Benjamin Franklin Sheets

 

B.F. and Harriett in the center, with Harriett holding Edith. Anna in front. Standing from left: Alva, Charles, Henry and Ruie.  Taken about 1894.

Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Sheets (Moses⁴, Michael³, Michael², John¹) was born January 5, 1842 in Wood County, (West) Virginia, and died December 31, 1912 in Memphis, Scotland County, Missouri. He married (1) Rebecca Ann Mitchell October 21, 1860. She was born 1838, and died December 24, 1869. He married (2) Harriet Lucinda Hurst May 8, 1870 in Luray, Missouri, daughter of William Hurst and Mary Osburn. She was born October 28, 1853 in Lewis County, (West) Virginia, and died April 15, 1935 in Mount Sterling, Van Buren County, Iowa. Frank Sheets was the oldest of eleven children. Letters show that his grandparents moved from Wood County, (West) Virginia to Scotland County, Missouri in the winter of 1853. It is unknown whether he and his parents moved at the same time.

Frank was described as 5'8", with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. He nearly always wore a mustache as an adult. Frank was a farmer.

Shortly after his mariege to Rebecca Ann Mitchell, trouble began brewing in Clark County. Secessionists were organizing and "running over the whole country, running off Union men, pillaging their farms,... robbing their homes," and insulting and abusing their women. Union men and their families were kept in a state of constant dread and apprehension.

On 17 Jun 1861, at nearby Luray, Clark County, Frank Sheets enlisted as a private in Cpt. Harkness Silver's Co. K, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Northeast Missouri Home Guards, generally known as Col. David Moore's Regiment of Home Guards. From a local history: "The rebels, becoming more bold and threatening, the Unionists decided to go into camp. This they did to the number of about 600 at a town called Kahoka, Clark County, and in late July they settled at Athens in extreme northeast Missouri on the Des Moines River."

Soon after daylight Monday, August 5, 1861, about 350-500 Union Home Guards were attacked by 800-1,500 rebels at their Athens encampment.

"The attack was begun by the firing of a small cannon from the rebels. The Union men immediately sprang for their arms, and to their surprise, found the rebels coming up in three mounted divisions, evidently intending to surround the town or camp."

Col. Moore's orders could be heard above the din, "Give the rebels hell boys, charge." The rebels were severely whipped and fled with a loss of about 20 killed and many wounded. A number were taken prisoners and 60 horses were captured.

A large number of men hurried in from all counties around, incited by rumors that Moore's men were cut off and...besieged. They came with just such arms as they could pick up, and some had only hatchets, big knives, and clubs. Four Union men were killed and one wounded so that he died the next morning. Many others were wounded.

There is no official record of the Battle of Athens. The accounts of the battle were written by soldiers, participants, eye-witnesses and correspondents to the local newspapers. Thus, there is no record showing whether Frank actually participated at the Battle of Athens. It is reasonable to assume that he did.

Records show that in Sept. 1861, Co. K consolidated with Cpt. Hays' Co. H. In November the entire regiment was mustered into the United States Volunteer Service. Frank remained with Co. H until November 1, 1861. He then chose not to enlist in the U.S. troops and was honorably discharged at Athens and permitted to go home.

In 1862, Frank and Rebecca joined the Bethlehem Baptist Church located north of Luray, Clark County.

Seven years later, when their daughter, "Etta" was only five years old, Rebecca died on Christmas eve at age 31. Rebecca is buried at Bethlehem Cemetery, a few yards northeast of the church.

In 1870, Frank and Harriet purchased 105 acres of land from Aaron Ross in Des Moines Township, Van Buren County, Iowa, where they built a home and reared their family. In 1888, the family joined the Cantril Methodist Church.

In the 1900 census, Ralph Linn was listed as a boarder in the home. He was working as a farm laborer.

For awhile after Frank and Harriet's oldest son, Henry, married Rosabel Watkins, the young couple lived with Frank and Harriet.

Rose always remembered Frank as a very nice man. One of her favorite stories was about Frank napping in the afternoons. When he awoke, he would search all over the house for his glasses. He always found them in the same place: on top of his head.

In 1907, Frank, Harriet, and daughters,Edith and Ruie, moved to Memphis, Scotland County, Missouri, where they lived with Harriet's widowed mother, Mary, affectionately known as "Granny Alexander."

They lived in a two-story house located on the corner of what is now South Knott and East Monroe streets. It was here that Frank died of "bowel trouble." He had become ill after Christmas.

A death notice described him as a "splendid citizen, and hence held in high esteem by all who knew him" and said, "Mr. Sheets was a man of splendid character - honest and upright in all the walks of life."

Harriet and her mother continued to live in the home until Mary's death in 1919. Then, Harriet moved in with her daughter, Annie and her husband Herman Linn, near Mount Sterling, Van Buren County, Iowa. She remained with them until her death a day after suffering a stroke April 14, 1935.

Frank, Harriet and Harriet's mother are all buried at the Memphis Cemetery, Memphis, Scotland Co., Missouri.

Child of Benjamin Sheets and Rebecca Mitchell is:

Henrietta "Etta" Sheets born ca 1862 died October 1916 in Idaho. She married William Hewitt ca 1902. He was the son of David Hewitt and Mary Black. He died October 1937.

Children of Benjamin Sheets and Harriet Hurst are:

i. Henry Edgar Sheets was born August 5, 1871 in Van Buren County, Iowa, near Mount Sterling and died August 29, 1944 in Mount Sterling, Van Buren County, Iowa. He married Rosabel Watkins September 23, 1903 in Willits Station, Van Buren County, Iowa, at the home of  her parents, John Watkins and Ann Evans.

ii. Charles Wesley Sheets was born October 4, 1873 in Mount Sterling, Van Buren County, Iowa, and died August 30, 1961 in Keosauqua, Iowa, Van Buren Memorial Hospital. He married Anna Leota Hanan March 15, 1899 in Van Buren, County, Iowa, daughter of Granville Hanan and Mary DeHart.

iii. Ruhama "Ruie" Sheets, born April 2, 1876 in Van Buren County, Iowa; died July 29, 1953 in Spokane, Washington. She married (1) Arthur Mounce December 23, 1896. She married (2) Morris Eberhardt October 1926 in Couer d'Alene, Idaho. She had no children.

iv. Anna Belle "Annie" Sheets, born November 2, 1879 in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa; died August 7, 1960 in Keosauqua, Iowa. Annie married Herman Linn October 11, 1899. They had one child who died an infant. All are buried at Harness Cemetery northeast of Mount Sterling.
	Herman and Annie	Annie Sheets Linn

v. Emily Elizabeth "Lizzie" Sheets, born January 1885 in Van Buren County, Iowa; died May 1886. She is buried at Prall Cemetery northeast of Cantril, Iowa.

vi. Alva Harlan Sheets, born May 4, 1888 in Van Buren County, Iowa; died November 9, 1971 in St. Joseph, Missouri. He married Goldina  ___ about 1940. They had no children.

vii. Mary "Edith" Sheets, born March 22, 1894 in Van Buren County, Iowa; died July 11, 1985 in Yachats, Oregon. She married Wayne Myers November 3, 1920 in Illinois, son of Michael Myers and Fanny Oliver. He was born March 12, 1892 in Rutledge, Scotland County, Missouri, and died March 1968 in Albany, Linn County, Oregon. The family moved to Oregon about 1939.

Fall 1937: Left to right: Edith Myers, Etta Hewitt, Ruie Mounce, Ed?. In front: Janice Myers and Kenneth Myers.

The family of Harriet and Frank Sheets around 1930: Edith, Charley, Henry, Ruie, Alva, Annie with Harriet in front.

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