Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon
Pioneer Woman Dies At Joseph
Mrs. Margaret Sheets, pioneer resident of Joseph, passed away Sunday morning, April 12, 1942, following a week’s illness, having been stricken with paralysis Easter Sunday.
Margaret Ann Scott was born in Carthage, Mo., Aug. 20, 1854, and died at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 23 days. She came to Weston, Oregon, with her family by ox team in 1866 and later moved to La Grande where on Aug. 7, 1870, she was united in marriage to Adam Francis Sheets.
To this union 11 children were born, four of whom survive. They are Mrs. Mable Gates of Union, Mrs. C.A. Collingsworth of Joseph, and Mrs. S.D. Houck of The Dalles, all of whom were present to care for their mother during her illness, and a son, Jacob Sheets of Oakland, Cal., was unable to be present.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheets and their children came to Joseph about 1899 where Mrs. Sheets had a restaurant, later building the Sheets hotel which she operated as long as she was physically able. Mr. Sheets had a blacksmith shop. He died Feb. 10, 1919.
Mrs. Sheets was a typical pioneer mother, enduring hardships of an early day cheerfully and meeting each day with courage. She was a cheerful disposition, an untiring worker, a loving mother and kind friend.
Funeral services were conducted in the Joseph Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at 3:30. Internment was in the Prairie Creek cemetery.
Source: Enterprise Chieftain, April 16, 1942, Page 3.
Contributed by: Sue Wells