Alonzo Cooper Rand

Alonzo Cooper Rand
Alonzo Cooper Rand
11th Mayor of Minneapolis
	In office; April 9, 1878 – April 11, 1882
Preceded by	John De Laittre
Succeeded by	A. A. Ames
Personal details
Born	December 31, 1831; Boston, Massachusetts
Died	July 12, 1885 (aged 53); Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Celine M. Johnson
Occupation	Petroleum industry

Alonzo Cooper Rand (December 31, 1831 – July 12, 1885) was an innovator in the petroleum industry and the 11th mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Life and career

Rand was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1831 to Charles T. Rand and Deborah F. Rand (née Sprague). As a child he moved to Buffalo, New York where he attended school before going to college at the nearby Gowanda Institute. In September 1853 he married Celine M. Johnson. Rand soon became involved in the oil industry, patenting a unique process for oil refining. He moved around New England and later to Aurora, Illinois perfecting his technique and eventually becoming quite wealthy from it.[1][2]

In 1874 Rand visited Minneapolis and decided to move there, arriving two years later. With his background he soon became involved in the Minneapolis Gas Light Company (forerunner of Minnegasco, now CenterPoint Energy). Despite being a fairly new resident he was elected mayor in 1878 and would serve two terms.[3] One account noted his term was "a model administration" which provided for the city's growth and better law enforcement.[1] Another suggests that he was elected in absentia and that "he...makes a splendid officer, but thinks it was rather cruel on the part of his friends to drag him from retirement and place him in the mayor's chair, with all its perplexing duties."[2]

On July 12, 1885 Rand was killed along with his wife and several of his children when their boat capsized during a sudden storm on Lake Minnetonka.[4] He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.[5]

Electoral history

Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1878
- Alonzo Cooper Rand 2,862
- Michael W. Glenn 2,506
- Albert Lawrence 192
Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1880
- Alonzo Cooper Rand 3,039
- Edwin Phillips 1,690

gollark: This really was inevitable.

gollark: Argon is a noble gas, octachoron.

gollark: This is why, at GTech™, instead of using C, we just generate new programming languages for every task.

gollark: It is done.

gollark: Except for those capable of escaping, who can.

References

Shutter, Marion D. (1923). History of Minneapolis: Gateway to the Northwest (Volume 2). Minneapolis: S.J. Clarke. p. 196.
The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men. Minnesota volume. Chicago, New York: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1879. pp. 233–235.
"Career of A. C. Rand". Minnesota Election Trends Project.
Ogland, James W. (2001). Picturing Lake Minnetonka: A Postcard History. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 60. ISBN 9780873514026.
"Alonzo Cooper Rand (1832-1885)". Find A Grave.

Political offices
Preceded by John De Laittre	Mayor of Minneapolis 1878 – 1882	Succeeded by A. A. Ames

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[shutter-1] Shutter, Marion D. (1923). History of Minneapolis: Gateway to the Northwest (Volume 2). Minneapolis: S.J. Clarke. p. 196.

[americanbio-2] The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men. Minnesota volume. Chicago, New York: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1879. pp. 233–235.

[3] "Career of A. C. Rand". Minnesota Election Trends Project.

[4] Ogland, James W. (2001). Picturing Lake Minnetonka: A Postcard History. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 60. ISBN 9780873514026.

[5] "Alonzo Cooper Rand (1832-1885)". Find A Grave.