James Addison SHEETS

  General Notes:

James A. Sheets

James A. Sheets, a well known farmer of Mott township, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, October 22, 1860, a son of Peter and Mary Ann (Russell) Sheets, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The father came to Franklin county in 1865 and bought a quarter section of land in Mott township. On his return journey to Virginia he stopped in Illinois, and there his death occurred in 1872. His wife and children made their home upon the farm in Franklin county now owned by the subject of this review. In this family were seven children: two who died in infancy; Harriet, deceased; Franklin P., of Des Moines; Caroline, the wife of Peter Nelson, of Ada, Minnesota; James A.; and Peter, of Ada, Minnesota.

James A. Sheets was twelve years of age when his father died, and he and his brother took charge of the homestead, operating it together until 1893. In that year James A. Sheets purchased his brother's interests, and he has since managed the property alone. He engages in general farming and has met with a success which places him among the substantial and representative agriculturists of his locality.

On the 12th of February, 1895, Mr. Sheets was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Slee, and they have become the parents of three children: Myrtle, who was born November 28, 1895; Mary, born July 8, 1897; and James A., born March 10, 1902. Mr. Sheets is a member of the Methodist church and in politics votes independently. He has been connected with agricultural interests of his township for over forty years and has accomplished a great deal of important work in the intervening period, contributing in substantial measure to the welfare and growth of the community and winning a gratifying personal success.

James married Margaret Ann SLEE on 12 Feb 1895 in Franklin Co., Iowa. (Margaret Ann SLEE was born on 23 Aug 1863 in Wisconsin and died on 4 Nov 1944.)