The Sands Family of Washington County, Iowa

R. SAND.S is a retired farmer, residing in Ains'.north. He is a native of Washington C'county, K. Tenn., born Oct. 25, 1810, and is the son of Joseph and Anna (Harrison) Sands, the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a native of North Carolina, of Scotch-Irish descent. Both died in Monroe County, Tenn.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for many years. His chances for acquiring an education were limited to the subscription schools of his time. In 18.35 he married Rosanna Henderson, who was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1812, and the daughter of John and Margaret Henderson. By this union there were six children, five of whom.are living: J. W., now residing in this township; Margaret A., the wife of J. F. R. Leonard, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Joseph P., of Hamilton County, Iowa, who married Eliza Van Winkle, and has si.t children — Ervin, Gracie, Bessie, Benjamin, Alice and Samuel; Nancy J. is the wife of C. C. Stone, of Nebrasiva; they have one child, Cora, who married Trueman Brown, and has two children. S. A. married Elizabeth M.Hcnderson, and J. N. married Catherine Henderson.

In 1851 Mr. S.ands came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and durch.ased IGO acres of wild la lid in Oregon Tow'nshi), erecting a cabin 16x20 in which the family lived till 1863, when he built I, neat frame house. On the 2d of June, 1 887, Mrs..Sands died. She had been a consistent member ii the United Presbyterian Church since 1853, and left a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. Mr. Sands is a member of the Baptist Church, and has been connected with it for many years. Mrs. Sands was a model Christian woman; though modest and retiring in spirit, she was very active and earnest in that which she regarded as the Lord's work. In her life she exhibited the proofs of ever existing grace, and was greatly loved by all who knew her. She had done her life's work faithfully, and was ready and willing to go at the Master's call. Among her last words were: "I want nothing but Jesus." Her last request was that her body might be quietly conveyed from her home to its last resting-place, which was in keeping with her modest spirit.

A resident of this county for thirty-six years, Mr. Sands has witnessed the many changes that have been made, and h.as done much to convert a wild country into its present prosperous state. In the time that he has lived in Washington County ha has held several of the local offices, and has discharged every duty devolving upon him in a faithful manner. He is now living a retired life in Ainsworth, where he is highly respected by all, and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN W. SANDS, farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, Oregon Township, is a native of Tennessee, born in Monroe County, March 22, 1839, and is the son of Benjamin R. and Rosanna (Henderson) Sands. Benjamin R. Sands is a native of Washington County, Tenn., and is of Scotch-Irish descent. In his native State he was united in marriage, in 1835, in Monroe County, with Miss Rosanna Henderson, also a native of Tennessee, born in Blount County, and of Irish descent. They came to Washington County, Iowa, in the spring of 1851, and were therefore numbered among the earliest settlers.

Mr. Sands entered IGO.acres of laud, which he put under cultivation and greatly improved, and on which he remained until 1880, when he went to the village of Ainsworth, and there lived a retired life. Mrs. Sands died there.June 20, 1887, leaving an aged and devoted husband, with several children and many friends to mourn their loss. She was a kind and an affectionate wife, and an indulgent and loving mother; a sincere Christian woman; a member of the United Presbyterian Church; in the faith of her fathers she died, and is now enjoying the rest that comes to the righteous. Since the death of his wife Mr. Sands has made his home with the subject of this sketch. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and as a citizen is respected by all. Numbered among the representative pioneers of Washington County, he has witnessed all the changes that have been made in its development, and now, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years, awaits the summons to come up higher. Benjamin R. and Rosanna Sands reared a family of six children, five of whom are now living: John W.; Margaret, wife of J. F. R. Leonard, a sketch, of whom will be found in this work; Joseph P., of Hamilton County, Iowa; Samuel A., of this township; James, also in Oregon Township; the de- CQjised is Nancy J.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Sands was married in Louisa County, in 1864, to Martha A. Shaw, the daughter of Samuel and Jlary (Riddle) Shaw, who came to Iowa in 1856. She was born in Monroe County, Tenn., Nov. 23, 1 8-1.' They have by this union four children — Eva J., Samuel B., Francis G. and Alv.i. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Their three oldest children are also members of that body. In politics our subject is a Republican. He has held the office of Township Trustee, and other minor local offices. Mr. Sands is regarded as one of the enterprising citizens of

Oregon Township; he is a man universally esteemed by all who know him. Commencing life in limited circumstances, by industry and economy, assisted by his wife, he has acquired a nice property, and his farm is regarded as one of the best in the township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL A. SANDS is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 4, Oregon Township, and the owner of eighty acres of flue farm laud. He is a native of East Tennessee, born Jan. 8, 1 84S, and is the.sou of B. R. and Rosanna (Henderson) Sands, the former a native of Tennessee and of English descent, the latter a native of North Carolina and of Scotch descent. They were among the early settlers of Washington County, emigrating from East Tennessee in 1851, settling in Oregon Township, where the former still resides, making his home in the village of Ainsworth, and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. The latter died June 20, 1887. (See sketch of B. R. Sands elsewhere in this volume.)

The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Washington County, Iowa, when but three years of age, and here grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools of his adopted State and county. His whole life has been spent upon the farm, and he is regarded by all.as a good practical farmer. On the 11th of August, 1870. he was united in marriage with Miss Melinda E. Henderson, a native of Tennessee, born in 1849.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

F. G. SANDS.

One of the well appointed mercantile establishments of Ainsworth is conducted by F. G. Sands, the senior partner of the firm of Sands Brothers. Early realizing that there is no royal road to wealth and that there is no excellence without labor he has put forth strenuous effort to build up a trade along the legitimate lines of business and throughout his entire career his course has confirmed closely to a high standard of commercial ethics. He represents one of the old families of the county, his grandparents locating within its borders fifty-eight years ago. His birth occurred in Oregon township, January 3, 1869, and he was the third in order of birth in a family of four children, whose parents were John W. and Martha (Shaw) Sands. His grandparents were Benjamin and Rosanna (Hudson) Sands, who were natives of Tennessee, where the father of our subject was also born and lived to his twelfth year, when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, the family home being established in Washington county in 1851. Extended mention of the parents and grandparents is made on another page of this volume in connection with the history of A. E. Sands, a brother of our subject. The youthful days of Frank G. Sands were spent in the usual manner of farm lads of the locality and period. At the usual age he entered the public schools, pursuing his studies in Ainsworth and during the periods of vacation he worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He afterward supplemented his public-school course by a pharmaceutical course in Iowa City, Iowa, and in 1892 he embarked in the drug business at Thornburg, Keokuk county, Iowa, where he conducted a well appointed store until 1897. In that year he located in Ainsworth to become identified with its commercial interests, opening a grocery and drug store under the name of Sands Brothers. Since that time a stock of jewelry has been added, also a line of men's furnishing goods, a furniture department and an undertaking department. The firm has about sixty-five hundred square feet of floor space and owns a two-story brick business block, whicli is well criuipped with a large line of goods in the different departments lllsrklK" ( )i' WASiiixcTox corx'i'v 331 mentioned. They are well e(ui])pe(l lo meet the various denianiK of the trade, closely study the wishes of their patrons and by the most reliable and enterprising business methods have met with splendid success. F. G. Sands is practically the manager of the business, while his brother, A. E. Sands, concentrates his energies upon banking interests as cashier of the Ainsworth Bank.

In his political views Mr. Sands is a stalwart republican. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a trustee and his wife is also a member of that organization. His fraternal relations connect him with the Masonic lodge of Ainsworth.

On the 2d of August, 1895, Mr. Sands was married to Miss Mabel M. Keller, a resident of Washington county, and they have one son. Rex, who was born March 19, 1897. They occupy a leading position in the social circles of the town and the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them, for their genuine personal worth is widely recognized.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. E. SANDS.

The financial interests of Ainsworth find a worthy and valued representative in A. E. Sands, one of the stockholders and cashier of the Ainsworth bank. He is also interested in one of the leading mercantile enterprises of the city and in the management of his affairs displays keen discernment combined with the ability to so utilize the means at hand that substantial success results. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Oregon township, December 7, 1879. His parents were John W. and Martha (Shaw) Sands. The father is now a retired farmer living in Ainsworth. hut tor many years was connected with the agricultural interests of this county. A native of Tennessee, he was born in Monroe county, March 22, 1839, and his parents were Benjamin R. and Rosanna (Henderson ) Sands. Benjamin R. Sands was born in Washington county. Tennessee, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. In the Aear 1835 he wedded Miss Rosanna Henderson of Monroe county, Tennessee, who was born, however, in I'.count county, that state. She was of Irish lineage. Following their marriage they began their domestic life in the state of their nativity and resided there until 1851, when they removed to Washington county, Iowa. Mr. Sands entered one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land and at once began the development of a farm, upon which he resided until 1880. He then removed to Ainsworth, where he lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His wife died June 20, 1887, and he survived until some years later. Unto Benjamin and Rosanna Sands were born a number of children, including John W., the father of our subject; Margaret, the wife of J. F. R. Leonard; Joseph P.; Samuel A.; James; and Nancy J. The last named is now deceased.

John W. Sands came to Washington county, Iowa, with his parents in 1851, being then a lad of twelve years. He was educated in the common schools and through the periods of vacation worked on the farm, having devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career with the exception of three years spent as a soldier of the Civil war. It was in September, 1861, that he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company C, Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, in the first and second engagements at Corinth, in the battle of Vicksburg, in the Atlanta campaign and in various minor engagements and military movements and at length was mustered out at Galesville, Alabama, where he also received an honorable discharge.

On the expiration of his term of service John W. Sands returned to Iowa and began farming on his own account, in which work he won gratifying success. Year by year he carefully tilled the fields and as time went by he won a measure of ])prosperity which was the merited reward of his labors.

It was in Louisa county. Iowa, in 1864, that J. W. Sands was married to Miss Martha A. Shaw, a daughter of Samuel Shaw, who came to Iowa in 1834. Mrs. Sands was born in Monroe county, Tennessee, November 23, 1843, ynd by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Eva J., Samuel B. Francis C. and Alva E. The parents are members of the United Presbyterian church, to which their children also belong and Mr. Sands gives his political support to the republican party on which ticket he has been elected to several township offices, including that of trustee. His life has been an upright and honorable one characterized by the sterling qualities of manhood, which in every land and clime awaken respect and regard. Now at the age of seventy years he is living retired and his rest is well merited, for through a long period he was a most active representative of farming interests in this county.

A. E. Sands pursued his education in the schools of Ainsworth and afterward worked for three years in a blacksmith shop. He then became identified with mercantile interests, joining; his brother, Francis G., in the conduct of a store in which he still owns a half interest. Three years ago, however, he accepted the position of cashier in the Ainsworth Bank, in which he is a stockholder and is now the chief executive head of that institution, managing its affairs with marked ability and with a thorough understanding of banking interests in every department.

In June. 1901, Mr. Sands was married to Miss Maud Morrison, a resident of this county and they now have two children, Dorothy and Neal. Their home is justly celebrated for its warm-hearted hospitality and is a favorite resort with their many friends. In his political views Mr. Sands is a stalwart republican and at the present writing, 1909, is filling the office of city treasurer. He is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and cooperates largely in measures for the public good. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church, of which his wife is also a member and in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested, Mr. Sands serving at the present time as one of the church trustees. His enterprise in business and his activity in municipal affairs have made him a valued resident of the community.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.