Robert Feagles Sands

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Robert Feagles SANDS, a well-known figure in the building trade of Morristown and its vicinity, was born in Sparta, Sussex county, New Jersey, December 18, 1870, son of Hiram M. SANDS. The latter was born in Stanhope, now known as Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey. During the ware between the states he enlisted and served with gallantry in the Union army for three years. Captured at the second battle of Fredericksburg, he was held for a long time in Libby Prison, in Richmond. The regiment in which he was enlisted was the Fifteenth of New Jersey.

Robert Feagles SANDS, was given his Christian name in honor of a Robert FEAGLES, a greatly beloved and pioneer minister of Sussex county. The SANDS family moved first from Sparta, where Robert F. SANDS was born, to Boonton, Morris county, when he was still a young child, then to Hackettstown, and still later to Wharton. After remaining there for a time, they moved again, this time to Mt. Pleasant and Lake Hopatcong, and here in 1880, the boy began to go regularly to school. He acquired what there was to be gained from the public schools of the region, and in 1888 came to Morristown having decided to take up the carpenter’s trade. He went to this work with great energy and made a success of all that he undertook, so that in 1895 he felt justified in going into the building business on his own account as a contractor. The good fortune that has followed his ventures has been the result of good judgement coupled with the highest integrity, and the combination of good common sense and ability that is often known as a "long head". He has had the handling of some important contracts, and has been put in charge of the construction of a large number of handsome private residences. It was he that had the contract for the remodeling of the Banner Building. In his political sympathies, Mr. SANDS subscribes himself with the Republican party. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and belongs to the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown.

Mr. SANDS married, November 14, 1895, in Morristown, Susan E., daughter of E. O. and Rebecca Samantha (HENDERSHOT) FOSTER, the former of whom is a member of the firm of Sands & Company. Mr. FOSTER is a native of Morris county while Mrs. FOSTER came from Sussex county. There is one son of this marriage: Everts Foster, born November 13, 1898, and having graduated from a grammar school in 1911, is now a student in high school.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)