Joseph Evans Sands (Fairmont, WV)
Joseph Evans Sands (Sep. 10, 1835 – Nov. 19, 1909)
Biography
- Name: Joseph Evans Sands
- Birth: September 10, 1835, Annapolis, Maryland
- Death: November 19, 1909, Fairmont, West Virginia
- Father of bankers Lawrence E. Sands, C. Sprigg Sands, and Oliver J. Sands
Early life and family
Joseph E. Sands was born near Annapolis, Maryland on September 10, 1835. He was the son of Dr. William and Charlotte (Duvall) Sands. The Sands family was founded in the United States in the 1700s by Colonel John Sands who was born and reared in Wales. He left Wales at an early age and settled at Annapolis. Dr. Sands, the father, practiced in the Maryland counties for forty years and then moved to Baltimore where he practiced for four years before retiring. He was one of the most noted medical men of Maryland in his day, dying in 1877 at the age of 76. Mr. Sands' mother died in 1840 at the age of 39.
Joseph E. Sands grew to manhood in Annapolis and received his education at St. John's College. He entered the mercantile business in Baltimore and after some time spent in this pursuit, he followed the Baltimore & Ohio west. He chose Fairmont to settle down and there accepted employment as a clerk in the old Fairmont Bank under Cashier G.H. Sprigg, formerly of Baltimore (and later as Cashier of The York National Bank of York, Pennsylvania). The Fairmont Bank chartered as a State bank in 1851.
On October 14, 1858, Mr. Sands was united in marriage with Miss Mary V. Eyster, a daughter of William D. Eyster of Fairmont. The ceremony was performed by Dr. Perkins, afterwards rector of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Louisville, Kentucky. Eight children blessed the union as follows: Lawrence E., of the National Exchange Bank of Wheeling; C. Sprigg, late cashier of the Traders National Bank of Clarksburg; Harry S. of Wheeling; Oliver J. of the American National Bank of Richmond, Virginia; Dr. William H. of Fairmont; Lulu, deceased; Emily, now Mrs. W.T. Hartman of Fairmont; and Anna D. now Mrs. Howard W. Showalter of Fairmont.
Banking career
Mr. Sands remained in the Fairmont Bank for a short time and then went West, getting as far as Minnesota. He remained in that section of the country for a time before returning to Fairmont where he was given an advancement over his former position in the Fairmont Bank. In 1862 he was made cashier.
Three years later in 1865, under the direction and encouragement of its young cashier, the Fairmont bank received a charter as The First National Bank of Fairmont. Mr. Sands continued as cashier until April 1908 when he was elected president. Previously, he had been president of the State Bankers' Association and served on the Executive Council of the American Bankers' Association.
In the remarkable growth of Fairmont since the Civil War, Mr. Sands took prominent roles in this development. There was scarcely a movement which intended to develop this section that was not backed and encouraged by him and the First National Bank.
Other career highlights
For many years he served on boards of public schools and had been treasurer of the Fairmont Normal school for years.
Mr. Sands was an intimate friend of the big financial men of his day. He was a colleague of the late Senator Johnson N. Camden of Parkersburg as well as the Hon. J.V. Thompson of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sands with his associates optioned for years the great body of coal lying along the upper Monongahela River which was sold to Senator Camden and associates and with them he was instrumental in constructing the Monongahela River Railroad which opened that rich territory leading to significant development in West Virginia.
Mr. Sands was one of the organizers of the Monongah Coal & Coke Company which in its time was one of the largest of its kind in the region. He first served as secretary and treasurer of the corporation and later he was president and treasurer until the company sold its holdings to the Fairmont Coal Company. He was also treasurer of the Monongahela River Railroad Company, which operated a short line between Fairmont and Clarksburg, and served on its board until it was sold to the Baltimore and Ohio.
He was an organizer and the secretary of the Fairmont Machine Company, one of the prominent plants in Fairmont. He was a director of the Fairmont Development Company, the concern which opened up the South Side of Fairmont. He was the president and principal stockholder of the Traders Company of Clarksburg, which owned the Traders Hotel block. He was a trustee of the T. Moore Jackson estate and was prominently connected with scores of lesser concerns and was always a valuable adviser to the management of the same.
Later life and death
Mr. Sands was a member of Marion Lodge No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, Knights Templar, Shriners, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was president of the Young Men's Christian Association and treasurer of the Monongah Mines Relief Committee. He was senior warden of Christ Episcopal Church and had been a consistent member since his confirmation in 1854.
The funeral of the late Joseph E. Sands was held at the Episcopal Church in Fairmont at 3 PM on November 21, 1909. He died the evening of the 19th at 11:15 PM Burial was in the Woodlawn Cemetery.
Bank Officer Summary
During his banking career, Joseph E. Sands was involved with the following bank(s):
- First National Bank, Fairmont, WV (Charter 961): President 1909-1910; Cashier 1865-1908
- First National Bank, Mannington, WV (Charter 5012): President 1900; VP 1897
- Traders National Bank, Clarksburg, WV (Charter 4569): Director 1893...1902
Sources
- Joseph E. Sands on Findagrave.com.
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- The Fairmont West Virginian, Fairmont, WV, Sat., Nov. 20, 1909.
- The Times Dispatch, Richmond, VA, Sat., Nov. 20, 1909.
- The Clarksburg Telegram, Clarksburg, WV, Thu., Nov. 25, 1909.