Joseph C. Sandy (1835-1925)

SANDY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 15:42:43

Joseph Carl Sandy
(September 5, 1835 – March 15, 1925)

For almost half a century this gentleman has been a resident of Iowa, and has made his home in Calhoun County since May, 1876, at which time he settled on his present farm on section 35, Calhoun Township. Here he is successfully engaged in general farming, owning and operating a well improved and valuable trade of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Sandy was born in Owen County, Indiana, on the 5th of September, 1835, and is a son of Henry G. Sandy, also a native
of the Hoosier state, his birth having occurred in Washington County in 1816. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Sandy, was a native of North Carolina, and one of the first settlers of Indiana. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. On reaching manhood Henry G. Sandy was united in marriage with Miss Susannah McCarty, who was born in Kentucky of Scotch parentage, and they continued to make their home in Indiana until after the birth of eight of their children, the ninth and youngest of the family being born in Iowa after the removal of the parents to this state in 1854. They located in Warren county, Iowa, where the father opened up and improved a farm, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. He died, however, in St. Louis, Missouri, while visiting a son in that city in 1863. He followed agricultural pursuits throughout life, and meeting with excellent success he became owner of about eleven hundred acres of land in this state. His wife survived him a few years, passing away in 1869. Reared in Indiana, J. C. Sandy was principally educated in the common schools of that state, though he afterward attended the Iowa State University for one term. As a young man he came to Iowa in 1853 and aided his father in the arduous task of transforming the wild land into a good farm. He assisted in splitting rails and fencing the home farm in Warren County, and broke many acres of virgin soil, remaining with his father until his marriage.
On the 21st of February, 1856, in Warren County, Iowa, Mr. Sandy wedded Miss Atha Linda Goss, who was born in Morgan County, Indiana, and was sixteen years of age on the removal of the family from that county to Warren County, Iowa, in 1851. Her father, John Goss, was one of the pioneers of that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy now have a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, namely: John N., now a resident of Idaho; Henry Franklin, who is married and is engaged in farming in Nebraska: Ira G., a resident of Lake City, Iowa; Mary C, wife of Frank Arnold, of Nebraska; Ross, superintendent of schools of Calhoun County and a resident of Rockwell City; Benjamin B., who is preparing himself for the medical profession at Iowa City; James H., who is married and assists in the operation of the home farm; D. Lewis, a teacher of Farnhamville; Anna May, wife of Arthur Johnson, a merchant of Rockwell City; and Addie Grace, a teacher of this county. For a few years after his marriage Mr. Sandy engaged in farming on rented land and then bought a place in Marion County, which he operated until 1876, when he sold out and came to Calhoun County, purchasing his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Calhoun Township, but the land was still unbroken and unfenced. He at once began its improvement and cultivation, and some years later built a neat and substantial residence, also a good barn and convenient outbuildings. He raises a good grade of stock and is accounted one of the most thorough and skillful agriculturists of his community. Mr. Sandy became identified with the Republican party on its organization, and has supported all of its presidential candidates, casting his first ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has never sought or cared for political honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He has always been a staunch friend of education and for sixteen years most efficiently served as school director, doing all in his power to secure the best teachers and advance the educational welfare of his community. As a pioneer of Iowa he has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. During early days he has seen great herds of deer and buffaloes, as well as all kinds of feathered game, but they since disappeared, and where once was wild unbroken prairie there are now fine farms and beautiful homes. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.558]