The Sheets family is one of the oldest and best known in Miami county and the student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of this locality without learning that representatives of the name have figured prominently in promoting the substantial growth and improvement of this section of the state. Andrew Sheets, the first of the name to locate in Miami county, was born December 25, 1768. He married Katherine Sills, who was born in 1770 and died May 29, 1840. The family is of German lineage, the original American ancestors having located in Maryland. Andrew Sheets, however, made his home in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, until 1807, when he removed to Tennessee. In the fall of 1812 he came to Ohio, having in the meantime resided near Nashville, Tennessee, and later near Fayetteville. On reaching Miami county he settled on the farm now owned by Joseph M. Studebaker, and the house which he erected in 1815 is still standing. About 1834 he left that farm and removed to the place now owned by George Mumford, there living until 1840, when he took up his abode in Champaign county, Ohio, his death occurring March 29, 1844. He was buried in the McKendree cemetery, near Miami City, in Clark county. In his family were six daughters and five sons, namely: Eve, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah, Katherine, Michael and Andrew, twins, Isaac S., Henry S. and John R.

Isaac S. Sheets was born January 10, 1799, and married Ann Knoop, whose birth occurred March 27, 1801. For some years they lived with his father, who was blind. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born February 7, 1826, and she is the only member of the family that was born on the original homestead. In that year her father located on the farm where the Sheets mill is now located, and in the midst of the forest he began clearing away the trees and developing the wild tract into rich and fertile fields. In1833 he built the mill which is still standing. Prior to this time he had erected a saw-mill on the same site, and this he continued to operate, cutting lumber both for the mill and for the home now occupied by his son George and daughter Mary. There Mr. Sheets continued to reside until his death, which occurred in Philadelphia, September 24, 1876. He had gone to that city with his daughter Mary to visit the Centennial Exposition.. His remains were brought back to Ohio and laid to rest in the Knoop cemetery, near his home. His wife had passed away May 3, 1862. From the beginning he had been president of the Troy and Springfield pike, which passed his property and part of which was constructed by him.

In his family were the following children: Elizabeth; Andrew, who died July 13, 1845, at the age of eighteen years; John Knoop; Mary; Barbara Jane, wife of John Little, of Xenia, Ohio; and George Messenger.

Elizabeth Sheets remained at home until a year after her father's death, and came to her present farm in 1877. It had been in his possession exactly fifty-five years on the date of his death. She has erected here a pleasant residence and gives her attention to the supervision of the farm, which is operated by a tenant. She is a member of the Universalist church, and is a lady whom all esteem for her many excellencies of character.