William Wands was born on May 1, 1874, in Gartness, Scotland. Wands was popularly known by the nickname of "Scotty," derived perhaps from his birthplace. He was a labor leader who organized fellow employees of the Southern Railway at Spencer Shops in Rowan County, North Carolina. He served a variety of like-minded organizations, including the American Federation of Labor. Wands died in Spencer on February 13, 1939.