 1812, Mr. Sheets, endowed with the spirit of enterprise which always characterized him, erected the first and only native stone house in the county. The pine for the finishing was drawn by wagon from Chicago. The house is yet a good house and long will stand as a monument to its worthy builder. Ever prominent in every matter which promised to advance the interests of his county, lending a helping hand wherever he could, he and his faithful wife spent many happy years together until 1874, when death called Mrs. Sheets to her reward, in her eighty-third year. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Sheets, in his ninety-fifth year followed his wife to the last sleep. The joys and sorrows of sixty-two years of married life they had spent together, rearing a family of fourteen children. Six still live, and three in Stark county. Mr. and Mrs. S. were prominent members of the Baptist church and people whom it was only necessary to know to highly esteem. By thrift and good management he had increased his possessions to nine hundred acres of good land. He was a self-made man. William Sheets, the twelfth child, remained in the home of his father until his twenty-second year, obtaining a practical education at the common schools of that time, and at eighteen began teaching a "geography school," which he continued some three winters, meeting with good success. When he first left home he proceeded to Switzerland county, Ind., and here remained two years. While in Indiana he made the acquaintance of Miss Mahala Houze, who, in 1851, became his wife. She was born in 1836, her ancestors being of German extraction, who came to America at an early date, some of them taking an active part in the war of 1812, her grandmother having an arm broken during a siege of one of the forts, which was so fiercely assaulted by British and Indians that, every man being needed at the front, the women had to act as physicians and attending the wounded, set her arm, which afterward became strong. Mrs. Sheets remained at home until her marriage, having in the meantime obtained a good education and acted as assistant in a school one winter. Some twenty months after their marriage they removed to Illinois, and the following spring, 1856, built upon and removed to a farm of eighty acres on section 17, Essex township, where their home has since been made. Since then his farm has been increased to 213 acres of good fertile soil. Their family consists of nine children—Philip A., Susan V., George A., Mary J., Peter U., William J., Harriet I. and Nancy M. (twins), Arminda M. The youngest five are at home. Mrs. Sheets is a member of the United brethren church, as are seven of her children. Mr. S. is in politics a Democrat, but pays more attention to the affairs of his immediate business.