F. G. Sands

As printed in 1909

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 History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.