Robert E. Sands Biographical Review

ROBERT E. SANDS, a highly respected citizen of Rushville, Illinois, was born in Rushville township, Schuyler county, Illinois, April 15, 1849, a son of Robert R. Sands, who was born in Washington, District of Columbia. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Sands, was a native of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry; upon coming to the United States he located in the capital city, where he resided several years. In 1831 he removed to Schuyler county, Illinois, and was one of the pioneers of Rushville township; he entered a tract of Government land on section 8, improved the place, and occupied it until his death. Robert R. Sands was a child of eight years when his parents come to Illinois; at that time there were few settlers, and Rushville was but a hamlet; deer, wild turkeys and other game were plentiful; there were no railroads and for many years the river towns were the market places. The following incident related by Mr. Sands is worthy of record: One season his father raised about 1,000 bushels of corn; he shelled it in a machine operated by hand, teamed it to Frederick, and sold it for fifteen cents a bushel! Robert R. Sands inherited land from his father which he occupied until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Nall, was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Gabriel Nall, also a Kentuckian by birth, and a pioneer of Schuyler county; she died on the home farm in April, 1870. Robert E. Sands was reared and educated in his native town, and was never separated from his parents until the hand of death was laid upon them. He then purchased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead, and was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until March 14, 1892, when he sold the farm, and removed to Rushville. Mr. Sands was united in marriage, in 1873, to Sarah Montooth, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of three children: Walter E., Kate Alice and Mary Stella. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he supports the issues of the Republican party.