William R. Sandy (1868-1950)

SANDY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 10/3/2022 at 10:24:05

William Ross Sandy
(April 28, 1868 – July 8, 1950)

Professor Wilham Ross Sandy is well known in educational circles in Calhoun County and in this section of the state and his influence and efforts have been a potent factor in intellectual development here. He is now serving as county superintendent, filling the office for the second term. Under his able administration marked advancement has been made and the school system of the county is one that the citizens regard with just pride. Professor Sandy is a native of Marion County, Iowa, his birth having there occurred on the 28th of April, 1868, his parents being Joseph and Atha L. (Goss) Sandy. Both were natives of the state of Indiana. The grandfather, Henry G. Sandy, was one of the early settlers of Iowa and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its present development and progress. The year of his arrival was 1856 and he settled in Warren County, where he secured a tract of rich land and engaged in general farming and stock-raising. There he spent his remaining days and when he had reached an advanced age he, while visiting a son who was sick with smallpox, at St. Louis during the Civil war, was stricken with the disease and died, leaving behind him the record of an untarnished name. Joseph Sandy, the father of our subject, also came to Iowa about 1855 and for some years made his home in Warren County. In 1876, however, he came to Calhoun County and now resides near Lake City, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits, being one of the well known and progressive farmers of the community. Unto him and his wife were born ten children: John N., H. Frank, Ira G., M. Kate, William R., Benjamin B., James H., Anna M., Doc L. and Addie G. Professor Sandy was reared to manhood in the vicinity of Lake City and in the public schools of the neighborhood pursued his early education, manifesting special aptitude in his studies and early showing forth the elemental strength of his mind. At the age of nineteen he began teaching. Later he became a student in the State Normal School, in which he pursued a four year course and was then graduated. After completing his course, he became principal of the schools of Farnhamville, where he remained in 1895' and 1896 and in 1898 he was principal of the ward school of Lake City. The following year he was principal of the Bagley school and the same year was elected county superintendent of the school of Calhoun county and filled the office so acceptably during his two year term that he was re-elected in 1901 and in the present incumbent. Professor Sandy was widely recognized as one of the leading educators in this part of the country and the various schools with which he was connected made rapid progress under his direction. He seems to have a full realization of the words of Sydney Smith, who said: "The real object of education is to give children resources that will endure as long as life endures; habits that time will ameliorate, not destroy: occupation that will render sickness tolerable, solitude pleasant, age venerable, life more dignified and useful and death less terrible." Since entering upon his official duties Professor Sandy has made
himself acquainted with the educational work in all parts of the county, has introduced improvements, brought about reforms and has placed the schools in excellent working condition.
On the 25th of July, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Professor Sandy and Miss Maud F. Anderson, a native of Henry County, Iowa, and a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Anderson. Socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows' Lodge of Lake City and in his political affiliations he is a Republican, but outside the strict path of his profession he has never sought office. In religious faith he is a Methodist and is now sending as steward in the church of that denomination in Rockwell City. A gentleman of scholarly tastes and attainments, of strong mind and broad humanitarian views he is deeply and actively interested in all movements and measures which he believes will contribute to the general good along social, intellectual and moral lines. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.393]