Andrew, AJ, or Jack, as he was sometimes known, was a pioneer of Owyhee County and died at the Idaho Hotel at age 52 from pneumonia after an illness of only about three days. Andrew had come from his Jump Creek ranch into town one week previous to his death for the purpose of transacting some business and while here visited the Stormy Hill mine. In going through the mine his feet became wet, which gave him the cold that resulted in his death. He was unconscious up to within fifteen minutes before he died at which time his wife arrived. He at once recognized her, spoke a few kind words, and with the utterance of the last, his spirit took flight.
Andrew was well known throughout the county having been one of the discoverers of this camp and one of the locators of the Oro Fino and Morning Star lodes. He was born on January 7, 1837 in Illinois. The Sands family crossed the plains to California in 1857 where they resided for many years. In 1864 Andrew and his younger brother George arrived in the Owyhees to try their luck here. Sadly, George died on July 1, 1873 at the age of 34 years from typhoid pneumonia on War Eagle Mountain. He is buried in the pioneer cemetery located across town above the church.
Andrew later became one of the owners of the Illinois Central stage line. He married Pauline Oberdorfer Hyman in 1877. Her brother Moritz Oberdorfer is buried nearby. They immigrated from Bavaria.
Andrew’s obituary says that “he was a prominent figure during the early days of the camp, a kind-hearted man, and had many friends."