Amador County Biographies

A. A. VAN SANDT

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


The subject of the following sketch, is a native of the old " Buckeye " State, Ohio ; was born in Hamilton 
county, April 22, 1832. His boyhood days were passed in that county until, in 1844, when he removed 
to Caldwell county, Missouri, where he acted in the capacity of plow-boy on the farm owned by his 
parents for some years. His facilities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, but being a lad 
of more, than ordinary ability he succeeded in obtaining a thorough knowledge of the branches taught in 
a district school. His next move was to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he remained until the year 1852. 
when he came to the Pacific coast, and entered the mines of California, engaging in mining, which business 
in connection with ditching he followed with varied success until 1868, at which time he settled on 
his present ranch, where he has since resided. As a farmer Mr. Van Sandt has proved a success, and is 
to-day the possessor of a fine, large ranch, containing six hundred acres, and adapted to the cultivation of 
every kind of grain, hay, and fruits. The ranch is situated on the Mokelumne river, and commands a 
beautiful view of the surrounding country. He was married in 1875 to Miss McCloucy, and their union 
has been blessed with two children, both boys, aged respectively four and one years. 

In the possession of his interesting family, and beautiful home, Mr. Van Sandt stands second to none 
of the many farmers along the river, and being in the prime of life bids fair to enjoy the fruits of his 
labors for many years to come. 

History of Amador, California With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches 
of its Prominent Men and PioneersOakland, California, Thompson and West, 
1881.