George Sands (1910 - 1957)

Born 8 Jun 1910 in Camillus, Onondaga, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Georgeanna (Scranton) Grajko — married 1 Aug 1936 in Groton, Tompkins, New York, United States

Died 15 Feb 1957 at age 46 in Warners, Onondaga, New York, United States

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Biography

George was born in 1910 in Camillus, New York.^[1][2] He was the son of Guy Whiting Sands and Florence Adell Burk.

He lived with his parents on a farm in Camillus.^[3] In 1920, he resided on the farm with his father Guy, mother Florence, sisters Marian and Ruth and brothers Warren, Edwin, and Albert.^[4] By 1925, his older sister Marian had married and moved from the farm.^[5]

He was valedictorian of the 1929 graduating class from Warners High School.^[6] His daughter attended elementary school in that same building. That same year he was the high scorer in the county for high school basketball, with a total of 92 points.

Warners School

By 1930, his father had died and he lived on the farm with his mother and brothers and was working in Maxon’s grocery store.^[7] He also worked on the farm of George Scranton during harvest time.^[8]

He married George Scranton's daughter Margaret Scranton on 1 August 1936 in the village of Groton, Tompkins County, New York.^[9][8] Her sister Bernice and her husband Ed Randall were witnesses.

Shortly after their marriage, he bought the store where he had been working as a butcher. The store and the house 2 miles down the road were purchased together.^[8] He operated the store as an independent Red & White grocery store in Warners, New York^[10]. He lived in that house for the remainder of his life.^[11]

George's sister Ruth worked for him in the Red & White store.

George and Ruth in the store

He registered for the World War II draft on 16 October 1940 in the town of Van Buren, Onondaga County, New York.^[12]

He enjoyed sports, and played in the local Post Standard baseball league. He had a heart condition, and would sometimes collapse running bases. He was also 4F during the World War II draft, and could not pass the physical to purchase life insurance.^[8]

Margaret, George, Marian ice fishing

He was an avid fisherman and hunter.^[13] He paid taxes on the store with proceeds from trapping.^[8] He had several hunting dogs, including a Black & Tan coonhound, and was a member of a local hunting club. He had a Chevy panel van, used both to deliver groceries and to take his motor to use on a rental boat fishing for Walleye Pike. His 4 year old daughter would sit on a milk crate between the front seats. The store was closed on Wednesday and Sunday, and the family would often go to his sister Marian’s camp on Oneida Lake.^[10]

He passed away from a heart attack at his home in Warners, New York in February 1957,^{[10][14][15][16]} and is buried in the Winonah Section at Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Warners.^[17]

George Sands Grave Marker

His father and the founder of B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home were friends and among the founders of the Camillus bank. There is a photograph of the Red&White store in the late 1930s hanging in the funeral home. A copy was provided to his daughter when they handled the arrangements for his wife, checking his records to find a matching casket.^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Baby spoon, engraved 1911, in possession of his daughter.
2. ↑ New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Birth Index. Ancestry.com. New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. George Sands
3. ↑ “New York State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9LL-WNT : 8 November 2014), George Sands, Camillus, Onondaga, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 32, line 3, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV9M-XXR : accessed 28 August 2017), George Sands in household of Guy Sands, Camillus, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing ED 39, sheet 7A, line 35, family 167, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1246; FHL microfilm 1,821,246.
5. ↑ “New York State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSWK-FW6 : 8 November 2014), George Sands, Camillus, A.D. 01, E.D. 03, Onondaga, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 13, line 34, New York State Archives, Albany.
6. ↑ Advice to Juniors, George Sands; in possession of his daughter.
7. ↑ “United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4RX-HTC : accessed 26 January 2018), George Sands in household of Florence A Sands, Camillus, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 126, sheet 7B, line 89, family 167, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1623; FHL microfilm 2,341,357.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Information told by Margaret to her daughter.
9. ↑ Marriage Certificate, , George Sands and Margaret G Scranton, 1 August 1936; in possession of her daughter.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Personal knowledge of his daughter.
11. ↑ “United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3B4-4KF : accessed 26 January 2018), George Sands, Camillus Town, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 34-2, sheet 8A, line 37, family 151, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2703.
12. ↑ "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947", National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #304331748 (accessed 10 March 2023), Name: George Sands; Race: White; Age: 30; Birth Date: 8 Jun 1910; Birth Place: Camillus, New York; Residence Place: Vanburen, Onon, New York; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Onon, New York, USA; Employer: Carroll Maxon; Height: 5 - 10 1/2; Weight: 185; Complexion: Ruddy; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Blue; Next of Kin: Mrs Margaret Scrantor Sands; Household Members (Name): George Sands.
13. ↑ "DEATHS. Sands", Gazette & Farmers Journal, Baldwinsville, New York, 21 Feb 1957, p.2 col. 7; PDF, Old Fulton NY Post Cards; State of New York Newspaper Project (www.fultonhistory.com : accessed 4 Jan 2019).
14. ↑ George Sands, death certificate Register No. 6 (15 Feb 1957), State of New York, Department of Health, in possession of his daughter.
15. ↑ "New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CCS-8QV : 9 December 2014), George Sands, 15 Feb 1957; citing Death, Camillus, Onondaga, New York, file #11971, New York State Department of Health—Vital Records Section, Albany.
16. ↑ "Syracuse Herald Journal (Syracuse, New York)," database on-line, Ancestry.com (: accessed 5 Jan 2016), Syracuse Herald Journal, 16 February 1957, p. 6, Xol 5, Sands Rites To Be Held In Camillus; Syracuse Herald Journal. Syracuse, New York, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 10 March 2023)
17. ↑ Find a Grave (has image), Find A Grave: Memorial #194299500 (accessed 10 March 2023), Memorial page for George Sands (8 Jun 1910-15 Feb 1957), citing Greenlawn Cemetery, Warners, Onondaga County, New York, USA (plot: Wenonah, Lot 585); Maintained by Tom C. (contributor 47524987).
18. ↑ Photograph of George Sands' Red & White Store, Warners, New York. Original photograph from B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, Camillus, New York, 2000. Copy in possession of his daughter, received from director of funeral home.