You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
OF ESSEX TOWNSHIP. 521<br />
Weigal, a native of Pennsyl~~ania, her parents being Germans. For<br />
twenty-three gears after their mi~~ariage he lnacle his home in Virginia<br />
;md Iizciiana, starting - in tlle latter state on a new l~lace which he im-<br />
11roved and but in a, flonrislling condition. In 1836 they turned their<br />
steps to\v;l.rtl t lle uenT West, and llaving l~urcllnsed a tmct of nearly new<br />
li~lld, he began at once tlo malie inlprorements. 1,iving in an old logllouse<br />
for seven~l years, he in ISYS erectetl t~ sclnnre-topl~etl barn, \vhich<br />
still stands in a goocl state of preserva~tioa and is yet one of the best<br />
I,a.~ans in tlle viciuit,\r. In 1849, Mr. Sheets, ent101ve;l with the spirit of<br />
en ter1wise \~lli~'11 a1 ;\'~L\Ts ~lli~~i~tiel 11 iln, erectetl the first and onl~r<br />
na.tiue stone ]louse i; the; co~unty. Tbe pine for the finishing wds<br />
tli*a.wn I,\. \\rirgom fmn Chicago. Tl~e house is yet a good house antl<br />
long \will stm~tl ;IS ;I ilion~unento its ~rortlly builder. Ever p~aonlinent<br />
in CI~CP~ nlnhtor \rllicll ~~ronrisetl to ittlvance tlre interests of his county,<br />
lentlini a llelping hand \\here\~eia lie coultl, he and his faithful wife<br />
sl~en t nmnv 11;) l)py years togetl~er until 1 S74, hen death called Mrs.<br />
Sheets to i;er re\\artl, in her elgllty-tl~irtl gear. In t1lle spying of ISSO Mr.<br />
Slleets: in his ninetv-fifth year follo\ved his wife to the last sleep. The<br />
-joys i~:l(l sorro~\~s 6f sixtj-t\~o years of marrietl life they l~ad spent together,<br />
rearing ill falllily o fourteen children. Six still lire, and three in<br />
Stark conn tly. Mr. ~LII;~ Mrs. S. \\rere prominent membel*s of the Baptist<br />
clrurclr antl i3eol)le \vllo~n it was only necessary to icno\\~ to llighly esteem.<br />
1:~ tllri Et an tl gooti nlanage~llen t ile 11ad i~lcrensetl his possessions to<br />
nine lluntl~*ecl ;Lcyes of gootl land. Ile was a self-nlacle inun. ~Villinm<br />
Slreets, the t\relftll clliltl. re~llirinetl in the llome of his father until his<br />
t \verity-second ye:us, obtaining iL ])r;~~ti~i$l etlr~cation at the comlnon<br />
scl~ools of tllat t i , i~ntl at eighteen I~egnn teaching a geography<br />
school," \rljich 11e continued some three winters, meeting with good<br />
success. W lien he first left !lome he prvceeclecl to S\ri tzerlnnd cot~nt-y,<br />
Intl., a,ntl here iae~~~;~,inetl tlrvo years. Wll ile in 1ndi:~na he made the<br />
:~cc~uaintnnce of Miss M;~llal;~ 1 louze, who, in 1554, became his wife.<br />
Silo was 1)orn in lS:
Change language