Note: In April 1910 at the time of the federal census, Jack Sheets was 78 years old and Melvina was 77. They had been married for fifty-five years. Melvina had borne ten children all of whom were living. They were farming in Guyan township in Gallia County, Ohio.
Living with them were their son Ulysses 42 years plus their widowed daughter, Harriet Green 49 years. Harriet's children were there, too: Roma 22 and Ira J. 21. Ira was working as a farm laborer.
Fred Stevers, Jack and Melvina's great-grandson was also there. He was less than two years old. Reno Sheets, another grandson, was 24 years old.
Note: My maternal grandfather was William Jackson Sheets. He married Melvina Johnson and their home was on Johns Creek Rd., in Gallia County.
Jack Sheets, as he was known, was born in Gallia County in 1832. He was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in Company G, 195th Ohio Valley Infantry, in February1865. He had seven sons and three daughters: Charles, Elmer, Frank, William H., Ulysses, Ernest, Alba, Harriett, Abigail, and Rebecca, who is my mother. She told us of the hardships they went through while Grandpa was away in the Army. They made the laundry soap from lye made from wood ashes; their candles were made from tallow. Mother remembered holding the candle while grandma doctored the children who were ill.
Grandpa Sheets was a very religious man. Mother said the nearest he ever swore was "Confound it" when he was real provoked.