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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
B. F. SHEETS, a retired farmer, and one of the most highly respected citizens of the county, is living in Fremont. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 6, 1830, and is the son of Samuel and Phoebe (Winslow) Sheets. Samuel Sheets was born in the town of Bedford, Pa, Oct. 14, 1807. In 1825 he left his native State and emigrated to Ohio, and followed the occupation of farming. Sept. 21, 1853, he left Ohio with his family and started for the West, coming through to Keokuk County, Iowa, in wagons. He is now deceased, but Mrs. Pheobe Sheets is yet living. The subject of this sketch, at the age of eighteen, apprenticed himself to a man by the name of E. J. Darby, living in Napoleon, Holmes Co., Ohio, to learn the trade of tanner, and remained with him two years, at the end of which time he formed a partnership with Mr. Darby, which continued for two years more, when he bought out Mr. Darby's interest and carried on the business alone for eleven years, when, having sold his business to John and Tenis Spielman, in 1864, he came West with his wife and five children, locating in Davis County, Iowa. Here he purchased a small farm of improved land, residing upon and cultivating it for three years, and in 1868 sold the place and removed to Cedar Township, this county, buying an improved farm of 120 acres, upon which be resided for sixteen years. In 1884 he sold this farm to Daniel Votaw, purchased lots in the town of Fremont, and built a comfortable home thereon, where he is now residing. June 5, 1851, Mr. Sheets was married to Mary S. Tidball, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1833, and is the daughter of William B. and Nancy (Wilson) Tidhall. The former was born in Pennsylvania, June 1, 1807, and removed with his parents, while yet a young man, to Ohio, and remained with them, following the occupation of farmer, until 1860, when he removed with his family to Warren County, Iowa, where he has since died. His widow survives, and resides upon the homestead in Warren County, with a daughter. The subject of this sketch and wife are the parents of eight children: Elnora, born Feb. 24, 1852, is the wife of J. F. Russell, and lives in Nebraska; Solon B., born April 30, 1855, married Mary Burris, and lives in Guthrie County, Iowa; Abigail, born Aug. 3, 1857, is the wife of H. D. Hughes, and resides in Carroll County, Iowa; Mercy J , born Sept. 25, 1859, is the wife of Samuel Tennis, of this county; Phoebe L., born Nov. 20, 1861, is the wife of Laban Kent, of this county; Joanna, born June 4, 1865, is the wife of Willis S. Sharp, of Carroll County; Samuel, born Nov. 4, 1867, and Lettie, March 28, 1871, are at home. A grandson, Jason W. Kent, born Nov. 3, 1881, is a member of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Sheets are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are active and influential members. They are strong advocates of the temperance cause, and are firm believers in the wisdom of a law that shall locate churches and school-houses on the hills and abolish the saloons in the valleys, and in this and their church work have no apologies to make to the saloon interests and rum power of the State, firmly believing that the continuance of so unholy a traffic is detrimental to the best interests of all the people and an insult to the intelligence of the nation.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy