Charles Sheets and Sarah Edrington

Charles Sheets and Sarah Edrington were my great-great-great paternal grandparents.   Charles was born 5 Feb 1796, we believe in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky to Martin Sheets and Sarah Aldridge. (I still have no actual documentation of Charles' parentage at this time.  This is what other family historians have concluded.)  Sarah was born 27 Nov 1798 also in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky.  Her parents were Benjamin Edrington and Lettica (Lettice) Hickman.  Sarah's obituary is quite descriptive, listing many specifics, including the fact that her grandfather, Elder William Hickman, baptized both her and her sister, Fidelia, and officiated at their weddings.  This documented connection to her grandfather helped prove that my family descends from Reverend William Hickman, a Revolutionary War Patriot. The obituary will be included later in this post.  

Charles and Sarah were married 5 July 1821 in Franklin County, Kentucky.  Here is their marriage bond.  ("Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89S9-PTZQ?cc=1804888&wc=QD3Q-WX8%3A1300402101 : 17 May 2018), 005552487 > image 562 of 975; citing multiple county clerks, county courts, and historical societies, Kentucky.)

Charles was recorded as living in Franklin County, Kentucky in the 1830 federal census.

The following information was recorded for his family:

• 1 male child under 5 years
• 1 male child between 5 and 10 years
• 1 male between 30-40
• 1 female under 5
• 1 female between 15-20
• 1 female between 30-40

This roughly corresponds with what we know their family would have looked like in 1830 although the mark for a female between the ages of 15-20 is puzzling.  Apparently, the couple lost several children in infancy. They supposedly had 11 children in total but we only can account for 9.

Coincidentally, Sarah's father, Benjamin Edrington, was living next door in 1830!

Charles and Sarah brought their sons Benjamin and Martin and infant daughter Sarah Fidelia from Frankfort, Kentucky to Missouri around 1830. Charles' brother, Warner Sheets, also came to Missouri at about the same time. They settled on adjoining farms in Callaway County.

Charles was awarded a land grant in 1833 in Callaway County, Missouri.  Here is a copy of his land grant:

Here is Warner's land grant record:

A few years later Charles and his family moved to Lincoln County, Missouri while Warner stayed in Callaway County.  This information comes from the obituary of their son, Martin Edrington Sheets.  It states, "He [Martin] was born in Franklin county, KY., near Frankfort, March 3, 1826. When he was but two years of age his parents, Charles and Sarah Sheets, moved to Callaway county, Mo., and the next year moved to the old home south of Troy, near Sand Run church." (Troy Free Press, Friday, Sept. 3, 1909, Troy, Missouri)

Charles became a well-to-do farmer and a supporter of the Whig political party.  Both Charles and Sarah were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The couple had 11 children with 9 surviving past childhood.  They were:  

• Benjamin Franklin Sheets
• Martin Edrington Sheets
• Sarah Fidalia Sheets (Gibson)
• Martha Ann Sheets (Avery)
• Henry H. Sheets
• Charles Demetrius Sheets
• James Hickman Sheets
• Francis M. Sheets
• Walter Thomas Sheets

Charles was enumerated in Clark Township on the 1860 census of Lincoln County, MO.  He was 61 years old and those in his household included:

  Sarah (61)

  Francis M (19)

  Walter T. (16)

  James H. (21)

  Francis W. (18) 

I believe this is where Charles and Sarah lived in Lincoln County, Missouri.  Others listed on the 1860 census in the same area are William McMahan, J. M. Rice (or Tice), H. Brown, Francis Wyatt and Sam Avery.  These would have been neighbors of Charles. 

Charles died 20 Dec 1868 and was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.  His will was recorded at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Troy.  Here is a copy of it.  He mentions Sarah, his wife, and his remaining children.  His oldest child, Benjamin preceded him in death.

Sarah moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Sam Avery and their family by 1870, as she is included in their household in that year's census and in the 1880 census.  Sarah died 3 Jul 1888 and was buried with her husband in the Troy City Cemetery.  Here are photos of the gravestones.  Charles faces south and Sarah faces north.

As stated earlier, Sarah's obituary was rather lengthy so I'm including it in three parts below. It was published in the Troy Free Press, Troy, Lincoln County, MO, vol XI, No. 2, Friday, 13 July 1888.

Both of Sarah's grandfathers were Revolutionary War Patriots.  Sarah's maternal grandfather, Rev. William Hickman, served as a infantry soldier on the Virginia line. Her paternal grandfather, John Edrington, furnished supplies for the Revolution.  More information about each of these men can be found in future posts.

Charles and Sarah Sheets had nine surviving children.  

Benjamin Franklin Sheets:

Benjamin was born 25 July 1822 in Franklin County, Kentucky.  He moved to Missouri with his parents in the early 1830s, Missouri.  Benjamin married Mary Ann Gibson in Lincoln County on 11 Sep 1843;  the couple settled down and began raising their family in Lincoln County.  Mary Ann was the sister of Rufus Gibson who married Benjamin's sister, Sarah Fidelia Sheets.  (Brother and sister married brother and sister.) Benjamin and Mary Ann had six children - Albro Benjamin, Cordelia Florence, Ellen Elizabeth, Charles Martin, Laura Lee and Joseph Samuel.  

On 22 August 1858 Benjamin was killed in a farm accident, reportedly involving a hired hand, a runaway team of horses and a buggy.  He was buried in the Troy City Cemetery in Lincoln County, Missouri in his parents' plot.  Not being able to provide for six young children alone, Mary Ann was helped by many relatives.  Oldest son, Albro, went to live with his Aunt Martha and Uncle Sam Avery while the rest of the children stayed with their mother.  

Mary Ann remarried a year later to Francis L. Preston, a blacksmith and widower, in Lincoln County, MO (20 Sep 1859).  This combined family was enumerated in the 1860 Lincoln County, MO census which listed the entire household: F. L. Preston (41), Mary A. (32), Cordelia Sheets (13), Ellen Sheets (11), Laura Sheets (8), Charles (6), Joseph (3), Alanzo Preston (9) and Charles Preston (7).  

During the May of 1866, Cordelia and Ellen Sheets petitioned the court in Lincoln County, MO to make Rufus Gibson their Guardian and Curator.  The document further stated that Laura, Charles and Joseph Sheets also were under this guardianship.  Martin E. Sheets, Albro B. Sheets and Francis L. Preston provided the security for the $3000 bond Rufus had to provide.  Rufus was the children's mother's brother and his wife, Sarah Fidelia (Sheets) was the children's father's sister.  This couple had no children of their own.

"Missouri Probate Records, 1750-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99L9-39MS-L?cc=2399107&wc=QZ9D-7R7%3A1328992401%2C1329370602 : 22 September 2014), Lincoln > Probates, 1859-1866, vol F-G > image 635 of 669; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

In 1870, Mary and Francis are found living in Audrain County, MO and had added a son, Francis.  In 1880, we find Mary and Francis in Saline County, MO and little Francis (Frank) was the only child at home. I have not found any other documented information on the couple after the 1880 census.

Martin Edrington Sheets

Martin's biography is found HERE.

Sarah Fidelia Sheets

Sarah was born in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky 4 Aug 1830 and was the third child and first daughter of Charles and Sarah Sheets.  She was named after her mother and her mother's sister.  On 24 Dec 1845, she married Rufus Gibson. Rufus was the brother of Mary Ann (Gibson) Sheets and Sarah's was the sister of Benjamin Sheets.  Again, brother and sister married brother and sister.

Rufus and Sarah had a farm of about 120 acres in Prairie Township (Hawk Point area), Lincoln County, MO in 1860.  The couple had no children of their own but let several other family members and friends live with them and help on their farm.  Two nephews, Charles Sheets and Joseph Sheets and three nieces, Ellen, Cordelia and Laura (all children of Benjamin and Mary Ann Gibson Sheets), were raised by Rufus and Sarah and were named as heirs in his will.  Here is the recorded will found in the Lincoln County, MO Recorder of Deeds Office.  (vol. 5-7, 1893-1916).

In 1900, the couple was living in the household of their nephew, Charles Sheets.  Rufus died 25 Dec 1904 and was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.  By 1910, Sarah had moved into her niece's home, Sallie and John Worsham.  Sallie's mother, Martha Sheets Avery was also living in the home.  It was the custom in those days for family members to provide a home for their needy relatives, young and old, and the Sheets extended family did this often.  Sarah Fidelia passed away 8 March 1916 at the Worsham's home attended by another nephew, Sam Avery.  She was laid to rest beside Rufus in the Troy City Cemetery.

Martha Ann Sheets

Martha was born 30 Jun 1833 in Callaway County, Missouri. She moved with her family to Lincoln County a few years later and lived there the rest of her life. Martha married Samuel W. Avery on 23 Apr 1851 in Lincoln County, Missouri and settled on a farm near Troy, MO where they raised their family.  

Martha and Sam were instrumental in the growth of the Troy community and supported many family members and friends throughout the years. It was said that Mr. Sam 'was always a very liberal support of schools and churches.  During the Civil War he built on his farm and at his own expense, a school at which were educated some of the most able men of this part of the State.  Before the war Mr. Avery was a Whig in politics but since then he was a Democrat.' In 1881, he and his family moved to Troy.  Both Sam and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Avery addition of the City of Troy, adjoining the original plat of Troy, to the east, was laid out by Sam W. Avery in May 1892.  Part of this addition is now known as the Avery Park which was donated to the city by his grandson, Omar H. "Pat" Avery, Jr.  After moving to Troy, Samuel Avery went into business as a dealer and shipper of livestock.

Sam and Martha had six children of their own: 

• Dr. Oscar W. Avery (Not sure what kind of doctor he was.  He passed away at the age of 26.)
• Omar Henry, Sr. (Attorney)
• Dr. Charles Demetrius Avery (Physician)
• Samuel B. Avery (Druggist)
• Sarah E. (Sallie).  She married John E. Worsham who owned and operated a grocery store in Troy and was well known through the area.
• Minnie Lucy, died at the age of 5.

Review of census records through the years revealed that the Sam Avery household included a variety of relations living with the family.  These included his in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Henry H. Sheets

Henry Sheets was born 1 Oct 1835 in Lincoln County, Missouri.  He married Maria A. Green (Nettie) from Ohio in 1877.  The couple had nine children: 

• Charles E. Sheets
• Anna L. Sheets
• William H. Sheets
• Albert H. Sheets
• Francis M Sheets (died age 2)
• Rush (Rushie) Sheets (died age 3)
• Maggie D. Sheets
• Fredrick Sheets 
• Georgia Sheets

Henry was a farmer in Lincoln County.  On the 1850 census, Henry was listed as living at home with his parents and siblings.  In 1860, he was living with Maria in his Uncle Sam Avery's home with several other extended family members.  His parents were living nearby with his younger siblings.  By 1870, Henry and Maria had five children and were living next door to his older brother, Martin, and his family.  All of these census records were in Clark Township, Lincoln County, MO.  

Henry died 24 Jan 1878 in Lincoln County, MO and was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.  

Maria (Nettie) is found in Bear Creek Township, Montgomery County, MO in 1880 the the remaining seven children. and her eldest child, Charles Edward, was listed as 'farmer' and aged 20.  We can assume Maria, or Nettie as she was sometimes called, stayed in Montgomery County for the rest of her life.  She died 9 Sep 1908 and is buried in the Montgomery City Cemetery.

Charles Demetrius Sheets

Charles D. Sheets was born 10 July 1837 in Lincoln County, Missouri.  As one reads the history of this Sheets family, one notices the repetitive use of certain names.  Charles is certainly one of these names as this extended family had at least six of them!  This Charles, the sixth surviving child of Charles and Sarah Sheets, grew up in Lincoln County and married Elizabeth Wyatt there on 4 Nov 1858.  In 1860, the couple and their 4 month old son, John F. W., are found living with her parents, Francis and Arethusa Wyatt.  This family farm was next door to the Sam Avery farm and in the same neighborhood as his parent's farm.  About 1864 Charles Demetrius, or Demetrius as he was known, Elizabeth and children John and Georgia moved to Fulton County, Illinois.  The family attended church as Greenbush, Illinois.  Here the rest of their children were born, Charles Kamillus (called C.K.), Martin Fredrick (Freddie) and Willie. Both Freddie and Willie died when each was about a year and a half old.  They were buried in the Flake Cemetery in Fulton County, Illinois.

The 1870 census lists several other people living in Charles and Elizabeth's household including a school teacher, farm laborer, domestic servant and Elizabeth's mother, "Marthusa" Wyatt (her name was actually Arethusa).  Charles' combined personal and real estate worth was listed as $9400.  The family moved back to Missouri and settled near Truxton in 1873.  Less than a year later he died after a lingering bout of consumption (tuberculosis) at the age of 37 years, 6 months and 9 days.  (19 Jan 1874). Demetrius was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.

Demetrius and Elizabeth's oldest son, John F. studied law for a short time at Central Wesleyan College in Warrenton, Missouri.  After that stint, he moved to Jonesburg, MO where he continued to read law.  His health failed and he had to stop.  Just before his death, he visited the home of Dr. Tice, a cousin, who lived about two miles south of Troy, on the farm once owned by his grandfather, Charles Sheets - a place where John was partially raised.  John died of tuberculosis on 13 July 1877.  He was buried next to his father in the Troy City Cemetery.

After the death of her husband, Demetrius, Elizabeth married Hopson Branstetter in 1878.  Hopson was about 14 years her junior.  She passed away 10 Oct 1916 at the age of 75 and Hopson died in 1935 at the age of 78.  Both were buried in the Montgomery City Cemetery.

James Hickman Sheets

James Hickman Sheets was born on 4 Mar 1839 in Lincoln County, Missouri.  He grew up in Lincoln County and was married to Frances W. Carter there on 22 Ag 1859.  The couple had a farm there until they moved to Vernon County, MO by 1880.  They had four children, William Benjamin, Rufus Wright, Mina Louella, and Nona E.  Nona died at the age of 5 and was buried in Johnson County, MO.  

The couple farmed in Vernon County until James died 15 Jan 1916.  Frances then lived with William's widow and granddaughter in Joplin (1920 census record), by herself in Joplin (city directory record )and with her widowed daughter, Louella in Nevada (1930 census record).  Frances passed away 30 Dec 1931 in Vernon County.   Both she and James were buried in the Milo Cemetery in Vernon County, Missouri.

     

Francis Marion Sheets

Francis M. Sheets was born 26 Feb 1841 in Lincoln County, Missouri.  His occupation listed 'farmer' on the 1860 census.  An interesting item also noted in this census was that his future wife, Ella Fair (age 14), was living next door in the home of Sam and Martha Avery.  Her birth place was listed as Mississippi and we do not know the connection between Ella and the Averys.  On 1 July 1863, Francis married Ella (Ellen) Fair in Lincoln County.  The couple had three children: Otto, Moses Alex and Elizabeth.

At the beginning of the Civil War, there was apparently some incident when Francis 'sympathized with and gave aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States Government, to-wit: The army of the rebellion."  This occurred sometime in 1861.  But in 1864 Francis registered for the draft along with three of his brothers, James, Henry and Walter, on the side of the Union.  He served as a Private in the 49th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry, Companies E and H (mustered in 5 Dec 1864 and mustered out 4 Dec 1865) and did so honorably as he received an honorable discharge.  Some people in Lincoln County remembered his earlier incident 'with the wrong crowd" and labeled him a 'non-citizen'.  He had to go before the courts to redeem his U.S. citizen's rights.  Here is an article from the Troy Free Press (11 Nov 1932, pg. 7) from "This Week in History" section.  I assume he was not able to vote or be in possession of firearms.

Francis was not the only brother who had an issue with 'Union loyalty.'  Several of the Sheets boys registered for the draft on the side of the Union - 

Henry (who was apparently excused from duty due to a fractured thigh), James (24), Francis (22) and Walter (20)  I did not find that Charles Demetrius signed up.  Besides the reference to Francis having to go through the process of proving his citizenship loyalty, I found the following item regarding Henry:

This is hard to read but it appears Henry gave a statement about any accusations of him dealing with the enemy were false.  Henry's father-in-law, Stephen Green had to swear that he did not see Henry doing anything subversive in his presence.  Henry and Maria were living with her parents during this time.  One wonders why these young men were under such scrutiny but it could simply be that there was a lot of animosity during those times and gossip was rampant.  Whatever the circumstances were during the Civil War, it appears all of these men went on to lead responsible, respectable, productive lives in each of their communities.   

Francis passed away unexpectedly 18 Mar 1869 at the age of 27 years, 9 months and 20 days.  We have no record of why died.  He was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.

Ellen and the children moved back in with her sister-in-law, Martha and Sam Avery and taught school for awhile (1870 census record).

She remarried 27 Feb 1878 to George Ousley, a widower, in Lincoln County, MO.  The couple had at least one child together, Edwin M.  On the 1880 census they were living in Martinsburg, Audrain County, Missouri. George listed his occupation as farming.  This couple is lost after this record.

Walter Thomas Sheets

Walter was the youngest child of Charles and Sarah Sheets and was born 15 June 1844 in Lincoln County, Missouri.  He first married Jane Carter in Lincoln County on 12 Mar 1863 and had five children:

• Hattie J.
• William M. (Albro)
• Dollie
• Thomas
• Francis Marion
• Martin Edrington (was a medical doctor in St. Louis)
• Walter Fane

Walter was a farmer from his youth through the early 1910s.  He and his family lived in Lincoln County, Missouri, Illinois (where William was born), and Bates County, MO (1880 census).  In 1881, Jane died there and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Bates County, Missouri.  He remarried a lady name Sophia Catherine (Kate) Hulze after 1881.  They had one child, Elmer in 1883.  Sophia was about 16 years younger than Walter.

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, they moved to Oklahoma, first to the Tulsa/Broken Arrow area then to Osage County, OK.  In 1920 census, Walter was 72 and was managing a hotel there.  Walter finally moved near Anadarko Oklahoma and died 28 Aug 1926.  He was buried in the Park Grove Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  Sophia stayed in the area and passed away 11 Aug 1936.  She was buried next to Walter.  Here is their tombstone.

As an interesting sidenote, I'm including an excerpt from the 

History of the Scottish Rite 

Valley of St. Louis 

Orient of Missouri 

catalogue published in 1950.  It shares the biography of one of Walter Sheets' sons, Dr. Martin Edrington Sheets. *Isn't it confusing how this family uses the same names over and over again?!*  Many Sheets men belonged to the Freemason organization and several attained the level of Scottish Rite.  This biography also includes a description of what it was like to emigrate across Missouri in the 1880s.  Several of our family members did this and I'm certain their experiences were similar.  The description of that area of Missouri being 'a vast prairie' may have encouraged this Martin's uncle (and my great-great grandfather Martin Edrington Sheets) to leave Lincoln County for Henry and later Vernon County.  The article also briefly mentions Buchanan College in Troy.  To me, this is evidence that the Sheets family ties were strong despite being separated by great distances.