Union Soldier. Served in Company F, 21st Illinois Infantry. Joined 15 Jun 1861 at Paris, Edgar, Illinois for 3 years. Mustered-In 28 Jun 1861 @ Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. Discharged due to disability on 17 Aug 1863 @ Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. Wife Nannie filed for his pension 10 mar 1905 in Illinois.
Parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Henning) Sheets.
Find a Grave contributor, Arthur Tulak has made the following suggested edits.
Jackson Sheets (71572131) In addition to serving as a Corporal, Jackson was later commissioned as a Colonel in the Illinois Militia in the Sanitary Corps.
Under the authority of the act of the State legislature of January, 1865, “the Governor appointed six Military State Agents with rank of Colonel, assigning them to different military departments in the South, to look after the interests of Illinois soldiers in the field and hospitals.” Col. Sheets received his appointment under General Orders, No. 42, from the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Isham Nicholas Haynie, on March 1, 1865, assigning him to Nashville Tennesee. His duties as the Governor’s appointed Military Agent, were spelled out in Sections 2-5 of G.O. #42, which stated that upoin receiving their appointments, “each agent shall be authorized and required to look after the comfort and welfare of all sick, wounded, or disabled soldiers of the United States Army from Illinois, and also to the welfare, etc., of all such as may be agent, for any cause, from their respective companies. Said agents shall, from time to time, and as often as practicable, visit all hospitals or departments within the district in which he is or may be assigned to duty, and search out and discover, and aid all soldiers from Illinois who, for any cause, may be unable to acomplish for themselves that which may be useful and proper to be done.” Col. Sheets’s assignment was changed to Memphis Tenn.
Adjutant General I.N. Haynie, in his official report, described the importance of the mission for the Illinois Military Agents:
At the time of their discharge of their duties, the vast armies of the Union were in full activity, whilst the loyal States of the north were re-enforcing them with every possible energy. As was to be expected, the Federal hospitals everywhere were filled with those gallant men who, from wounds or exposure, had been rendered unable to accompany the armies in the several campaigns then in progress. At Jefferson Barracks, Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans, at Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Savannah and Newbern, were hospitals in which were to be found many of the soldiers of the State, requiring attention and aid. The good accomplished by them, and by the State through them, can not be over estimated. In every possible way relief was extended to the soldier; and they were made to feel, that although absent from their officers and comrades, yet still the State, through its agents, was looking to their welfare; and many a good citizen, now at home, doubtless has cause to be thankful for this timely and human provision made by the legislature in behalf of the soldiers. These arduous duties were, without interruption, continued until toward mid-summer of the year. In the meantime, hostilities had ceased, the discharge of the army had been completed, including most of the soldiers and patients in hospitals, and hence, the services of these agents were no longer (all of them) needed; accordingly the resignations of Col. Sheets, Col. Morrill and Col. Wickizer have been accepted…
Col. Sheets’ was honorably discharged on October 15, 1865, with five of the six agents resigning within months of each other and his military service pension commenced September 4, 1868, Certificate No. 23.300. The Adjutant General Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois in 1867 (Vol. I), list his military rank as Colonel, and the military branch of service (and those of other Colonels of the State Sanitary Board) as “State Military Agent.” Upon his return to Paris Twp., Edgar Co. Illinois, Col Sheets served ain a variety of official positions, namely: one term as Clerk of Paris Twp.; one term as City Clerk of Paris Twp.; elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held for eleven years. Col. Sheets was appointed by the Governor as a Notary Public for Paris Twp. Edgar County, receiving his commission from the Secretary of State on or about 1865 and December 10, 1869. In 1869, Col. Sheets was nominated by John Boyle and twelve other former comrades in a petition to President U.S. Grant to serve as the “Consul Resident at either Melbourne Australia, Buenos Ayres, or Valarasio Chile South America.” This nomination was reinforced by U.S. Senator Richard Yates (IL) in a letter to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, adding that Col. Sheets “…was a member of the President’s regiment of Illinois troops, and no man in the service, did more faithful service. He is brave, intelligent and earnest, and was wounded almost unto death for our salvation.” On December 7, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated Col. Sheets to serve as Postmaster of Paris Township, Illinois, a position he held from October, 1871 to at least 1872. Col. Sheets was a member of the Illinois Electoral College (Presidential Elector) in 1880, casting his vote for the administration of Pres. James A. Garfield and V.P. Chester A. Arthur. In the business sector, Col. Sheets’ profession in 1870 was a Real Estate Agent. In April, 1878, Col. Sheets returned to journalism, and purchased a one-half interest in the Paris Republican newspaper and 14 months later in 1879, “he became sole editor and proprietor of said paper, and … has now in his charge a live, reliable Republican newspaper, whose record, since in his charge, is a guarantee for the future; its circulation is equal to any paper published in the 15th Congressional District.” Col. Sheets remained editor for many years, and was holding this position until at least 1889.
As a private citizen, Col. Sheets was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (since Jan. 3, 1868), serving as the Superintendent of the Sunday-school and held the various offices of his church. Col. Sheets participated in civic life as “…a member of all the Masonic bodies in Paris and has sat in the chair of High Priest in the Chapter, and is a charter member of the Commandery. While not an active member, he has belonged to the Odd Fellows for a long time.” Col. Sheets was a member of the Republican Party. Col. Sheets was married to Miss Nannie Clark on May 26, 1866 in Paris Twp. Col. and Mrs. Sheets had one daughter — Bessie. Col. Sheets passed away on March 2, 1905 and was buried in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Edgar County Illinois. , In 1924, Col. Sheets body was removed from the Edgar Cemetery and sent to Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri, and re-interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery at the request of his daughter Bessie, who had moved there.
Here is more on Jackson's military service and his education that prepared him for his service as a Colonel in the State Militia:
Corp. Sheets’ record of war service with Co. F, as recorded in Edgar County historical accounts follows:
Corporal Sheets was engaged in the operations in the West, and part of Missouri, in following Jeff Thompson, who was mounted while our soldiers consisted of infantry. His command went from there to Arkansas and was then called back to Shiloh, from there it went to Cap. Girardeau. The regiment was at the siege of Corinth. The 21st Regiment was originally commanded by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and in his memoirs complimentary mention is made of the old regiment, and its connection with the siege of Corinth. Mr. Sheets was on the breast works the morning the magazine blew up during that siege. The regiment then joined the Army of the Ohio under Gen. Buell and marched through 'Tennessee and Kentucky, a distance of 500 miles under a sweltering southern sun. Mr. Sheets was in the battle of Champion Hills, his company being the first in the fight. From there he went to Knob Gap where he lost every- thing he had. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, a ball passing through his breast clear through his body. After this he was sent to the field hospital, and subsequently removed to Nashville. From there he was sent to Louisville, Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, being seven months in hospitals. He was discharged Aug. 17, 1863.
[He] was discharged in hospital at Camp Denison, Ohio, by reason of gunshot wounds
received in the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30, 1862; said wound was received while making a charge on a rebel battery — the celebrated N. O. Light Artillery; the wound was a very serious one, an ounce and a half ball from a rifled Belgian musket passing into the right breast, breaking the fifth rib in two places, cutting the right half of the sternum in twain, and coming out at the left side, leaving a very severe and painful wound, which did not heal up till the following December.
Corp. Jackson Sheets returned to Paris Twp. where “he engaged in the study of medicine, in the office of the late Dr. S. B. Ten Broeck, [later] pursuing his studies till March, 1875, in the course of which he attended one term of medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago.”
Contributor: Arthur Tulak (48936218)
Parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Henning) Sheets.
Find a Grave contributor, Arthur Tulak has made the following suggested edits.
Jackson Sheets (71572131) In addition to serving as a Corporal, Jackson was later commissioned as a Colonel in the Illinois Militia in the Sanitary Corps.
Under the authority of the act of the State legislature of January, 1865, “the Governor appointed six Military State Agents with rank of Colonel, assigning them to different military departments in the South, to look after the interests of Illinois soldiers in the field and hospitals.” Col. Sheets received his appointment under General Orders, No. 42, from the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Isham Nicholas Haynie, on March 1, 1865, assigning him to Nashville Tennesee. His duties as the Governor’s appointed Military Agent, were spelled out in Sections 2-5 of G.O. #42, which stated that upoin receiving their appointments, “each agent shall be authorized and required to look after the comfort and welfare of all sick, wounded, or disabled soldiers of the United States Army from Illinois, and also to the welfare, etc., of all such as may be agent, for any cause, from their respective companies. Said agents shall, from time to time, and as often as practicable, visit all hospitals or departments within the district in which he is or may be assigned to duty, and search out and discover, and aid all soldiers from Illinois who, for any cause, may be unable to acomplish for themselves that which may be useful and proper to be done.” Col. Sheets’s assignment was changed to Memphis Tenn.
Adjutant General I.N. Haynie, in his official report, described the importance of the mission for the Illinois Military Agents:
At the time of their discharge of their duties, the vast armies of the Union were in full activity, whilst the loyal States of the north were re-enforcing them with every possible energy. As was to be expected, the Federal hospitals everywhere were filled with those gallant men who, from wounds or exposure, had been rendered unable to accompany the armies in the several campaigns then in progress. At Jefferson Barracks, Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans, at Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Savannah and Newbern, were hospitals in which were to be found many of the soldiers of the State, requiring attention and aid. The good accomplished by them, and by the State through them, can not be over estimated. In every possible way relief was extended to the soldier; and they were made to feel, that although absent from their officers and comrades, yet still the State, through its agents, was looking to their welfare; and many a good citizen, now at home, doubtless has cause to be thankful for this timely and human provision made by the legislature in behalf of the soldiers. These arduous duties were, without interruption, continued until toward mid-summer of the year. In the meantime, hostilities had ceased, the discharge of the army had been completed, including most of the soldiers and patients in hospitals, and hence, the services of these agents were no longer (all of them) needed; accordingly the resignations of Col. Sheets, Col. Morrill and Col. Wickizer have been accepted…
Col. Sheets’ was honorably discharged on October 15, 1865, with five of the six agents resigning within months of each other and his military service pension commenced September 4, 1868, Certificate No. 23.300. The Adjutant General Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois in 1867 (Vol. I), list his military rank as Colonel, and the military branch of service (and those of other Colonels of the State Sanitary Board) as “State Military Agent.” Upon his return to Paris Twp., Edgar Co. Illinois, Col Sheets served ain a variety of official positions, namely: one term as Clerk of Paris Twp.; one term as City Clerk of Paris Twp.; elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held for eleven years. Col. Sheets was appointed by the Governor as a Notary Public for Paris Twp. Edgar County, receiving his commission from the Secretary of State on or about 1865 and December 10, 1869. In 1869, Col. Sheets was nominated by John Boyle and twelve other former comrades in a petition to President U.S. Grant to serve as the “Consul Resident at either Melbourne Australia, Buenos Ayres, or Valarasio Chile South America.” This nomination was reinforced by U.S. Senator Richard Yates (IL) in a letter to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, adding that Col. Sheets “…was a member of the President’s regiment of Illinois troops, and no man in the service, did more faithful service. He is brave, intelligent and earnest, and was wounded almost unto death for our salvation.” On December 7, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated Col. Sheets to serve as Postmaster of Paris Township, Illinois, a position he held from October, 1871 to at least 1872. Col. Sheets was a member of the Illinois Electoral College (Presidential Elector) in 1880, casting his vote for the administration of Pres. James A. Garfield and V.P. Chester A. Arthur. In the business sector, Col. Sheets’ profession in 1870 was a Real Estate Agent. In April, 1878, Col. Sheets returned to journalism, and purchased a one-half interest in the Paris Republican newspaper and 14 months later in 1879, “he became sole editor and proprietor of said paper, and … has now in his charge a live, reliable Republican newspaper, whose record, since in his charge, is a guarantee for the future; its circulation is equal to any paper published in the 15th Congressional District.” Col. Sheets remained editor for many years, and was holding this position until at least 1889.
As a private citizen, Col. Sheets was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (since Jan. 3, 1868), serving as the Superintendent of the Sunday-school and held the various offices of his church. Col. Sheets participated in civic life as “…a member of all the Masonic bodies in Paris and has sat in the chair of High Priest in the Chapter, and is a charter member of the Commandery. While not an active member, he has belonged to the Odd Fellows for a long time.” Col. Sheets was a member of the Republican Party. Col. Sheets was married to Miss Nannie Clark on May 26, 1866 in Paris Twp. Col. and Mrs. Sheets had one daughter — Bessie. Col. Sheets passed away on March 2, 1905 and was buried in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Edgar County Illinois. , In 1924, Col. Sheets body was removed from the Edgar Cemetery and sent to Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri, and re-interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery at the request of his daughter Bessie, who had moved there.
Here is more on Jackson's military service and his education that prepared him for his service as a Colonel in the State Militia:
Corp. Sheets’ record of war service with Co. F, as recorded in Edgar County historical accounts follows:
Corporal Sheets was engaged in the operations in the West, and part of Missouri, in following Jeff Thompson, who was mounted while our soldiers consisted of infantry. His command went from there to Arkansas and was then called back to Shiloh, from there it went to Cap. Girardeau. The regiment was at the siege of Corinth. The 21st Regiment was originally commanded by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and in his memoirs complimentary mention is made of the old regiment, and its connection with the siege of Corinth. Mr. Sheets was on the breast works the morning the magazine blew up during that siege. The regiment then joined the Army of the Ohio under Gen. Buell and marched through 'Tennessee and Kentucky, a distance of 500 miles under a sweltering southern sun. Mr. Sheets was in the battle of Champion Hills, his company being the first in the fight. From there he went to Knob Gap where he lost every- thing he had. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, a ball passing through his breast clear through his body. After this he was sent to the field hospital, and subsequently removed to Nashville. From there he was sent to Louisville, Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, being seven months in hospitals. He was discharged Aug. 17, 1863.
[He] was discharged in hospital at Camp Denison, Ohio, by reason of gunshot wounds
received in the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30, 1862; said wound was received while making a charge on a rebel battery — the celebrated N. O. Light Artillery; the wound was a very serious one, an ounce and a half ball from a rifled Belgian musket passing into the right breast, breaking the fifth rib in two places, cutting the right half of the sternum in twain, and coming out at the left side, leaving a very severe and painful wound, which did not heal up till the following December.
Corp. Jackson Sheets returned to Paris Twp. where “he engaged in the study of medicine, in the office of the late Dr. S. B. Ten Broeck, [later] pursuing his studies till March, 1875, in the course of which he attended one term of medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago.”
Contributor: Arthur Tulak (48936218)
Union Soldier. Served in Company F, 21st Illinois Infantry. Joined 15 Jun 1861 at Paris, Edgar, Illinois for 3 years. Mustered-In 28 Jun 1861 @ Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. Discharged due to disability on 17 Aug 1863 @ Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. Wife Nannie filed for his pension 10 mar 1905 in Illinois.
Parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Henning) Sheets.
Find a Grave contributor, Arthur Tulak has made the following suggested edits.
Jackson Sheets (71572131) In addition to serving as a Corporal, Jackson was later commissioned as a Colonel in the Illinois Militia in the Sanitary Corps.
Under the authority of the act of the State legislature of January, 1865, “the Governor appointed six Military State Agents with rank of Colonel, assigning them to different military departments in the South, to look after the interests of Illinois soldiers in the field and hospitals.” Col. Sheets received his appointment under General Orders, No. 42, from the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Isham Nicholas Haynie, on March 1, 1865, assigning him to Nashville Tennesee. His duties as the Governor’s appointed Military Agent, were spelled out in Sections 2-5 of G.O. #42, which stated that upoin receiving their appointments, “each agent shall be authorized and required to look after the comfort and welfare of all sick, wounded, or disabled soldiers of the United States Army from Illinois, and also to the welfare, etc., of all such as may be agent, for any cause, from their respective companies. Said agents shall, from time to time, and as often as practicable, visit all hospitals or departments within the district in which he is or may be assigned to duty, and search out and discover, and aid all soldiers from Illinois who, for any cause, may be unable to acomplish for themselves that which may be useful and proper to be done.” Col. Sheets’s assignment was changed to Memphis Tenn.
Adjutant General I.N. Haynie, in his official report, described the importance of the mission for the Illinois Military Agents:
At the time of their discharge of their duties, the vast armies of the Union were in full activity, whilst the loyal States of the north were re-enforcing them with every possible energy. As was to be expected, the Federal hospitals everywhere were filled with those gallant men who, from wounds or exposure, had been rendered unable to accompany the armies in the several campaigns then in progress. At Jefferson Barracks, Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans, at Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Savannah and Newbern, were hospitals in which were to be found many of the soldiers of the State, requiring attention and aid. The good accomplished by them, and by the State through them, can not be over estimated. In every possible way relief was extended to the soldier; and they were made to feel, that although absent from their officers and comrades, yet still the State, through its agents, was looking to their welfare; and many a good citizen, now at home, doubtless has cause to be thankful for this timely and human provision made by the legislature in behalf of the soldiers. These arduous duties were, without interruption, continued until toward mid-summer of the year. In the meantime, hostilities had ceased, the discharge of the army had been completed, including most of the soldiers and patients in hospitals, and hence, the services of these agents were no longer (all of them) needed; accordingly the resignations of Col. Sheets, Col. Morrill and Col. Wickizer have been accepted…
Col. Sheets’ was honorably discharged on October 15, 1865, with five of the six agents resigning within months of each other and his military service pension commenced September 4, 1868, Certificate No. 23.300. The Adjutant General Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois in 1867 (Vol. I), list his military rank as Colonel, and the military branch of service (and those of other Colonels of the State Sanitary Board) as “State Military Agent.” Upon his return to Paris Twp., Edgar Co. Illinois, Col Sheets served ain a variety of official positions, namely: one term as Clerk of Paris Twp.; one term as City Clerk of Paris Twp.; elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held for eleven years. Col. Sheets was appointed by the Governor as a Notary Public for Paris Twp. Edgar County, receiving his commission from the Secretary of State on or about 1865 and December 10, 1869. In 1869, Col. Sheets was nominated by John Boyle and twelve other former comrades in a petition to President U.S. Grant to serve as the “Consul Resident at either Melbourne Australia, Buenos Ayres, or Valarasio Chile South America.” This nomination was reinforced by U.S. Senator Richard Yates (IL) in a letter to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, adding that Col. Sheets “…was a member of the President’s regiment of Illinois troops, and no man in the service, did more faithful service. He is brave, intelligent and earnest, and was wounded almost unto death for our salvation.” On December 7, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated Col. Sheets to serve as Postmaster of Paris Township, Illinois, a position he held from October, 1871 to at least 1872. Col. Sheets was a member of the Illinois Electoral College (Presidential Elector) in 1880, casting his vote for the administration of Pres. James A. Garfield and V.P. Chester A. Arthur. In the business sector, Col. Sheets’ profession in 1870 was a Real Estate Agent. In April, 1878, Col. Sheets returned to journalism, and purchased a one-half interest in the Paris Republican newspaper and 14 months later in 1879, “he became sole editor and proprietor of said paper, and … has now in his charge a live, reliable Republican newspaper, whose record, since in his charge, is a guarantee for the future; its circulation is equal to any paper published in the 15th Congressional District.” Col. Sheets remained editor for many years, and was holding this position until at least 1889.
As a private citizen, Col. Sheets was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (since Jan. 3, 1868), serving as the Superintendent of the Sunday-school and held the various offices of his church. Col. Sheets participated in civic life as “…a member of all the Masonic bodies in Paris and has sat in the chair of High Priest in the Chapter, and is a charter member of the Commandery. While not an active member, he has belonged to the Odd Fellows for a long time.” Col. Sheets was a member of the Republican Party. Col. Sheets was married to Miss Nannie Clark on May 26, 1866 in Paris Twp. Col. and Mrs. Sheets had one daughter — Bessie. Col. Sheets passed away on March 2, 1905 and was buried in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Edgar County Illinois. , In 1924, Col. Sheets body was removed from the Edgar Cemetery and sent to Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri, and re-interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery at the request of his daughter Bessie, who had moved there.
Here is more on Jackson's military service and his education that prepared him for his service as a Colonel in the State Militia:
Corp. Sheets’ record of war service with Co. F, as recorded in Edgar County historical accounts follows:
Corporal Sheets was engaged in the operations in the West, and part of Missouri, in following Jeff Thompson, who was mounted while our soldiers consisted of infantry. His command went from there to Arkansas and was then called back to Shiloh, from there it went to Cap. Girardeau. The regiment was at the siege of Corinth. The 21st Regiment was originally commanded by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and in his memoirs complimentary mention is made of the old regiment, and its connection with the siege of Corinth. Mr. Sheets was on the breast works the morning the magazine blew up during that siege. The regiment then joined the Army of the Ohio under Gen. Buell and marched through 'Tennessee and Kentucky, a distance of 500 miles under a sweltering southern sun. Mr. Sheets was in the battle of Champion Hills, his company being the first in the fight. From there he went to Knob Gap where he lost every- thing he had. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, a ball passing through his breast clear through his body. After this he was sent to the field hospital, and subsequently removed to Nashville. From there he was sent to Louisville, Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, being seven months in hospitals. He was discharged Aug. 17, 1863.
[He] was discharged in hospital at Camp Denison, Ohio, by reason of gunshot wounds
received in the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30, 1862; said wound was received while making a charge on a rebel battery — the celebrated N. O. Light Artillery; the wound was a very serious one, an ounce and a half ball from a rifled Belgian musket passing into the right breast, breaking the fifth rib in two places, cutting the right half of the sternum in twain, and coming out at the left side, leaving a very severe and painful wound, which did not heal up till the following December.
Corp. Jackson Sheets returned to Paris Twp. where “he engaged in the study of medicine, in the office of the late Dr. S. B. Ten Broeck, [later] pursuing his studies till March, 1875, in the course of which he attended one term of medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago.”
Contributor: Arthur Tulak (48936218)
Parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Henning) Sheets.
Find a Grave contributor, Arthur Tulak has made the following suggested edits.
Jackson Sheets (71572131) In addition to serving as a Corporal, Jackson was later commissioned as a Colonel in the Illinois Militia in the Sanitary Corps.
Under the authority of the act of the State legislature of January, 1865, “the Governor appointed six Military State Agents with rank of Colonel, assigning them to different military departments in the South, to look after the interests of Illinois soldiers in the field and hospitals.” Col. Sheets received his appointment under General Orders, No. 42, from the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Isham Nicholas Haynie, on March 1, 1865, assigning him to Nashville Tennesee. His duties as the Governor’s appointed Military Agent, were spelled out in Sections 2-5 of G.O. #42, which stated that upoin receiving their appointments, “each agent shall be authorized and required to look after the comfort and welfare of all sick, wounded, or disabled soldiers of the United States Army from Illinois, and also to the welfare, etc., of all such as may be agent, for any cause, from their respective companies. Said agents shall, from time to time, and as often as practicable, visit all hospitals or departments within the district in which he is or may be assigned to duty, and search out and discover, and aid all soldiers from Illinois who, for any cause, may be unable to acomplish for themselves that which may be useful and proper to be done.” Col. Sheets’s assignment was changed to Memphis Tenn.
Adjutant General I.N. Haynie, in his official report, described the importance of the mission for the Illinois Military Agents:
At the time of their discharge of their duties, the vast armies of the Union were in full activity, whilst the loyal States of the north were re-enforcing them with every possible energy. As was to be expected, the Federal hospitals everywhere were filled with those gallant men who, from wounds or exposure, had been rendered unable to accompany the armies in the several campaigns then in progress. At Jefferson Barracks, Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans, at Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Savannah and Newbern, were hospitals in which were to be found many of the soldiers of the State, requiring attention and aid. The good accomplished by them, and by the State through them, can not be over estimated. In every possible way relief was extended to the soldier; and they were made to feel, that although absent from their officers and comrades, yet still the State, through its agents, was looking to their welfare; and many a good citizen, now at home, doubtless has cause to be thankful for this timely and human provision made by the legislature in behalf of the soldiers. These arduous duties were, without interruption, continued until toward mid-summer of the year. In the meantime, hostilities had ceased, the discharge of the army had been completed, including most of the soldiers and patients in hospitals, and hence, the services of these agents were no longer (all of them) needed; accordingly the resignations of Col. Sheets, Col. Morrill and Col. Wickizer have been accepted…
Col. Sheets’ was honorably discharged on October 15, 1865, with five of the six agents resigning within months of each other and his military service pension commenced September 4, 1868, Certificate No. 23.300. The Adjutant General Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois in 1867 (Vol. I), list his military rank as Colonel, and the military branch of service (and those of other Colonels of the State Sanitary Board) as “State Military Agent.” Upon his return to Paris Twp., Edgar Co. Illinois, Col Sheets served ain a variety of official positions, namely: one term as Clerk of Paris Twp.; one term as City Clerk of Paris Twp.; elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held for eleven years. Col. Sheets was appointed by the Governor as a Notary Public for Paris Twp. Edgar County, receiving his commission from the Secretary of State on or about 1865 and December 10, 1869. In 1869, Col. Sheets was nominated by John Boyle and twelve other former comrades in a petition to President U.S. Grant to serve as the “Consul Resident at either Melbourne Australia, Buenos Ayres, or Valarasio Chile South America.” This nomination was reinforced by U.S. Senator Richard Yates (IL) in a letter to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, adding that Col. Sheets “…was a member of the President’s regiment of Illinois troops, and no man in the service, did more faithful service. He is brave, intelligent and earnest, and was wounded almost unto death for our salvation.” On December 7, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated Col. Sheets to serve as Postmaster of Paris Township, Illinois, a position he held from October, 1871 to at least 1872. Col. Sheets was a member of the Illinois Electoral College (Presidential Elector) in 1880, casting his vote for the administration of Pres. James A. Garfield and V.P. Chester A. Arthur. In the business sector, Col. Sheets’ profession in 1870 was a Real Estate Agent. In April, 1878, Col. Sheets returned to journalism, and purchased a one-half interest in the Paris Republican newspaper and 14 months later in 1879, “he became sole editor and proprietor of said paper, and … has now in his charge a live, reliable Republican newspaper, whose record, since in his charge, is a guarantee for the future; its circulation is equal to any paper published in the 15th Congressional District.” Col. Sheets remained editor for many years, and was holding this position until at least 1889.
As a private citizen, Col. Sheets was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (since Jan. 3, 1868), serving as the Superintendent of the Sunday-school and held the various offices of his church. Col. Sheets participated in civic life as “…a member of all the Masonic bodies in Paris and has sat in the chair of High Priest in the Chapter, and is a charter member of the Commandery. While not an active member, he has belonged to the Odd Fellows for a long time.” Col. Sheets was a member of the Republican Party. Col. Sheets was married to Miss Nannie Clark on May 26, 1866 in Paris Twp. Col. and Mrs. Sheets had one daughter — Bessie. Col. Sheets passed away on March 2, 1905 and was buried in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Edgar County Illinois. , In 1924, Col. Sheets body was removed from the Edgar Cemetery and sent to Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri, and re-interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery at the request of his daughter Bessie, who had moved there.
Here is more on Jackson's military service and his education that prepared him for his service as a Colonel in the State Militia:
Corp. Sheets’ record of war service with Co. F, as recorded in Edgar County historical accounts follows:
Corporal Sheets was engaged in the operations in the West, and part of Missouri, in following Jeff Thompson, who was mounted while our soldiers consisted of infantry. His command went from there to Arkansas and was then called back to Shiloh, from there it went to Cap. Girardeau. The regiment was at the siege of Corinth. The 21st Regiment was originally commanded by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and in his memoirs complimentary mention is made of the old regiment, and its connection with the siege of Corinth. Mr. Sheets was on the breast works the morning the magazine blew up during that siege. The regiment then joined the Army of the Ohio under Gen. Buell and marched through 'Tennessee and Kentucky, a distance of 500 miles under a sweltering southern sun. Mr. Sheets was in the battle of Champion Hills, his company being the first in the fight. From there he went to Knob Gap where he lost every- thing he had. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, a ball passing through his breast clear through his body. After this he was sent to the field hospital, and subsequently removed to Nashville. From there he was sent to Louisville, Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, being seven months in hospitals. He was discharged Aug. 17, 1863.
[He] was discharged in hospital at Camp Denison, Ohio, by reason of gunshot wounds
received in the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30, 1862; said wound was received while making a charge on a rebel battery — the celebrated N. O. Light Artillery; the wound was a very serious one, an ounce and a half ball from a rifled Belgian musket passing into the right breast, breaking the fifth rib in two places, cutting the right half of the sternum in twain, and coming out at the left side, leaving a very severe and painful wound, which did not heal up till the following December.
Corp. Jackson Sheets returned to Paris Twp. where “he engaged in the study of medicine, in the office of the late Dr. S. B. Ten Broeck, [later] pursuing his studies till March, 1875, in the course of which he attended one term of medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago.”
Contributor: Arthur Tulak (48936218)
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