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William G. Sands was supposedly born on 2 April 1830 in Illinois, and the earliest record we have discovered is his marriage to Catherine Kimbro on 17 Mar 1853 in Bond County, IL. Our search for his parents, therefore, has been centered in and around Bond and Montgomery County. (See Sands Bible Records) and (See Sands Marriage Records)
In addition to our William, age 30, b. IL (page 209), the following Sands were enumerated in the 1860 Bond County, IL census: Jackson, age 35, b. IL (page 207); John, age 24, b. IL (page 207); and Willis, age 25, b. IL (page 209). It is possible that these three men were brothers or cousins of William. Although difficult to read, we are reasonably confident that there were no Sands surnames listed on the 1850 Bond Co IL census. (See Sands Census Records)
A check of Bond County land records shows that a William Sands made several purchases of land; two in July of 1839 and one in May of 1842. W. Sands was listed as owing taxes for 1846 for land in Bond County. William Sands also purchased land in adjacent Montgomery County as early as 1833. It is doubtful that any of these entries refers to our William since he would not have been old enough based on our known date of birth. This William could, however, be his father. Other early Illinois land sales show a George Sands purchasing land in Boone County in 1840 and 1849, and a George Sands receiving a military tract grant in Hancock County as early as June of 1818. (See Sands Land & Deed Records)
Two company rosters (Union) from Bond County list a William Sands. The first is for Company E, 22nd Illinois Infantry showing service of William Sands from 25 June 1861 to 07 February 1862 when he was released due to disability. Per his pension record, this William Sands was apparently single, and had moved back to his home in Meigs County, OH by 15 April 1862 when he filed a claim for disability pension.
The 2nd record is for William G. Sands who served with Company K, 3rd Consolidated Cavalry from 13 Mar 1865 to 10 Oct 1865 when he was mustered out. The pension record for this William G. Sands confirms that he is our William based upon names of wives (1st Catherine Kimbrough/2nd Sarah Malinda Bingham), name of son Jacob F. Sands (Confirmed by 1880 Rio Twp, Knox Co, IL census), and birth and death dates for William that match dates from the George Sands family bible. (See Sands Military Records) and (See Sands Bible Records)
Other records such as newspaper articles and obituaries have been checked in Bond County, but so far have provided no further clues to William’s origin.
William G. Sands is listed with his 2nd wife, Sarah M., and children Mary E., Medy R., William Edward, and Jacob F. on the 1880 Knox Co, IL census. This census lists William’s parents as being born in Tennessee. Further research in Bond and Montgomery Counties, IL and eventually in Tennessee may allow us to find William’s parents.
The known descendants of our William G. and Catherine Kimbro Sands lived in Bond and Fayette Counties of Illinois, Carroll County, Arkansas and in and around the Wichita, Kansas area. Known descendants of William and Sarah Malinda Bingham Sands lived in Knox County, IL (1880 census), and in Marion, Lucas, and Wapello Counties, Iowa. William G. died near Lucas, Lucas County, Iowa per his pension file. He is buried at Goshen Cemetery, Union Township, Lucas County, Iowa. Sarah died in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa and is buried at Gosport Cemetery in Marion County, Iowa. (See Sands Burial Records) |