Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties-Tobias M. Sheets


Portrait and Biographical Record of
Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties

Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893




TOBIAS M. SHEETS, a prosperous farmer of Hayes Township, is one of the enterprising citizens of Dickinson County, residing on section 22, where he has a well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty-acres. Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pa., was the place of his birth, which occurred December 15, 1857. His father, Christian Sheets, was born in the same county about 1824. His mother was Anna Musser before her marriage. The grandfather of our subject, John Sheets, was also a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and was born about the year 1792; he died when about forty-five years of age. The father of John Sheets was Daniel Sheets, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States, settling in Lancaster County, Pa., where he resided until his death. Our subject's father also passed away in the same county, when sixty-two years of age. He was the father of six sons and four daughters.

Tobias Sheets was the sixth child and lived on the old homestead in Lancaster County, where he received his education in the country schools. There he resided until his marriage, November 18, 1877, to Mary E. Keefer, daughter of Joseph and Christiana (Lukenboch) Keefer. Their marriage was celebrated in Cumberland County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Keefer had a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom Mrs. Sheets was the fourth in order of birth. She was born at Liverpool, Perry County, Pa., on the 8th of January, 1854. After their marriage they located in Lancaster County, where they lived but one year, and then removed to Detroit, Kan. Mr. Sheets here purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 22, Hayes Township, Dickinson County, in the spring of 1879, and by dint of perseverance and energy is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land. He has erected good buildings and made many useful improvements. He has always given his entire attention to farming and agricultural pursuits, and his efforts have been rewarded by one of the best farms in the community.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheets have an interesting family of seven children. The eldest, Elizabeth, was born August 18, 1878; Agnes K. was born March 29, 1880; Christian, born March 25, 1882; Mary, December 22, 1883; Joseph, April 23, 1886; Daniel, August 4, 1888; and the baby, Jennie, November 27, 1891.

Our subject and his wife are members of the denomination known as River Brethren, in the work of which they take an active part. They are very popular and stand high in social circles in this community. Their home is the abode of prosperity and happiness and their many friends and acquaintances are always given a most cordial welcome under their hospitable roof. Our subject has been Clerk of the School Board, and always takes an active interest in all educational matters. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to devote his attention to the labors of the farm.



(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for Dickinson County KS AHGP