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. 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. He was buried in
Lakewood Cemetery. ==Electoral history==