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J. C. SHEETS
VOL. 5, p. 1897, 1898

The wonderful development of the oil and gas industry of Oklahoma
during recent years has attracted to this state men of ability,
enterprise and progressive spirit from all parts of the country.
Among the first to come to the vicinity of Copan was J. C. Sheets, a
West Virginian, who has since been active in the promotion and
development of some of the leading industries of this part of the
state. At the present time he is associated with enterprises of
importance and large proportions that have contributed materially to
the business prestige of Washington and the surrounding counties.

J. S. Sheets was born at Salmon, West Virginia, November 19, 1876,
and is a son of Leander and Alice Starr (CURTIS) Sheets. His father
was born at New Matamoras, Washington County, Ohio, March 18, 1838,
and as a young man went to West Virginia, where he continued to be
engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement. In his later
years he came to Oklahoma, and his death occurred at Copan, in
September, 1908. Mrs. Sheets was born at Hockingport, Athens County,
Ohio, November 24, 1849, and was about ten years old, in 1860, when
taken to West Virginia by her parents. That state continued to be her
home until she came to Oklahoma, where she still resides. There were
four children in the family: Vaughn L., a graduate of the American
Medical College, and now a practicing physician and surgeon of
Chicago, Illinois, where he has offices at No. 59 East Madison
Street; Earl H., a resident of Muskogee, Oklahoma and a partner in
the oil producing firm of Sheets Brothers and various other concerns;
J. C., of this review; and Dr. F. C., a graduate of the American
Medical College, and now a practicing physician of Oklahoma City.

J. C. Sheets received his education in the public schools of
Cameron, West Virginia, and in 1899 became interested in the oil
business as a producer, although he had been connected with this
industry in one or another capacity since his sixteenth year. In
1902, as one of the first producers of Copan, he came here with his
brother, Earl H., and founded the firm of Sheets Brothers, which has
steadily grown into one of the largest concerns in this line in
Washington County. The firm now operates twelve properties, and since
its inception has drilled about 300 wells, the brothers operating
farm lands and timber tracts extensively. J. C. Sheets is a secretary
and treasurer of the Georgia Oil and Gas Company, manager of Sheets &
Company, president of the Alamo Oil Company, secretary and treasurer
of the Swastika Oil and Gas Company, secretary and treasurer of
Sheets Brothers & Jackson and manager of the Collis Oil and Gas
Company. He is known among his associates as one of the shrewdest oil
operators in the state, and his judgement is taken as final in regard
to gas and oil properties.

Mr. Sheets' contribution to the upbuilding of Copan is a beautiful
home, built in 1905, of reenforced concrete, with eight rooms, modern
in every particular, and including private sewerage and private water
works. He was reared a democrat, but is inclined to vote
independently, preferring to use his own judgement in the selection
of candidates. At the present time he is serving as treasurer of his
school district. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the
Shrine at Tulsa, the Commandery at Sistersville, West Virginia, of
which he is a life member, the Consistory at Guthrie, and the Blue
Lodge at Copan. He is also a life member of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, at Independence, Kansas, and holds
membership in the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Sheets was married in 1904, to Miss Millicent E. HOLDREN, who
was born at Independence, Ohio, January 16, 1876, a daughter of H. H.
and Harriet E. (WEBBER) Holdren, natives of the Buckeye State and
residents at Newport. To Mr. and Mrs. Sheets there has been born one
daughter: Alice Millicent.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Sherry Van Scoy Hall, July 19, 1999.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).