Samuel Stevens Sands


Samuel Stevens Sands I was an American banker who served as the head of S.S. Sands & Co.

Early life

Sands was born at 112 Chambers Street in New York City on November 18, 1827. He was the son of Austin Ledyard Sands, a merchant in New York City, and Anne Maria Sands. Among his siblings was brother Austin Ledyard Sands Jr..
His paternal grandparents were Richardson Sands and Lucretia Sands. After his grandfather's death, his grandmother married Ebenezer Stevens, a Lt. Col. in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a Maj. Gen. in the New York State Militia, and a merchant. She then became the mother of banker John Austin Stevens and surgeon Alexander Hodgdon Stevens.
He was a graduate of the University of the City of New York with the Class of 1846.

Career

In 1854, he became a member of the New York Stock Exchange. He was a banker and broker in partnership with William Henry Reese. He acted as broker for a number of important financial interests, including the Astor family. For many years, he was the president of S.S. Sands & Co. He have several partners throughout his career, including his brother, William Richardson Sands, his brother-in-law, Edmund Brandt Aymar, William Henry Reese, and his sons Samuel Jr. and Charles.
Towards the end of his career, he became involved in the railroad business, financing Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad, the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railway, the Milwaukee Railroad, the Lakeshore and Western Railway and the Colorado Midland Railway.

Country home

In 1865, Sands built "Elmhurst" at New Hamburg, New York, a small hamlet along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York.

Personal life

On June 14, 1849, Sands was married to Eliza Dickson Aymar, the daughter of Benjamin Aymar, also a merchant, and Elizabeth Aymar. After her death, he married her sister, Mary Ellis Aymar on April 15, 1842. Their elder sister was married to John D. Van Buren Jr., the New York State Engineer and Surveyor. After his marriage he lived at 80 Fifth Avenue in New York City and, later, at 385 Fifth Avenue. Together, they were the parents of:
He died on July 26, 1892 at his country home, "Elmhurst", near New Hamburg, New York. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, in Brooklyn.

Descendants

Through his son Samuel, he was the grandfather of George Winthrop Sands, who was married to Tayo Newton, daughter of Dr. B. Newton of New York, in 1905, and Samuel Stevens Sands III, who married Gertrude Sheldon, daughter of George R. Sheldon, in 1910.