Background
Rand was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1831 to Charles T. Rand and Deborah F. Rand (née Sprague).
politician Businessperson mayor of Minneapolis
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.
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 lieutenant 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. One account noted his term was "a model administration" which provided for the city"s growth and better law enforcement.
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."
He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1878
Alonzo Cooper Rand 2,862
Michael West. Glenn 2,506
Albert Lawrence 192
Minneapolis Mayoral Election, 1880
Alonzo Cooper Rand 3,039
Edwin Phillips 1,690.