Sarah Ann SANDY ¹

  General Notes:

HOW SANDYS GOT THEIR NAME

On the banks of the Wabash, on the Indian shore
A tribe of saucy Mohawks that was known the country
o'er, were finally drawn to battle and routed from their
site, and left their dead and wounded as they hastened
in their flight.

Among their gastly leaving was a boy with sandy hair
Whom they had taken captive in some other battle there.
Too young to tell his story, or to know from whence he came
They always called him Sanday, since no one knew his name.

Now Grandma told this story of her Grandpa years ago;
Her name was Sarah Sandy, Grandma Joyce whom we
all know.
She came across to Iowa where her daughter known as
"Toad" fell in love with "Pinky Story" who lived across the
road.

Pink was an energetic lad and quicker than a cat,
Could turn a dozen handsprings and knock Goliath flat.
When Pink and Toad were married, Fifty-seven years
ago, they came out to Nebraska where their family
could grow.

Tho' eighty years have grayed their locks they are spry
as crickets's yet; they are loved by all who know them
They are friends you can't forget.
Now they number more than thirty children and grand
children too.
We join them with our greetings, as we pen these lines to you

From Carroll Story on September 1, 1999
This is a twist on how the Sandys got their name. My grandmother Story told this to me several times when I would spend summer times with them at the farm in Franklin County. My uncle Roy did try to verify this story but to no avail so take it as word to mouth and only as past down from generation on.

It seems that a wagon train going west was attacked by Indians and all were killed except for a small boy with sandy hair and freckles. The Indians took the boy and began to raise him. An Indian scout, who was familiar with the tribe and on terms with the chief, found out the white boy was being held by the tribe. The chief was approached by the scout and tried to take the boy. However, the chief did like the horse the scout was riding. He wanted to trade the boy for the horse. The scout wouldn't trade, but did make a deal to race his horse against the best horse of the chiefs. It was decided that if the horse belonging to the chief won, he could have the scout's horse. But if the scout's horse won he would get the boy. They had the race and the scout won and got the little boy. With no name and no family, the Indian scout named the boy sandy and raised him as his own.

This does fit somewhat with the last page of the poems, however, Grandmother repeated this story to me several times and with Grandfather present. So, file it without really knowing if it is true.

OBITUARY
Sarah Ann Sandy, daughter of Henry and Susie Sandy, was born July 5, 1843, on a farm in Indiana. When a small girl her parents moved to Sandyville, Warren county, Iowa. Here she grew to young womanhood and on August 16, 1860, she was united in marriage to Robert Granville Joyce at Indianola, Iowa. They continued to live in Warren county until 1885, when they moved to Filmore county, Nebraska, and later to Franklin county.
To this union were born seven children: Mrs. H. B. Story, Henry Joyce and Charlie Joyce, of Bloomington, Nebraska; Homer and Sandy, who passed away in their youth; Mrs. G. W. Eaton, of Orleans, Nebraska and Edgar O., who died at the age of twenty.
For about ten years Mrs. Joyce has made her home with her children and during this time has exemplified the virtues of a christian life. While her failing health has not permitted her to perform any christian public service, her life has been a constant uplift and benediction to members of the family and all others who have had the pleasure of her acquaintance.
Mrs. Joyce united with the Baptist Church while in early womanhood. After moving to Nebraska she united with the Congregational Church and later with the Methodist Church, which she retained her membership until her death.
She leaves to mourn her death besides the immediate family above mentioned, two brothers, Joseph Sandy, Lake City, Iowa; and William Sandy, Covert, Kansas; sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
Mrs. Joyce has been in failing health for several years, but her last illness was severe in its nature and of about five days duration. She quietly and peacefully passed away Monday morning, February 25th, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. G. W. Eaton, in Orleans, Nebraska. She had reached the ripe age of eighty years, seven months and twenty days. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her loved ones and friends.
Funeral services were held at the Eaton home in Orleans, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Richard Gibb of the Methodist Church. Tuesday night, the body, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Story, Henry Joyce and Charley Joyce was shipped to Davenport, Nebraska for interment.

Sarah married Granville Robert JOYCE, son of Alexander JOYCE and Mary A. VAUGHN, on 16 August 1860 in Indianola, Warren Co., Iowa. (Granville Robert JOYCE was born on 5 January 1836 in , , Kentucky ² and died on an unknown date in Grand Island, Hall Co., Nebraska ².)