Thomas Sheets, whose name is on the list of Pottawattamie County's respected dead, was throughout the years of his connection with the business interests of Pottawattamie County recognized as a man of genuine personal worth, of laudable ambition and of keen foresight. These qualities brought him a fair measure of success, while, moreover, he gained many warm friends among those with whom he came in contact. The place of his nativity was Seneca County, Ohio, and the date December 6, 1834. He was born of the marriage of Greenbury and Elizabeth (Pettiton) Sheets, who were born, reared and married in Maryland, whence they removed to Ohio at an early period in the settlement and development of the latter state. They had four children, of whom Angeline died in early childhood. Charles died in 1905 at the advanced age of eighty-two years and Edwin died during the Civil War.

Thomas Sheets, who was the youngest of the family, acquired a common-school education and started out in life on his own account when sixteen years of age as a stocktrader, buying for W. H. Gibson, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, for four years. In 1857 he removed westward to Belmond, Iowa, and engaged in buying furs and in trapping for about ten years in the employ of W. H. Gibson and others. In the fall of 1866 he arrived at Wheeler's Grove, Pottawattamie County, and his remaining days were devoted to general farming and dealing in real estate. He was at one time the largest buyer, shipper and feeder of stock in this locality and gained a wide reputation because of the extent of his operations in that line. At the time of his death he owned four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Grove Township, constituting a fine farming property. He also carried a heavy life insurance for the benefit of his widow, which enabled her to buy out the interest of the other heirs in the home place and she now owns four hundred acres of that land.

On the 31st of December, 1860, Mr. Sheets was united in marriage to Miss Emily Dumond, who was born in Lake County, Indiana, July 22, 1842, and in 1857 became a resident of Wright County, Iowa, with her parents, Archie and Elizabeth (Martin) Dumond. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and with his parents removed to Ohio, being reared near Sandusky. Having attained adult age, he was married in Michigan to Miss Elizabeth Martin, who was born at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, in 1832. Following their marriage they removed to Indiana, where occurred the birth of their daughter, Emily. The mother spent her last days in Pottawattamie County departing this life in Grove Township at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Her uncle, Thomas Oliver, was at one time the owner of Put-in-Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Dumond were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, four sons and four daughters, of whom Emily Dumond was the eldest. When she had attained womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Sheets and to them were born six children, of whom three are yet living: Lewellyn, now of Carson; Earl of Shenandoah, Iowa; and Alma M., in Macedonia, Iowa.

As every true American citizen should do, Mr. Sheets took a deep interest in political affairs and his opinions on the leading questions and issues of the day led him to give a stanch support to the Republican Party. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to various political positions. He filled all of the township offices, was for one term county supervisor and at the time of his death was serving as road commissioner. It was owing to his hard work to improve the condition of the roads that he contracted heart trouble, which resulted in his demise January 12, 1889. He was a man of kindly and benevolent spirit and a generous contributor to many worthy causes. One who knew him well said, "He was a careful family provider, a faithful and devoted husband, a kind and indulgent parent and an excellent neighbor. A more charitable man than he is seldom met. He was always ready with his purse to aid in all public advancement and the needy who were ready to help themselves were never turned away empty-handed." It is a uniformly conceded fact that these words of praise were well merited and such was his life that his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him.