Durand Heritage Foundation Newsletter
Durand Heritage Foundation Newsletter
Durand Heritage Foundation Newsletter
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
Dedicated to the Preservation of Our Family <strong>Heritage</strong><br />
Summer, 2003 $4.95<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s We Ain’t
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
In this issue…<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s We Ain’t tells of <strong>Durand</strong>s who ain’t really kin but turned out pretty well<br />
anyway by John C <strong>Durand</strong><br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s in the Military<br />
PFC William Carlsen Is Serving in Iraq by LtCol. James F. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Lt. Edward <strong>Durand</strong>’s Young Widow Married Again...did Edward know the<br />
man she married? by John C. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Meet the “Alberta <strong>Durand</strong>s” tells how descendants of Nazaire <strong>Durand</strong> made new<br />
lives in Canada by Mavis A. (<strong>Durand</strong>) Johntson, as told to Ellen <strong>Durand</strong> Ol-<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>, a genealogy shows that we <strong>Durand</strong>s have an illustrious history of achievement<br />
and notoriety by Anna Olson Webber and Jennifer Olson<br />
My Farewell seems to make it official...President Mike <strong>Durand</strong> is stepping aside 12<br />
2002 <strong>Foundation</strong> Award Winners by Mike <strong>Durand</strong> 13<br />
2nd Edition of Jean <strong>Durand</strong> et sa Posterité, underway, will include an up-to-date<br />
genealogy...get your family records in!<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Ended 2002 in the RED! by Alice <strong>Durand</strong> Keppel 16<br />
DHF Board Reviews Projects and makes plans at Spring board meeting; a search<br />
is on for a president to replace Mike <strong>Durand</strong> by Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Mary Herzig Sends Portions of Monsignor Arthur H. <strong>Durand</strong>’s Autobiography;<br />
does anyone have a complete copy for the <strong>Foundation</strong> archives?<br />
For What It’s Worth ponders a story about an island in the St. Lawrence River 19<br />
The back page is where you find out who’s who and what’s what 20<br />
The cover: Detail from “Early Morning at Cold Spring” by Asher B. <strong>Durand</strong>, acquired from Artchive.com.<br />
Picture credits: All images in “<strong>Durand</strong>s We Ain’t” acquired from the internet, with thanks and appreciation. Photos<br />
of PFC William Carlsen provided by Lauree Carlsen of Portland, Oregon. Photos for “Meet the ‘Alberta’ <strong>Durand</strong>s”<br />
provided by Mavis A. Johnston of Hanna, Alberta. “<strong>Durand</strong>, a genealogy” is an original work created by Anna<br />
Olson Webber and Jennifer Olson of St. Paul, Minnesota. Photos for Awards story from <strong>Foundation</strong> archives.<br />
“Classical” photo on p. 20 provided by Mavis A. Johnston of Hanna, Alberta.<br />
Whenever possible images acquired from the internet will be used with the permission of the source and with attribution,<br />
unless it is reasonable to assume that the image may be used without permission and/or attribution.<br />
This publication © 2003 by <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>, Inc. Published four times a year by the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong><br />
<strong>Foundation</strong>. All rights reserved. Duplicating or copying by electronic or other means is strictly prohibited without<br />
written consent of the <strong>Foundation</strong>. Subscription rate is $20.00 per year. Send payment to: <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>,<br />
1335 Mandan Ave. North, Golden Valley, MN 55427, USA. Major credit cards are accepted. To subscribe<br />
on-line visit www.<strong>Durand</strong>foundation.com.<br />
2<br />
3<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
10<br />
15<br />
17<br />
18
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
Wouldn’t It Be Nice if….<br />
When I was a traveling man and stayed for the night in<br />
a new town I always looked in the local phone book to<br />
see if there were any <strong>Durand</strong>s. Quite often there were.<br />
Unlike some of my more gregarious cousins, however, I<br />
never called up to say, "Hi, I saw your name in the<br />
phone book and I wonder if we might be related." I am,<br />
after all, a shy guy.<br />
Nonetheless, there are <strong>Durand</strong>s in this world I think<br />
might be useful to claim as kin, and there are towns and<br />
streets and buildings and such named <strong>Durand</strong> that I<br />
think would useful to say<br />
were named after one of our<br />
great-greats. Really, who<br />
knows when one of us<br />
might find ourselves down<br />
and out in <strong>Durand</strong>, Michigan?<br />
Maybe we could use<br />
the power of our <strong>Durand</strong><br />
name to garner a little local<br />
charity. Something like,<br />
"You know, this town is<br />
named after my great-great<br />
grandpappy. Yep, I knew<br />
him well. By the way, I was<br />
wondering if you might<br />
have an extra ten for a little<br />
gas money?"<br />
After looking into this<br />
matter at some length, and<br />
at the risk of leaving out<br />
some really good <strong>Durand</strong><br />
stuff for name-dropping,<br />
here's a few of the more illustrious<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s that we<br />
could claim as kin but who<br />
are really <strong>Durand</strong>s we ain't.<br />
At the top of the list has<br />
got to be Asher Brown <strong>Durand</strong><br />
(1796-1886), a landscape<br />
painter of the socalled<br />
Hudson River School.<br />
If you own one of Asher's<br />
Hudson River originals you are well on your way to a<br />
secure retirement. Unfortunately, Asher comes from that<br />
line of <strong>Durand</strong>s whose primogenitor in America was Dr.<br />
Jean <strong>Durand</strong> (1664-1727), a Protestant from La Rochelle<br />
who fled France to escape prosecution for not being<br />
a Catholic. La Rochelle was the also port of embarkation<br />
for our family's Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit La Fortune. Too<br />
bad La Rochelle appears to be the only link between our<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s We Ain’t<br />
By John C <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Asher Brown <strong>Durand</strong>, looking like an artist in this painting by<br />
Daniel Huntington in 1857. <strong>Durand</strong> began his career as an engraver<br />
and spent time as a portraitist before settling on his metier<br />
as a remarkable landscape painter.<br />
3<br />
families. But if a good Catholic like Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit La<br />
Fortune was trying to kill a good Protestant like Dr. Jean<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>, they probably didn't have much time for each<br />
other. Dr. <strong>Durand</strong> came to America in 1688 and spent<br />
most of his life in Connecticut. His kin fought in the<br />
French & Indian war (when once again we were probably<br />
on opposite sides). They also fought in the American<br />
Revolutionary War.<br />
If there is anything to the idea that a good education is<br />
the best foundation for long-lived family success, then<br />
the line of Dr. Jean <strong>Durand</strong><br />
is a good example. The doctor<br />
and his wife saw to it<br />
that their children went to<br />
school. And it paid off. Besides<br />
the talented Asher<br />
Brown <strong>Durand</strong>, another descendant<br />
is William Frederick<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>, a pioneer aeronautical<br />
engineer who has a<br />
building named after him at<br />
Stanford University. This<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> is credited with<br />
coming up with the idea of<br />
the wind tunnel, without<br />
which our own Clint Skywalker<br />
would not be able to<br />
practice his skydiving.<br />
However, I think it should<br />
be pointed out that the family<br />
line of Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit<br />
La Fortune boasts not just<br />
one but several people<br />
known to generate a lot of<br />
wind.<br />
The genealogy and history<br />
of the Dr. Jean <strong>Durand</strong> line<br />
is being pursued by one of<br />
his descendants, Alvy Ray<br />
Smith, III, a success story in<br />
his own right. Dr. Smith is<br />
what some people might<br />
call a "computer geek," but those are mostly the people<br />
who don’t use computers. According to Dr. Smith’s<br />
website he helped form and sell two dot.com companies<br />
that specialized in computer graphics, has won a couple<br />
of Hollywood Oscars for technical achievement, and is,<br />
I presume, now set for life. And his website has an impressive<br />
family genealogy. Smith has a book on the Dr.<br />
Jean <strong>Durand</strong> family line that is due for publication soon
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
with a cover that incorporates a painting by—<br />
you guessed it—Asher Brown <strong>Durand</strong>.<br />
Then there are the English <strong>Durand</strong>s we ain't.<br />
You may recall that a couple of years ago a<br />
Heather Smith of New Zealand wondered<br />
whether her family was connected to ours. Her<br />
grandmother had kept a newspaper clipping<br />
announcing the marriage of an Alan Algernon<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>. Predictably we found no connection<br />
between Alan and our family. However, it was<br />
interesting to learn of this line of English <strong>Durand</strong>s.<br />
I suppose these English <strong>Durand</strong>s crossed<br />
over from France either with or sometime after<br />
William the Conqueror, whether as knights or<br />
foot soldiers or wine merchants we don't<br />
know. Chances are that if we have common<br />
ancestors they were foot soldiers or wine merchants.<br />
Nonetheless, these English <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
have made their mark in the history of the<br />
British Empire. Alan Algernon <strong>Durand</strong>, the<br />
subject of the newspaper clipping, later became<br />
Brigadier Sir Alan Algernon <strong>Durand</strong>, 3 rd<br />
Baronet, but not before being wounded twice<br />
in World War I and receiving the Military<br />
Cross.<br />
Alan's forebears had also distinguished<br />
themselves with military service in the farflung<br />
British Empire, including India and the<br />
Middle East. In the recent war in Afghanistan,<br />
reports sometimes referenced the <strong>Durand</strong> Line,<br />
the political boundary between Pakistan and<br />
Afghanistan established in 1893 by Alan's uncle,<br />
Sir Henry Mortimer <strong>Durand</strong>. Too bad that in drawing<br />
his line Henry split an area that had been inhabited<br />
by the Pashtons for<br />
centuries. The Pashtons<br />
now find themselves<br />
living in two<br />
different counties --<br />
Pakistan and Afghanistan—a<br />
situation that<br />
has caused all kinds of<br />
problems since. According<br />
to Burke's<br />
Peerage (sniff-sniff)<br />
these English <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
pronounce their name<br />
"du rand."<br />
Of course the great<br />
mother lode of <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
we ain't is found<br />
in France itself. Today<br />
there are an estimated<br />
90,000 people who<br />
About 90,000 <strong>Durand</strong>s live in France according to this population survey<br />
taken from the internet. The numbers in the color-coded provinces indicate<br />
how many <strong>Durand</strong>s there are per 1,000 people. The concentration of <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
is low in the province where Doeuil-sur-le-Mignon is located, birthplace<br />
of our primogeniture Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit La Fortune.<br />
4<br />
carry the name of <strong>Durand</strong> in the land of our ancestors.<br />
Some of them go way back, like the two Guillaume <strong>Durand</strong>s,<br />
both high officials<br />
in the Catholic Church.<br />
The first Guillaume<br />
(c.1230-1296) wrote a<br />
book about a very obscure<br />
subject (Rationale<br />
divinorum officiorum)<br />
that kept being reprinted<br />
from 1459 to 1866,<br />
which, if you stop to<br />
think about it, is longer<br />
than Shakespeare has<br />
been in print. The other<br />
Guillaume (d. 1334) was<br />
also a learned man who<br />
was called to Italy to be<br />
the theological advisor<br />
French on the left, English on the right, these <strong>Durand</strong>s were probably<br />
at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Left is French feminist Marguerite<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>. Right is British imperialist Sir Henry Mortimer <strong>Durand</strong>.<br />
and preacher to Pope<br />
John XXII. Whether this<br />
younger Guillaume was
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
The Luigi <strong>Durand</strong> De La Penne is a first-of-class destroyer built in 1993<br />
of 5,000 tons, a multi-role Italian warship able to perform anti-air defense,<br />
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations, assistance during landing<br />
operations, and coastal bombardment.<br />
the son of the older Guillaume we don't know. Neither<br />
do we know whether these Guillaume <strong>Durand</strong>s from the<br />
south of France had anything to do with the heavy concentration<br />
of <strong>Durand</strong>s in the south of France, as the<br />
population graphic of <strong>Durand</strong> names shows.<br />
We would also be remiss in our inventory of <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
we ain't if we failed to mention Madame Marguerite <strong>Durand</strong><br />
(1864-1936), an early French feminist who, in<br />
1897 launched a daily feminist newspaper called the<br />
Sling. Today the name of Marguerite <strong>Durand</strong> identifies a<br />
library in Paris devoted to the collection and preservation<br />
of documents concerning the history and struggle of<br />
the feminist movement in France.<br />
Of course there are many other things <strong>Durand</strong> that we<br />
could boast are somehow connected to our family line<br />
but, in truth, probably ain’t—at least within the last several<br />
hundred years.<br />
A mountain pass in the Alps that leads from Zermatt to<br />
Zinal and is snow-covered year-round at 11,398 feet is<br />
named <strong>Durand</strong> Pass.<br />
The Italian navy has a modern "Animoso class" destroyer<br />
named the Luigi <strong>Durand</strong> de la Penne. I have no<br />
idea who Luigi <strong>Durand</strong> is or was, but chances are he is<br />
also a <strong>Durand</strong> we ain't.<br />
Back in the New World we find another <strong>Durand</strong> who<br />
has been compared to Karen Silkwood (who raised concerns<br />
about the safety of Kerr-McGee nuclear fuel rods-<br />
-remember the movie Silkwood?) and also Jeffrey Wigand<br />
(who exposed the tobacco industry's lies about tobacco<br />
addiction). A couple of years ago a man named<br />
Douglas <strong>Durand</strong> blew the whistle on the corruption rampant<br />
in an outfit called TAP Pharmaceutical Products<br />
Inc. and saw the firm fined $875 million, the largest<br />
health-care fraud settlement in U.S. history. For his<br />
5<br />
trouble <strong>Durand</strong> was awarded $77 million as part<br />
of the settlement. Too bad he is from the family<br />
line of <strong>Durand</strong>s we ain’t.<br />
There’s a lot more <strong>Durand</strong>'s we ain't.<br />
Several years ago I clipped a newspaper article<br />
about a French vintner by the name of (I believe)<br />
August <strong>Durand</strong> whose family has been<br />
making wine for generations. Now there’s a<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> I’d like to meet! And today there is a<br />
vintner named Guilhem <strong>Durand</strong> who is supposed<br />
to have an excellent chardonnay.<br />
Then there’s JG <strong>Durand</strong> Industries in France,<br />
founded by Jacque <strong>Durand</strong> in 1825 and manufacturer<br />
of, among other things, JG <strong>Durand</strong><br />
crystalware (including wine glasses that can run<br />
$40 and up per glass—without the wine.<br />
Then there's a race car driver on the east coast<br />
named Mike <strong>Durand</strong> who seems to do pretty<br />
well in the professional racing circuit. He may<br />
or may not be related to a whole bunch of <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
who are involved in the world of drag<br />
racing, car racing, boat racing, and horse racing, not<br />
only in the U.S. but in France too. There's even a <strong>Durand</strong><br />
who seems to specialize in photographing races.<br />
It doesn't take long in surfing the web to find that there<br />
are also <strong>Durand</strong>s who are doctors and professors and<br />
bureaucrats and just plain folks who may or may not be<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s we ain't, including some of Hispanic origin,<br />
although the most common form of the name for those<br />
people is Duran, as in Roberto Duran the professional<br />
boxer. Some of these many people have got to be <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
we are.<br />
The thing is, all these many <strong>Durand</strong>s all over the world<br />
indicate that the name has a certain—how shall we<br />
say—cachet. It's a name that has been around for a long<br />
time and a name that is associated with a lot of achievement.<br />
It's a good, solid name. And I like to think that<br />
even if much of that achievement has been by <strong>Durand</strong>s<br />
we ain't, the rest of us are hardly chopped liver, and we<br />
can still take pride in being <strong>Durand</strong>s too, because we're<br />
a pretty good, solid people, and it looks like we’re going<br />
to be around for a while longer.<br />
The forthcoming book that delineates the family line<br />
of Dr. Jean (John) <strong>Durand</strong> is described below. Persons<br />
interested in a good genealogical website should take a<br />
look at Dr. Smith’s website:<br />
www.alvyray.com<br />
Dr. John <strong>Durand</strong> (1664-1727) of Derby, Connecticut<br />
His Family Through Four Generations<br />
Featuring The Branch of His Youngest Son<br />
Ebenezer <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Through Ten Generations to 2003<br />
by Dr. Alvy Ray Smith
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s in the Military<br />
PFC Will Carlsen, U.S. Marine Corps, Has “Whatever it Takes”<br />
By LtCol. James F. <strong>Durand</strong>, USMC<br />
Private First Class Will Carlsen, U.S. Marine Corps, is<br />
currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi<br />
Freedom. As a member of the First Battalion, Fourth<br />
Marine Regiment, he fought as part of the First Marine<br />
Division’s rapid advance to Baghdad and assisted in the<br />
liberation of the Iraqi people. He is the son of Lauree<br />
Carlsen of Portland, Oregon and the nephew of <strong>Durand</strong><br />
<strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> member Kathe Gogolewski of<br />
Oceanside, California.<br />
Will and his sister Bronwynne grew up in Portland,<br />
Oregon. He enjoyed camping, rafting, and other outdoor<br />
activities. Will studied the saxophone for five years and<br />
was active in his church, participating in several mission<br />
trips.<br />
He developed an interest in class cars, rebuilding and<br />
restoring a 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone. Will entered<br />
the car in several shows and has won several awards.<br />
For the last four years he has exhibited his car at the<br />
prestigious Hot August Nights Classic Car Show in<br />
Reno.<br />
He attended Benson Polytechnic High School and<br />
studied aviation and automotive technology. Will likes<br />
to spend any free time with his family and friends.<br />
Will has wanted to be a Marine since he was 11 years<br />
old. He enlisted in the Marine Corps while in high<br />
school and reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot<br />
in San Diego following graduation. He completed boot<br />
camp in October 2002 and after a brief visit home reported<br />
to the Marine Combat Training Battalion at<br />
School of Infantry for additional training and qualification<br />
as a Marine Infantryman. Will remained at Camp<br />
Pendleton and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th<br />
Marine Regiment, whose motto is “Whatever it Takes.”<br />
Will deployed to Kuwait in January when the First<br />
Marine Division was ordered to the Persian Gulf region.<br />
The next several weeks were spent in training and<br />
adapting to the desert’s heat, wind, and sand.<br />
When the ground offensive began Will’s battalion was<br />
among the first Marine units that went into Iraq. The<br />
Marines advanced quickly despite being under constant<br />
enemy fire. Nowhere was the fighting more difficult<br />
than at An Nasariyah, where Will and his fellow Marines<br />
overcame difficult Iraqi resistance to capture key<br />
bridges. Sleeping and eating little, the Marines captured<br />
Al Kut, then advanced to Baghdad.<br />
Will and his battalion faced an entirely new set of<br />
challenges when they reached the capital. With the majority<br />
of Iraqi military and security forces having been<br />
destroyed or forced to abandon their positions, the Marines<br />
were welcomed as they entered the outskirts of<br />
6<br />
Baghdad. Will told his mother that the Iraqis he met,<br />
mostly poor Shiite Muslims, were grateful for the Marine<br />
presence. Will confided that his greatest challenge<br />
during this part of the operation was “keeping children<br />
PFC William (Will) Carlsen in his full-dress blues. Will is<br />
deployed to Iraq with the First Marine Division. His unit<br />
helped to capture key bridges over the Euphrates River in<br />
some of the sharpest fighting of Operation Iraqi Freedom.<br />
off the Marines’ vehicles and equipment.”<br />
Despite the warm reception by most Iraqis, Will’s unit<br />
continued to be attacked by desperate elements of the<br />
Hussein regime as they completed their mission in<br />
Baghdad and redeployed to southern Iraq. Will survived<br />
a grenade attack that badly wounded a fellow Marine.<br />
Shortly thereafter Will became ill and was medevaced<br />
to Kuwait; he has since returned to his unit.<br />
Private First Class Will Carlsen remains deployed in<br />
southern Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.<br />
Although most Marine units are scheduled to re-<br />
(Continued on page 16)
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
"Tis strange--but true; for truth is always strange; stranger than fiction" Don Juan<br />
Lt. Edward <strong>Durand</strong>’s Young Widow Married Again, Another Flier...Edward’s Friend?<br />
By John C. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
In the spring issue of the <strong>Newsletter</strong> we described the<br />
process we went through to determine whether Lt. Edward<br />
D. <strong>Durand</strong> of Stevens Point, Wisconsin was related<br />
to our branch of the <strong>Durand</strong>s. An American flier in<br />
World War II, Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> was shot down in New<br />
Guinea on his first combat mission, captured, and presumably<br />
was executed. After a lot of detective work we<br />
discovered that he was not related. But there was a<br />
bothersome loose end….<br />
It would be hard to make up a story as good as that<br />
which describes the brief love and loss and later life of<br />
Lt. Edward D. <strong>Durand</strong>'s young wife, a story as full of<br />
coincidence as any novel.<br />
She was born Dorothy Irene Mullarkey in 1917 in<br />
Bear Creek, Wisconsin, a little town about 40 miles<br />
from Stevens Point, where she presumably attended<br />
teacher's college with Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>. After their graduation<br />
in 1940 Dorothy began teaching elementary school in<br />
Stevens Point; Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> enlisted in the Army Air<br />
Corps. He received his wings a year later, in May 1941.<br />
Seven months after that, following the Japanese attack<br />
on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into<br />
the war, Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> and Dorothy Mullarkey were married<br />
on December 27 in New York, where Lt. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
was stationed. Very likely he had called her and said<br />
"Let's get married before I get shipped out," and she had<br />
hurried out to New York to become his wife.<br />
Perhaps she accompanied Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> as he traveled by<br />
train with his outfit to the West Coast, where they immediately<br />
boarded an old troopship bound for Australia.<br />
That would have been the last time she saw him. They<br />
had been married for less than a month.<br />
Within six months Dorothy received word that Lt. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
was missing in action.<br />
Four years later, the war ended, Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> was officially<br />
declared dead.<br />
According to one source, Dorothy supposedly made<br />
the long trip to New Guinea to find Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>'s place<br />
of burial. She was unsuccessful. Today Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>’s<br />
name is included in the Tablets of the Missing at the<br />
American military cemetery in Manila, Philippines.<br />
During the war years, it appears that Dorothy taught<br />
radio at Truax Army Air Force Base in Madison, Wisconsin,<br />
but for at least part of that time she returned<br />
home to live with her parents in Bear Creek. In 1946,<br />
when Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>’s survivors received official word that<br />
Edward was presumed dead, Dorothy was living in St.<br />
Louis, Missouri. Perhaps that is where she made (or renewed)<br />
her acquaintance with her next husband.<br />
Dorothy remarried about 1948. And here is where the<br />
7<br />
story gets strange.<br />
Her new husband was graduated from the University<br />
of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in Engineering<br />
in 1940, and that year also joined the Army Air Corps.<br />
He was already stationed in the Philippines when the<br />
Japanese attacked. Following the surrender of Bataan,<br />
he became a prisoner of war but escaped during the<br />
Death March, and hid out in the hills with Filipino guerillas<br />
for a year before being captured again. For the rest<br />
of the war he was held prisoner in Tokyo Sectional<br />
Camp #3 in the Tokyo Bay area..<br />
His name was Robert Leyrer, ands he was born in<br />
1918 in Appleton, Wisconsin.<br />
Robert remained in the military after the war. Assigned<br />
to research and development work for fighter aircraft,<br />
he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1961. After a long<br />
second career in the private sector working on missile<br />
development, he died in 1999.<br />
Dorothy and Robert Leyrer had three children. The<br />
couple made their home in Sacramento, California,<br />
where Dorothy died in 1981 after 33 years of marriage.<br />
The coincidence of Dorothy marrying two Army Air<br />
Corps fliers from Wisconsin, both the same age and<br />
both of whom served in the Pacific theatre, is intriguing.<br />
Was it coincidence that Dorothy met Robert Leyrer after<br />
the war? Or did Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> and Robert Leyrer know<br />
each other from their flight school training?<br />
A little more digging might reveal that Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> and<br />
Robert Leyrer were friends. Perhaps they returned to<br />
Wisconsin on leave after some phase of their training,<br />
and Dorothy met them at the train station in Madison or<br />
Milwaukee.<br />
There are many possibilities. The war gave rise to millions<br />
of personal dramas, most of them now lost forever.<br />
So far attempts to make contact with Dorothy and<br />
Robert's three children have been unsuccessful. Chances<br />
are there is a lot more we could learn about Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>.<br />
At the very least Dorothy’s family should have photos<br />
and perhaps memorabilia from Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>’s brief military<br />
career.<br />
Although Lt. <strong>Durand</strong> is not a blood relative, the memory<br />
of his brief life and of his service to our country and<br />
the ultimate sacrifice he made are worthy of our respect,<br />
and continued attention.<br />
Because he was an only child, Lt. <strong>Durand</strong>’s family line<br />
has died out. But his story will not be forgotten. Several<br />
of us in the <strong>Foundation</strong> are interested in developing his<br />
story as completely as we can and submitting it for publication<br />
in the Stevens Point area in time for Veterans<br />
Day this year, or for Memorial Day in 2004.<br />
It seems like the right thing to do.
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
Letters from Canada...<br />
Meet the"Alberta <strong>Durand</strong>s"<br />
By Mavis Anne <strong>Durand</strong> Johnston, as told to Ellen <strong>Durand</strong> Olson<br />
Last fall an unexpected letter arrived from Hanna, Alberta.<br />
It came from Mavis Anne <strong>Durand</strong> Johnston, who<br />
identified herself as "one of the branch of the Alberta<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s.” Mavis wrote in response my article in last<br />
summer's <strong>Newsletter</strong>, "Getting to Know You," about the<br />
connection between the Minnesota and Wisconsin <strong>Durand</strong>s.<br />
Wrote Mavis, "If I understand correctly, it seems<br />
we have the same ancestor, namely, Joseph <strong>Durand</strong>, b.<br />
1770." Indeed we do, Mavis.<br />
Joseph <strong>Durand</strong> is the ancestor common to both the<br />
Minnesota and Wisconsin <strong>Durand</strong>s. It was Joseph's<br />
grandsons, Nazaire <strong>Durand</strong>, (Mavis' great-grandfather)<br />
and Pierre <strong>Durand</strong> (my great-grandfather) who emigrated<br />
from Canada to Faribault, MN to become the progenitors<br />
of the Minnesota and Wisconsin <strong>Durand</strong>s.<br />
Nazaire and his wife, Leocadie, settled in Faribault and<br />
henceforth begat the Minnesota <strong>Durand</strong>s. Pierre's son,<br />
Peter, my grandfather, and his wife, Louise, settled in<br />
Wisconsin and henceforth begat the Wisconsin <strong>Durand</strong>s.<br />
Nazaire and Leocadie <strong>Durand</strong> lived in Minnesota for<br />
most of their lives but their oldest son, Albert Joseph<br />
("Albert"), left Faribault to farm in North Dakota before<br />
emigrating to Alberta to homestead in 1908...and henceforth<br />
came the "Alberta <strong>Durand</strong>s." Mavis' father, Leonard<br />
Nazaire ("Leonard"), is second son of thirteen children<br />
born to Albert and Mary <strong>Durand</strong><br />
It was wonderful to learn about a "new" cousin. Mavis<br />
lives with her husband of 48 years, Rayford Johnston,<br />
on their farm located 10 miles north of Hanna in the<br />
southernmost region of the vast Alberta prairie. Mavis<br />
and Rayford have two children, Shelley Marie and<br />
Leland James, and with the arrival of 9 3/4 lb. Christopher<br />
Fredrick on<br />
January 15 th , they<br />
were blessed with<br />
their fourth grandson.<br />
I wrote Mavis<br />
back and invited<br />
her to write something<br />
about her<br />
family for the<br />
newsletter, and<br />
was delighted<br />
when her second<br />
letter arrived in<br />
February. In this<br />
letter Mavis wrote<br />
of the migration of<br />
her grandparents<br />
8<br />
from North Dakota to Alberta and of the family's early<br />
settlement years. Her grandparents, Albert and Mary<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>, were among Canada's early pioneers who arrived<br />
with their families to homestead in new and harsh<br />
territory.<br />
The rest of the story is best told in Mavis' own words.<br />
Part of the family's history was compiled by her aunts,<br />
Alma <strong>Durand</strong> Dalton and Florence <strong>Durand</strong> Hart. Her<br />
words from her letters are enclosed in quotation marks.<br />
The Story<br />
"My name is Mavis Anne (<strong>Durand</strong>) Johnston. Received<br />
the Summer 2002 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> a<br />
couple of weeks ago and was most interested in your<br />
article, "Getting to Know You."<br />
"My great-grandfather was Nazaire <strong>Durand</strong> (b. 1833).<br />
He was married to Leocadie Berneche. My grandfather<br />
was Joseph Albert <strong>Durand</strong> (b. February 15, 1864 at St.<br />
Gabriel de Brandon). He was the eldest son of Nazaire<br />
and Leocadie <strong>Durand</strong>. Joseph Albert (Albert) married<br />
Mary Anne Vogt (b. February 26, 1868 at Dartville,<br />
Wisconsin). They raised 10 living children. Albert died<br />
November 24, 1924 at Lomond, Alberta, Canada. Mary<br />
died July 20, 1960 at Hanna, Alberta. All three of them<br />
are buried in the cemetery at Taber, Alberta. I have pictures<br />
of their tombstones.<br />
"My father was Leonard Nazaire, the second son of<br />
Albert and Mary <strong>Durand</strong>. He was born March 22, 1903<br />
at Talley, North Dakota. He married Agatha Marie<br />
McAlister (b. 1902) of Minot, North Dakota. They had<br />
five children: Mavis Anne (b. 1933), Adrian Leonard (b.<br />
1935), Catherine June Lucille (b. 1937), Lauretta Mary<br />
Alma (b. 1940, and Rose Elizabeth, (b. 1942).<br />
Albert and Mary<br />
<strong>Durand</strong><br />
“While living in<br />
Faribault, eight of<br />
thirteen children<br />
were born to Albert<br />
and Mary <strong>Durand</strong>:<br />
Mary Magdelene<br />
("Mame")<br />
(b. 1888); triplet<br />
girls, Lucy, Lizzie<br />
and Lulu (June b.<br />
1890); Tracy<br />
(b.1892); Mary (b.<br />
1893), Jerome Al-<br />
The homestead house in Alberta that Joseph (Albert) <strong>Durand</strong> and his family lived<br />
in from 1908 to 1916. Pictured are Albert (on horse), his wife Mary, their daughters<br />
Alma, Cora, and Florence, and their son Leonard, Mavis Johnston’s father.<br />
bert (b. 1895); and<br />
Florence Elizabeth<br />
(b.1898). The little
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
Hi triplet John girls - died in infancy. Grandma told me that one<br />
Here lived is for the three company days, profile one for I promised two weeks, you and for one the for 54<br />
newsletter. days. Tracy, born next, also died in infancy, possibly<br />
VoyageurWeb, from diphtheria. The The Internet next child, Outfitters Mary, was stillborn.<br />
Our cousin, Yvonne Cariveau, lives and works in Man-<br />
“By 1901 the family had moved to North Dakota<br />
kato, MN. For the past 10 years, she has owned and run<br />
where four more children were born: Cora Mabel (b.<br />
a business called VoyageurWeb that employs 13 staff<br />
designing, hosting and maintaining Internet web sites<br />
like our own www.<strong>Durand</strong>foundation.com web site.<br />
Yvonne founded the company with her husband Dale<br />
Karsten in 1993 under the name Internet Connections<br />
as an Internet access and web site business. In 2001,<br />
Yvonne changed the company name to VoyageurWeb<br />
after restructuring the business to do web sites only.<br />
VoyageurWeb staff enjoy a relaxed, learning atmosphere<br />
where they create useful and attractive web sites<br />
and get to interact with people from all over the state<br />
and country in many different lines of work. Their clients<br />
get hassle-free web site updating and effective web<br />
sites that help them deliver services and make money.<br />
Recently, VoyageurWeb won the Mankato Area Council<br />
for Quality Corporate Award.<br />
You can learn more about VoyageurWeb by visiting<br />
www.voyageurweb.com<br />
Yvonne's The Albert email <strong>Durand</strong>s address and is the yvonne@voyageurweb.com<br />
Jerome Arnolds pose in front of<br />
a colorful quilt. In 1908 Albert and Jerome began the move<br />
from North Dakota to Alberta. Not all identifications have been<br />
made in this photo. Can anyone help with people, place, and<br />
when this picture was taken?<br />
1901 in Kinmar, North Dakota). The births of Leonard<br />
Nazaire (b. 1903), Alma Alice (b. 1905), and Laurence<br />
Edward (b. 1908) were recorded at Talley, North Dakota.<br />
"In June 1908, Albert <strong>Durand</strong> and his son-in-law Charlie<br />
Arnold came to Crowfoot, Alberta from Talley,<br />
North Dakota with two boxcars of settler’s effects. From<br />
here, with wagons, they traveled to their homesteads,<br />
located seven miles east of where the town of Lomond<br />
was founded after the railroad was built.<br />
Homesteading Rules<br />
“For those who don’t know about homesteading, these<br />
were the rules. You paid $10 to file on a quarter section<br />
(160 acres) often sight-unseen, and you then had the<br />
right, called a "preemption," to another quarter. Your<br />
duties were to plow a fireguard around your yard, plant<br />
and seed 10 acres each year for three years, build a<br />
dwelling and live on your land for six months for each<br />
of the three years–and then it was yours.<br />
Albert and son-in-law Charlie weren’t headed for<br />
promising country. According to an account of the area,<br />
"Captain John Palliser surveyed the territory of southern<br />
Saskatchewan and the southeast corner of Alberta,<br />
known as the Palliser Triangle, in the 1880s, and said<br />
that the area was part of the Great North American Desert.<br />
It was unfit for farming. The average moisture is<br />
about 10 inches a year.”<br />
"That first summer Albert built a house of lumber and<br />
9<br />
a barn of sod. In the house the table was used as a bed,<br />
which meant that those sleeping on the table had to get<br />
up so the table could be used for breakfast. Above the<br />
table was a platform that was folded up against the wall<br />
in the daytime and lowered at night for another bed.<br />
"With a walking plow and three or four horses Albert<br />
broke land for himself and other homesteaders coming<br />
in. A well was dug on what would become Fred Hart’s<br />
homestead." Fred Hart later became another son-inlaw<br />
by his marriage to Florence Elizabeth <strong>Durand</strong>.<br />
"In the fall Albert <strong>Durand</strong> went back to North Dakota<br />
to harvest his crops. On his 40-mile walk to Brooks to<br />
catch the train he was nearly trampled by wild range<br />
cattle several times. After harvesting his crops in North<br />
Dakota, Albert and Mary along with their seven children<br />
and two grandchildren traveled cross-country to<br />
Taber, Alberta in wagons loaded with settler’s effects<br />
to start life on their homestead.<br />
"Each fall Albert <strong>Durand</strong> made a trip to Lethbridge<br />
from Taber with a load of wheat. This was a three or<br />
four-day trip. Some wheat was ground into flour at Ellison’s<br />
Mill and the rest was sold for supplies. One year<br />
they had a bumper crop of oats. They had only harvested<br />
a few rounds when cinders from the train<br />
smokestack started a fire that traveled for miles burning<br />
up the oat crop in its path."<br />
(Continued on page 15)<br />
In later years Albert and Mary pose with their two youngest<br />
sons, Leonard (on the left) and Laurence. Leonard is the<br />
father of Mavis <strong>Durand</strong> Johnston.
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
10
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
11
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
Presidents Report<br />
My Farewell<br />
By Mike <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Just a little over a year ago I announced that I would<br />
be stepping down as President when my term expires at<br />
the Fall 2003 board of directors meeting. Some members<br />
of the board thought this was just a hollow announcement.<br />
But it’s true. My term will soon expire and<br />
I feel that it’s best for me to indeed step down to allow<br />
new leadership to come forth. I have chaired a total of<br />
twelve meetings of the board of directors since our meager<br />
beginnings in July 1998. We started with just a<br />
grassroots organization of twelve people (the twelve<br />
Apostles). Today our database of members totals over<br />
two hundred. We have members from coast to coast and<br />
a fair representation in Canada as well.<br />
I like to think that I am departing at a good time—a<br />
good time for myself and the <strong>Foundation</strong>. I also feel that<br />
the efforts of the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> have been<br />
successful. Over the past few years we have assembled a<br />
strong board of directors, and they consider the issues<br />
that come before it with a deliberate and sound approach.<br />
We have never had a major disagreement that<br />
has caused any major problems. Rather, through a process<br />
of steady but deliberate growth we have accomplished<br />
a lot of projects.<br />
The actions of the board have surprised me at times. I<br />
have made numerous proposals to the board over the<br />
past few years. Most all of them have sailed right<br />
through with its approval. I have pretty much set the<br />
agenda for all the meetings. Two proposals which I<br />
made recently, however, show the soundness of the collective<br />
deliberation and thoughtfulness of the board and<br />
its concern about your best interests.<br />
About six months ago I proposed that we pursue sponsors<br />
or partners to help fund our efforts. These sponsors<br />
would be able to support our efforts by buying advertising<br />
space in the newsletter. At the last meeting it was<br />
decided to scrap this idea, because after further discussion<br />
the board wants to keep the newsletter as a<br />
“collectors item” without an inundation of material that<br />
would present a more commercial flavor. This approach<br />
shifts the focus back on our operating with less cash<br />
flow, but it also preserves the integrity of our efforts by<br />
not “selling our souls.”<br />
Another matter that I proposed was to launch an aggressive<br />
marketing program to increase membership and<br />
also revenues. While the board agreed that we should<br />
have some sort of an initiative it didn’t like the idea of<br />
an aggressive marketing program which was coupled to<br />
the selling of advertising space in our newsletter. I<br />
thought we could hire someone to work part-time to fulfill<br />
these duties and responsibilities and expand our<br />
12<br />
members to at least 500 or so in short order. The board<br />
reined me in on these proposals, instead suggesting that<br />
we need to preserve what we have and not be so concerned<br />
about growing our membership at a fast pace,<br />
which simply leads to more effort to manage the increased<br />
workload.<br />
Additionally, with my decision to step down as President<br />
the board formed a nominating committee to begin<br />
the search for my replacement. Again, another good decision.<br />
I cite these examples of the board’s decision-making<br />
to give you an example of how effectively we can work<br />
together to chart our direction for the future. I am not<br />
sure if all its decisions regarding not wanting to market<br />
advertising space and/or keeping the membership small<br />
are the right decisions. I think only time will tell. But<br />
they carefully make these decisions and are quite willing<br />
to accept the responsibilities that go with them.<br />
So—my term will expire on Oct. 5, 2003 and you will<br />
have a new president to lead the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s efforts.<br />
But I want to take this opportunity as I write my final<br />
President’s Message to extend my thanks to each and<br />
every one of you. I will enjoy my new-found freedom<br />
from the tasks and responsibilities that have been a part<br />
of my life since July, 1998. Stepping aside will allow<br />
me to spend more time with my family and also launch<br />
new projects.<br />
I would first like to thank my wife, Marilyn for all her<br />
support since Day One. I’d also like especially to thank<br />
John <strong>Durand</strong>, my “right-hand man,” who has worked<br />
tirelessly on any project that I threw his way. Special<br />
thanks also to Roger and Carol <strong>Durand</strong> for all their support<br />
and their donation of the “electronic” database of<br />
the family tree. Special thanks also goes to Ronald and<br />
Mary Ann Balding and Anita Oakey for their donation<br />
of the recently revised translation of the Jean <strong>Durand</strong><br />
and His Posterity. A special thanks also to Derek Brusegaard<br />
who worked so hard to launch the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong><br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> web site.<br />
I want also to thank all of the directors of the board,<br />
both past and present, who donated their time to making<br />
the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s efforts a success.<br />
Perhaps, most importantly, I want to thank all of the<br />
individual members—you—who through your support<br />
and generosity with membership dues, donations, article,<br />
pictures, and time have been responsible for our<br />
success. It gives me great pleasure to open an envelope<br />
with a message and in many cases great classical photos.<br />
Without a doubt I have a greater insight into my family<br />
heritage. I am a very rich man in this regard, as is my<br />
family. Indeed, we have all been enriched. The stories<br />
and pictures we have collected over the past few years<br />
all contribute to a growing collection of treasures.<br />
While each of us has worked many hours on the Foun-<br />
(Continued on page 15)
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
For meritorious service…<br />
2002 <strong>Foundation</strong> Award Winners<br />
By Mike <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Along with writing my last president’s message, this<br />
will be the last year for me to present awards. Hopefully,<br />
the annual presentation of awards will carry forward<br />
to the new president, as it is just small token of<br />
appreciation for many hours of volunteer work.<br />
The highest award is the President’s Award. To be<br />
eligible for this award a member must complete a major<br />
project and provide over two hundred hours of effort<br />
towards achieving the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s goals. There are not<br />
too many people that have reached this level of effort—<br />
usually only a couple per year. This award is only given<br />
only once to an individual.<br />
The recipients this year are<br />
Yvonne Cariveau, and Alice<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> Keppel. Yvonne has<br />
been on the Board of Directors<br />
for only a short time, but she<br />
hasn’t wasted any time in getting<br />
her hands and mind busy.<br />
When Yvonne was elected to<br />
the board she asked me what I<br />
Yvonne Cariveau<br />
wanted her to do. I responded<br />
that she should start with where<br />
her passion is in regard to the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s efforts.<br />
Web site! she responded. The new look of our website<br />
and the ease of navigation are both thanks to Yvonne<br />
and her staff at Voyageur Web. Yvonne brings a very<br />
directed and focused energy to the Board. She is never<br />
lacking in opinions or ideas about current matters or<br />
future directions for the <strong>Foundation</strong>. Thank you<br />
Yvonne.<br />
Alice <strong>Durand</strong> Keppel is the second<br />
recipient. Alice joined the<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Board just a couple of<br />
years ago. She assumed the responsibilities<br />
of Treasurer, relieving<br />
me of the detailed work of<br />
bookkeeping and preparing financial<br />
statements for the Board<br />
meetings, of depositing checks,<br />
and of keeping track of expenses.<br />
This was a job I was glad to get<br />
Alice Keppel<br />
off my shoulders. Alice has not<br />
only assumed this role, but she<br />
produces reports so detailed and itemized that she leaves<br />
a strong impression, to say the least. Alice also does an<br />
excellent job of providing good insight and judgment at<br />
the Board meetings. Thank you, Alice.<br />
Best Family Story Award. This award is presented to<br />
the person(s) who contribute a family story that is pub-<br />
13<br />
lished in the <strong>Newsletter</strong>. I confer with John <strong>Durand</strong>, the<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong> editor, for his recommendations. This year’s<br />
award goes to Helen <strong>Durand</strong> for her story,<br />
“Storekeepers: Rose and Fred Trombley’s Country<br />
Stores.” Not only was this a good story, but we received<br />
various notes from readers who appreciated the fact that<br />
they are now better able to understand the link between<br />
the Trombleys and the <strong>Durand</strong>s. This<br />
story illustrates the hardships and life<br />
experiences during the time when<br />
Helen first encountered the huge Pierre<br />
and Louise <strong>Durand</strong> family in northern<br />
Wisconsin. She would soon after be<br />
introduced to one of the Minnesota <strong>Durand</strong>s,<br />
Wilfred, and married him. Thank<br />
you, Helen, for a great story.<br />
Writer of The Year Award. You have to wake up<br />
awfully early in the morning and work very hard to outwork<br />
John <strong>Durand</strong>. John logs many hours on each and<br />
every edition of the <strong>Newsletter</strong>,<br />
but, it was his tenacity and unrelenting<br />
research efforts to produce<br />
“In Search of Lt. Edward<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>” that won him the Writer<br />
of the Year Award. Lt. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
was a WW II fighter pilot who<br />
was shot down, captured and executed<br />
by the Japanese while he<br />
flew a combat mission in a P39.<br />
I could tell early on that John<br />
took a special interest in this<br />
story. I sensed he was locked<br />
Helen <strong>Durand</strong><br />
John <strong>Durand</strong><br />
on, like radar, as he painstakingly put the pieces of this<br />
mystery together one by one. At times the trail would<br />
grow cold, but soon John would find a new clue and his<br />
pursuit would continue and bring in more valuable information<br />
to help keep the story unfolding. Thanks,<br />
John!<br />
Another award that I present is the Amerindian Princess<br />
Award. I don’t have any strict criteria for this<br />
award other than the fact that I look for someone over<br />
the past year who has contributed in a supportive and<br />
nurturing way to advance the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s efforts. This<br />
award also goes to Yvonne Cariveau for her numerous<br />
hours spent volunteering in various ways. Yvonne has<br />
many ideas about the future direction for various <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
projects, and (as I mentioned before) she is a very<br />
welcome addition to our organization. Thanks again,<br />
Yvonne, for all your hard work.<br />
Outstanding Family Award This award goes to a<br />
family that has impressed me in some way over the past<br />
year. I look for outstanding leadership abilities and<br />
modeling behavior. This is the first year that I have ever<br />
presented two of these awards, and ironically they are<br />
going to brothers. It is refreshing to see young families
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
in the prime of their lives, especially young <strong>Durand</strong><br />
families.<br />
These two awards go to Lt Col James <strong>Durand</strong> (USMC)<br />
and his wife Leslie, and to his brother Commander<br />
Robert T. <strong>Durand</strong> (USNR) and his wife Lea Ann. These<br />
fine young men are the sons of Eugene <strong>Durand</strong> and his<br />
wife Florence (deceased).<br />
Both Robert and James are graduates of the United<br />
LtCol James F <strong>Durand</strong>, his wife Leslie (Stephens), and their<br />
two sons, Thomas (center) born 2000, and Andrew, born<br />
1998.in Seoul, South Korea.<br />
States Naval Academy. Let me tell you why I am so impressed<br />
by these young men.<br />
A year ago in May I attended the memorial in Madison,<br />
Wisconsin for John Adelard <strong>Durand</strong>, who passed<br />
away unexpectedly and suddenly leaving a huge void<br />
for his family and friends. John was also a veteran who<br />
served in the Wisconsin National Guard as a tank commander<br />
for 17 years. The memorial was held at the Wisconsin<br />
State Capital in an ornate, historic chamber. Part<br />
of the ceremony was the presentation of colors and a salute<br />
to John.<br />
Lt Col James <strong>Durand</strong> and his brother Robert attended<br />
the memorial in full dress uniforms to facilitate this<br />
ceremony. I was so impressed with these young men<br />
that when it came time to present this award this year I<br />
thought, who better deserves this award than these fine<br />
young men? James and Robert and their families make<br />
us all proud, as they were willing to come at great distances<br />
to provide their presence and comforting ways<br />
during a time of great sorrow and sadness. They helped<br />
us though the pain and suffering.<br />
Additionally, James and Robert have volunteered to<br />
organize the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s <strong>Durand</strong>s in The Military pro-<br />
14<br />
ject and have both put many hours into this project. I<br />
appreciate all their hard work and the difference they<br />
make in everyone’s lives.<br />
Thank you, James and Robert, and your families.<br />
Robert T. <strong>Durand</strong>, his wife Lea Ann (Flanagan) and blondhaired<br />
Logan (born 1991). In front Chase (born 1996) and<br />
Claudia (born 2000).<br />
And Speaking of Fine Young People….<br />
We owe a special thanks for the centerpiece of this issue<br />
to Anna (Annie) Olson Webber and her sister Jennifer<br />
Olson, both of St. Paul, Minnesota,<br />
Several weeks ago I asked Annie whether she would<br />
be willing to produce an original piece to accompany<br />
the theme “<strong>Durand</strong>s We Ain’t.” Annie has always had a<br />
talent for art. (She recently completed her degree in architecture)<br />
Of course she said “yes,” a model of cooperation<br />
that I hope will set the standard for the rest of<br />
our talented younger generations.<br />
Annie and her sister Jennifer (who is no less talented<br />
than her older sister) created the center spread in about a<br />
week of intensive effort. Annie wrote in an email, “...we<br />
had fun and worked hard. My favorite combination!”<br />
Thanks, Annie and Jennifer. You’re the greatest!<br />
Of course, none of the color we’ve been seeing in the<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong> would have been possible without the investment<br />
that President Mike <strong>Durand</strong> made in an expensive<br />
color printer. Thank you, Mike, for helping us climb up<br />
the next rung on the ladder.
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
2nd Edition of Jean <strong>Durand</strong> et sa Posterité<br />
Will Include Complete Family Tree<br />
By Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Shake your family tree before the new edition of Jean<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> et sa Posterité is published to insure that all<br />
known apples (even the rotten ones) are listed.<br />
A new edition of Ron Balding’s remarkable translation<br />
will contain a list of Jean <strong>Durand</strong> descendants, and an<br />
index to the names. The descendant list used will be the<br />
same database as that used for the www.<br />
durandfoundation.com family tree. So, if you or your<br />
grandchildren are not in the website’s family tree you<br />
won’t be in this new edition either!<br />
Blanche <strong>Durand</strong> Hammer is ready to enter your family<br />
names and information if you send it to her at<br />
mbmn@attbi.com She has a new computer and is anxious<br />
to put it to work!<br />
We request that you provide, for each person to be included<br />
• Name (first, middle, last)<br />
• Place and date of birth<br />
• Marriages (to whom, and wedding date)<br />
• Date of death.<br />
Make sure that you indicate the relationships also.<br />
I’m sure that Blanche is whistling a tune whenever<br />
she can add a new branch to our tree, but when she<br />
climbs out on the branch to enter information on the individual<br />
a second time because it wasn’t provided initially,<br />
the work can become tedious.<br />
It is our policy to enter any person into our database<br />
that is a descendant of Jean <strong>Durand</strong> and carries or carried<br />
the <strong>Durand</strong> surname, and their children. Spouses<br />
My Farewell (Continued from page 12)<br />
dation efforts, none of us have been paid. That is, unless<br />
you count the numerous letters we receive from members<br />
that seem to make all our efforts worthwhile. Let<br />
me just give you one example. In a letter from Peter and<br />
Julie <strong>Durand</strong> from Minneapolis, Minnesota, I will extract<br />
two paragraphs.<br />
Dear Mike ...I feel remiss in not having communicated<br />
to you the pleasure I have had in watching you<br />
build the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> over the last<br />
four years. You have done a tremendous service to all of<br />
the family, and it is greatly appreciated. My children<br />
have no idea the gift you have given them.<br />
Thank you again for planting the seeds of the eternal<br />
memory of the history of our family… Peter E. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
For all of us who have worked so hard, getting this<br />
kind of letter is what makes it all worthwhile. And so<br />
my friends, I bid you farewell. May God bless each and<br />
every one of you.<br />
15<br />
will be included. Additionally, we will enter a direct<br />
lineage to any current <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
member, regardless of the surnames, if a connection has<br />
been made to Jean <strong>Durand</strong>.<br />
Other notices will announce the timing, style, and<br />
quality of the new edition of this important book.<br />
Letters from Alberta (Continued from page 9)<br />
"On May 14, 1910 their last child, Esther Louise, was<br />
born. Albert always called her his ‘little Canuck.”<br />
As the wide-open prairies around Albert and Mary's<br />
farm drew more homesteaders, neighboring townships<br />
began to sprout up. "The first post-office was located in<br />
Sundial, twenty miles away. Later on there was Sweet<br />
Valley, seven miles distant, then Badger Lake, and finally,<br />
with the building of the railroad, the town of Lomond."<br />
"One thing that stood out in the minds of Mary <strong>Durand</strong><br />
and the children was their first visit from the Northwest<br />
Mounted Police. They were worried until the Mountie<br />
told them it was his duty to visit the settlers, and then he<br />
asked them to sign a paper saying he’d been there."<br />
Youngsters growing up on homesteads had a rugged<br />
life, and responsibility came early. "When Leonard<br />
(Mavis’s father) was 14 years old his father gave him a<br />
team and rack and sent him out with a threshing crew.<br />
That fall was warm and long so they threshed for 48<br />
days. The pay was $10 a day so Leonard came home<br />
with $480. His father let him keep the $80 and used the<br />
$400 to pay on the mortgage."<br />
"Once Leonard needed a tooth pulled so he loaded a<br />
wagonload of wheat, probably 90-100 bushels, and<br />
hauled it seven miles to town and received $8. When he<br />
left the dentist’s office he gave him the check for the<br />
wheat. Another time Leonard and his sister Alma were<br />
fighting until his father broke it up. For punishment Albert<br />
made Leonard kiss his younger sister. For the rest<br />
of his life, Leonard maintained that he’d rather have had<br />
a licking than kiss his sister!"<br />
Thank you, Mavis, for sharing your family history.<br />
Your letters have expanded yet again our understanding<br />
and respect for the courage, fortitude, and determination<br />
embodied by so many of our ancestors. The information<br />
and family photographs you sent have been entered into<br />
the family archives of the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
and are available for future generations.<br />
I hope that by your example others will take the time<br />
to sit down and write about their own families. Stories<br />
such as yours–simply stated in a letter or two–are priceless<br />
contributions to our rich and shared heritage.<br />
Mavis Anne <strong>Durand</strong> Johnston can be reached at:<br />
Box 1770<br />
Hanna, Alberta, Canada<br />
T0J 1P0
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
Treasurer’s Report<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Ended 2002 in the RED!<br />
By Alice <strong>Durand</strong> Keppel<br />
After last year's "modest growth," <strong>Foundation</strong> coffers<br />
seem a little sparsely furnished at this reporting. Nevertheless,<br />
the Board voted to accept the financial statement<br />
for the 2002 fiscal year at its April 26, 2003 meeting.<br />
The bank reported a balance of $1,465.12 as of December<br />
31, 2002.<br />
The table of income and expense reflects a net loss for<br />
the year. You should note these interesting changes in<br />
income and expense.<br />
• Membership income is less than half that of 2001,<br />
PFC Carlsen (Continued from page 6)<br />
turn by the end of the summer, at this time neither Will<br />
nor his fellow Marines know when they will depart Iraq.<br />
Will does not currently have access to e-mail, but calls<br />
his mother whenever possible. <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
Members desiring to write to Will may send mail to<br />
him at the following address:<br />
PFC William Carlsen, USMC<br />
Weapons Company 1/4 CAAT B<br />
UIC 39727<br />
FPO AP 96613-9727<br />
Service members<br />
deployed to Iraq<br />
have stated that<br />
beef jerky, baby<br />
wipes, and sunscreen<br />
are difficult<br />
to obtain and are<br />
much appreciated.<br />
Editor’s note:<br />
We will update<br />
readers on PFC<br />
Carlsen’s deployment<br />
in the next<br />
issue.<br />
Additionally, we<br />
will publish an ac-<br />
count of Lieutenant<br />
Commander<br />
Patrick Ginn’s ex-<br />
PFC William Carlsen’s unit fought<br />
their way from Kuwait to Baghdad.<br />
perience in Iraq as a Navy doctor who was among the<br />
first physicians to work from a hospital in enemy territory.<br />
Commander Ginn is the son-in-law of Matt and<br />
Susanne Krasovich of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is<br />
married to their daughter Susanne.<br />
Other readers aware of <strong>Durand</strong>s in the military are invited<br />
to get in touch with LtCol <strong>Durand</strong> (see “The back<br />
page”) so that we can acknowledge this important contribution<br />
to our nation and our <strong>Durand</strong> family heritage.<br />
16<br />
while the Sustaining Fund is slightly above contributions<br />
from 2001.<br />
• The Scholarship Fund represents over 18% of the<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong>’s gross income.<br />
• Printing expenses are up, in part because we paid<br />
for printing five issues last year rather than four, and<br />
also because the newsletter has grown and is now enjoyed<br />
in color.<br />
• Internet expense continues to be the second biggest<br />
cost. This expense is expected to decrease due to a<br />
change in provider.<br />
Please remember that donations to both the<br />
Scholarship Fund and the Sustaining Fund are tax<br />
deductible for the year in which they are taken.<br />
The Sustaining Fund is intended to carry us<br />
through the lean times (like this); the Scholarship<br />
Fund is untouchable for regular expenses but may<br />
be awarded annually to qualified applicants. Continued<br />
regular publication of the <strong>Newsletter</strong> may<br />
depend on contributions to the Sustaining Fund.<br />
In anticipation of a leadership change in the <strong>Foundation</strong>,<br />
we ask that checks and other monies for membership<br />
renewal and contributions be sent directly to the<br />
Treasurer at the following address:<br />
Alice <strong>Durand</strong> Keppel<br />
1335 Mandan Avenue North<br />
Golden Valley, MN 55427<br />
Income & Expense for Fiscal Year 2002<br />
Income<br />
Membership 1,646.65<br />
Other Publication Income 385.58<br />
Sustaining Fund 1,275.00<br />
Scholarship Fund 745.00<br />
Total Income 4,052.23<br />
Expense<br />
Consultant 150.00<br />
Gifts 100.00<br />
Internet Expense 1,535.13<br />
Miscellaneous 154.13<br />
Office Supplies 372.36<br />
Postage 662.90<br />
Printing 2,544.95<br />
Total Expense 5,519.47<br />
Income Less Expense ($1,467.24)
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Business<br />
DHF Board Reviews Projects and Makes<br />
Plans at Spring Board Meeting<br />
Board Members present at the meeting held April 26,<br />
2003 at the home of Yvonne Cariveau in Mankato, Minnesota:<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong>, President (03), John <strong>Durand</strong>,<br />
Vice-president (03), Roger <strong>Durand</strong>, Secretary (03),<br />
Yvonne Cariveau (04), Mary Kay (<strong>Durand</strong> Grant)<br />
Brusegard (05)<br />
Board Members Absent: Alice (<strong>Durand</strong>) Keppel,<br />
Treasurer (04), Tom Bacig (04), Susanne (<strong>Durand</strong><br />
Foley) Krasovich (04), Richard <strong>Durand</strong> (04), Blanche<br />
(<strong>Durand</strong>) Hammer (05)<br />
Non-board Members Present: None<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> opened the meeting at 10:40 a.m.<br />
Minutes<br />
The minutes of the Fall meeting were approved.<br />
Treasurer’s report<br />
Alice Keppel forwarded the treasurer’s report for presentation<br />
by Mike <strong>Durand</strong>. The bank balance on December<br />
31, 2002 was $1,465. The board reviewed the<br />
method of valuing inventory. A suggestion was made to<br />
plot year-to-year expense, income, etc. for easier comparison.<br />
The treasurer’s report was approved.<br />
Election of Board of Directors members<br />
No elections were held at this meeting. The secretary<br />
noted that Mike <strong>Durand</strong>, John <strong>Durand</strong>, and Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
will be ending their terms as both officers and directors.<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> indicated that he will not seek reelection<br />
as president. John <strong>Durand</strong> and Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
stated that they will continue to serve if re-elected.<br />
Committee Reports<br />
• Research Committee<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong> reported that the research committee<br />
has been inactive. However, Mike <strong>Durand</strong> and Roger<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> met with Tom Bacig in Duluth in November<br />
2002 and explored his varied interests and accomplishments.<br />
The possibility of acquiring storage space at the<br />
UM Duluth campus for the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s historical<br />
documents was discussed with Bacig.<br />
Yvonne Cariveau volunteered to co-chair the Research<br />
Committee and suggested a meeting to establish areas of<br />
research interest. It was agreed that if areas of focus<br />
were identified, individuals could work independently to<br />
gather information and present their work to the <strong>Foundation</strong>.<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong> will host a meeting in early summer<br />
to pursue this plan.<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> reported on his work with Ron Balding<br />
to correct and revise Jean <strong>Durand</strong> et sa Posterite prior<br />
to the next printing. Converting the document to digital<br />
media will improve the quality and decrease printing<br />
cost. The board agreed that the next edition should be of<br />
“heirloom” quality that uses a standardized color<br />
17<br />
scheme for <strong>Foundation</strong> publications. Other considerations<br />
included using hardcover bindings and adding a<br />
list of descendant names.<br />
• Records Committee<br />
Blanche Hammer continues to update the family tree.<br />
• <strong>Newsletter</strong> Committee<br />
John <strong>Durand</strong> continues to edit the newsletter. His goal<br />
of having “regional” editors is within reach. He expects<br />
Ellen <strong>Durand</strong> Olson will accept the challenge of being<br />
the regional editor for the “Wisconsin” <strong>Durand</strong>s” and<br />
that Diane Zimmer (Maurice <strong>Durand</strong> family) will represent<br />
the western states. Roger <strong>Durand</strong> volunteered to be<br />
regional editor for the “Minnesota <strong>Durand</strong>s”—<br />
descendants of Nazaire and Joseph <strong>Durand</strong>. After discussing<br />
the editor’s workload it was agreed to continue<br />
publishing the <strong>Newsletter</strong> four times per year.<br />
• Membership Committee<br />
Membership renewals continue at a favorable and expected<br />
rate. The total member database includes 212<br />
names. There were 17 new members in 2002 but only 3<br />
to date in 2003. The memberships of some 48 members<br />
are past due as of the end of 2002. These former members<br />
are considered inactive and no longer receive the<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong>. However, they have all been sent a reminder<br />
letter with a preaddressed return envelope. A considerable<br />
number of memberships expire in 2003, which, if<br />
renewed, should help to improve cash flow.<br />
The board decided not to pursue a “referral” method of<br />
soliciting potential members (see New Business below).<br />
Old Business<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> Website<br />
Yvonne Cariveau reported the successful transition of<br />
the <strong>Foundation</strong>’s host web site to her company’s servers.<br />
The transfer will result in significant financial savings<br />
and improvement in quality and content.<br />
The board discussed the untapped capabilities available<br />
to us through electronic media. Possibilities discussed<br />
included email, advertising, storage and archiving<br />
of photos, family narratives, and research newsgroups.<br />
The board took no formal action as a result of<br />
the discussion.<br />
Acceptance of Advertising in <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
At its Fall, 2002 meeting the board approved the solicitation<br />
of advertising for the <strong>Newsletter</strong> and the website.<br />
No ad agreements have been made to date.<br />
New Business<br />
Membership marketing campaign<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> volunteered to lead a marketing effort to<br />
both attract new members and “spread the word” of our<br />
existence. To date the <strong>Foundation</strong> has not targeted a<br />
population of potential members for a mail campaign.<br />
The board agreed to fund a mail campaign for up to<br />
$150 to be implemented by Mike <strong>Durand</strong>. Yvonne<br />
Caviveau offered to aid in designing a postcard or flyer.<br />
(Continued on page 18)
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
Readers’ Connection<br />
Florida Artist Provides Autobiography of<br />
Monsignor Arthur H. <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Mary Herzig of Satellite Beach, Florida, whose last<br />
contribution to the <strong>Newsletter</strong> described her work with<br />
china painting, sent a long excerpt from an autobiography<br />
written by Monsignor Arthur Hilary <strong>Durand</strong>, a great<br />
uncle. He produced his autobiography in 1978 on the<br />
occasion of his 50th anniversary as a priest. Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong>,<br />
born in Faribault, Minnesota in 1898, was one of<br />
two children from the family of Joseph Cyrille and Olivine<br />
(Rousseau) who made the Catholic Church their<br />
vocation. His sister Antoinette joined the Dominican<br />
Minutes (Continued from page 17)<br />
The focus of the marketing would be people with the<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> surname in the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas.<br />
Other marketing activities discussed were:<br />
1. Member surveys to learn their needs and feedback<br />
2. Closeout sales of books and newsletters in inventory<br />
3. Updated catalog detailing products on hand<br />
4. Advertising<br />
5. Educational articles on value of gifts to the <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
6. Email messages to members on a periodic basis<br />
Bulk Rate Mailing<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> reported that future mailings of the<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong> could be sent as bulk mail by using the permit<br />
for his business, which would lower the cost of<br />
mailing. Roger will pursue the paperwork for a <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
permit after Mike has his company permit.<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Identity<br />
The need for a uniform visual “scheme” was discussed.<br />
Color, logos, font type and sizes, etc. could be<br />
used to establish a family or organizational identity.<br />
Nominating Committee for office of president<br />
It was noted that there is no standing nominating committee.<br />
Board members agreed that an ad hoc committee<br />
should be formed to search for a successor for the current<br />
president. Roger <strong>Durand</strong> offered to take the lead in<br />
the search. John <strong>Durand</strong> offered the names of Peter <strong>Durand</strong>,<br />
Robert <strong>Durand</strong>, Richard <strong>Durand</strong>, and Ellen <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Olson as possible collaborators.<br />
Awards<br />
President Mike <strong>Durand</strong> announced the awards to be<br />
presented for 2002. [See Awards, p. 13]<br />
The Spring meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm.<br />
The Fall meeting will be on Sunday, October 6, 2003<br />
at the home of Roger <strong>Durand</strong>, 76 Marcin Hill, Burnsville,<br />
MN. (Phone 952-898-2896) All <strong>Foundation</strong> members<br />
are invited to attend. Please call the host.<br />
Minutes provided by Roger E. <strong>Durand</strong>, Secretary<br />
18<br />
Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, as did Mary Herzig’s<br />
Aunt Mathida (Sister Ernestine). Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong> died in<br />
St. Paul in 1986 at age 88.<br />
In discussing Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong>’s autobiography, Mary<br />
pointed out that her cousin had sent it to her years ago.<br />
“I think she must have gotten tired of making copies as I<br />
know there is more.” The document that Mary sent consists<br />
of 17 pages and appears to be from an 8½ X 11<br />
typeset monograph. The portion she sent ends with<br />
Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong> describing his first days at a seminary in<br />
Nantes, France.<br />
After growing up on the family farm near Faribault,<br />
Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong> writes that he decided to enter the priesthood<br />
only after giving long and serious consideration to<br />
getting married and continuing to farm.<br />
When he describes his efforts while still living at<br />
home to learn Latin from the local priest, he writes:<br />
“...I was not a bright student. I plugged hard but Latin<br />
came harder. Many a night as I drove back home with<br />
the horse and buggy, I, now 21 years old, cried unabashedly.<br />
Father Domestici was a good teacher, but he did<br />
not give me any encouragement or a bit a praise that I<br />
can remember. He was never impatient with me it is<br />
true, but I was not made to feel that I was making any<br />
progress and though my heart was very heavy, I would<br />
say, “Lord, I won’t quit. If they tell me that I am not<br />
able to make it or refuse me, then I will know that it’s<br />
not for me—but I won’t quit!”<br />
Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong>’s autobiography is organized into short<br />
chapters that describe various aspects of his early life—<br />
”The Dawn of Memory,” “Country School Days,” “Our<br />
Parents,” etc.<br />
The title page reads:<br />
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MSGR. ARTHUR H. DURAND<br />
PASTOR ANNUNCIATION CHURCH- HAZELWOOD, MINN.<br />
ON THE OCCASION OF HIS FIFTIETH JUBILIEE YEAR<br />
AS A PRIEST, SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 1978<br />
If anyone has a complete copy of this important family<br />
document please get in touch with a <strong>Foundation</strong> officer<br />
or board member, whose names are listed on “The back<br />
page.” One of the goals of the <strong>Foundation</strong> is to collect<br />
and preserve documents like Msgr. <strong>Durand</strong>’s autobiography<br />
and to make them more generally accessible to<br />
members.<br />
On a sad note, Mary also wrote that her son-in-law Michael<br />
Craft died of cancer on May 18 at age 47. Michael was married<br />
to Mary’s daughter Cindy, and they have one child, a 10year-old<br />
son named Benjamin. A picture of Mary and her<br />
three daughters appeared in the Summer, 2002 <strong>Newsletter</strong>.<br />
jcdurand3391@charter.net<br />
Send your letters to:<br />
John C <strong>Durand</strong><br />
624 East Market Street #103<br />
Elkhorn, WI 53121
Summer, 2003 <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
I’ve been intrigued lately by a flicker of memory about<br />
something my father once said. In speaking of our<br />
French-Canadian ancestors he said that one of them had<br />
been given an island in the St. Lawrence River for fighting<br />
in a war. Like any kid I wondered if the island was<br />
still in the family and whether it might be named <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Island and whether we might secretly be rich. But<br />
in the atlas at our high school library I could find no <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Island and soon put the matter out of my mind.<br />
While looking at maps on the internet a year or so ago,<br />
however, I noticed a little island situated near the mouth<br />
of the Cap Rouge River, the area that I now know was<br />
where Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit La Fortune acquired his first<br />
land. What got me looking, I think, was<br />
a passage I had read in Jean <strong>Durand</strong> et<br />
sa Posterité. Discussing the arrangement<br />
that Jean <strong>Durand</strong> made with a<br />
Charles Gautier (who was apparently<br />
Jean's boss for the three years he spent<br />
in military service) we read on page 20:<br />
"…Jean <strong>Durand</strong> receives on a three-year lease, from<br />
Charles Gautier called Boisverdun, a property situated at<br />
Cap-Rouge in the domain of Gaudarville, one part of<br />
which is farm land and the other is thickly wooded; a<br />
fishing location running in front of the land; and a small<br />
fort situated on an island."<br />
We can only speculate about why there was a small<br />
fort on what is a pretty small island, or how long the fort<br />
had been there. Perhaps it was built as a place of refuge<br />
design in case of Indian attack, or perhaps it mounted a<br />
cannon or two to protect the mouth of the Cap Rouge.<br />
Those speculations don't seem nearly as important to<br />
me as the speculation of how my father came to know of<br />
this island. Consider this:<br />
1. Jean <strong>Durand</strong> et sa Posterité had not yet been published,<br />
and chances are that my father would not have<br />
known about such a work-in-progress anyway.<br />
2. So far as I know, my father had never been to the<br />
Cap Rouge area or had any connection with our relatives<br />
there.<br />
3. Having completed only a few grades of school, my<br />
father was not a reader.<br />
So the question has been nagging—how did he know<br />
about that island?<br />
The distance between Jean <strong>Durand</strong> dit La Fortune and<br />
my father was eight generations, and our family line<br />
has, so far as I am aware, no family history that someone<br />
wrote between then and now. So I keep coming<br />
back to the thought that the story of this island must<br />
have been passed down from generation to generation<br />
by word of mouth—by storytelling.<br />
Along the way the story got a little garbled. The island<br />
was not a gift but a lease. And it was awarded to Jean<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> for his military service rather than his participation<br />
in a particular war. But if I'm right and the story of<br />
For What It’s Worth<br />
By John <strong>Durand</strong><br />
19<br />
this little island was indeed passed down in the family<br />
for more than 300 years—well, my jaw kind of dropped<br />
when I had that realization.<br />
Although I couldn’t attend the first meeting of what<br />
has become the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>, I sent<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong> some thoughts before the meeting on the<br />
idea that, if we want to preserve our family history, we<br />
really have to start writing things down—stories about<br />
our uncles and aunts and grandparents, who’s who in<br />
the pictures we have, how did such a thing come to pass,<br />
and so on. What I said must have resonated with the 12<br />
people in attendance at that meeting, because they nominated<br />
me in absentia to be the vice-president of an asyet-undefined<br />
organization.<br />
Well, four years later we are a char-<br />
tered not-for-profit corporation with a<br />
certain amount of organization stability,<br />
but we are still trying to solve those<br />
same problems.<br />
• How do we preserve our family<br />
stories?<br />
• How do we preserve our family pictures?<br />
• How do we preserve our important family documents—birth<br />
certificates, marriage licenses,<br />
awards and achievements?<br />
I’m not talking about just the old-timey stuff—black<br />
and white studio portraits of stiff-looking, unsmiling<br />
strangers. I’m talking too about us and our kids and our<br />
grandkids. Let me give you an example of why I still<br />
think this idea is still important.<br />
Last summer I attended a family reunion in Saskatchewan,<br />
Canada of my mother’s family, the first reunion of<br />
that family in decades. A guy from Oklahoma shows up<br />
with a suitcase full of pictures passed down to him by<br />
his father. He had no idea who the people in the pictures<br />
were. Once again my jaw dropped. What he lugged up<br />
to Canada were beautifully preserved pictures of my<br />
parents and brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts<br />
and cousins. Some of these pictures I had never seen.<br />
Once again the lesson to me was that we need a context<br />
for the things we preserve. If we don’t have a context<br />
an old-timey picture isn’t worth much. It’s the stories<br />
about people and things that gives a picture value.<br />
Here’s another example. When my mother was very<br />
old and I began to realize that she was going to die with<br />
a wealth of information about her family, I made an effort<br />
to learn a lot more than I knew about her childhood<br />
and growing up. One of the stories she told me was that<br />
her family had so many chimney fires in their house that<br />
her father nailed a ladder to the roof so that he could<br />
quickly climb up the steep slope with a bucket of water<br />
to pour down the chimney. And sure enough, on several<br />
pictures of their house we see an incongruous metal ladder<br />
on the steep roof pointed towards the chimney. If we<br />
didn’t know why, we could only wonder it was there.
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong> Summer, 2003<br />
The back page… In a record that will stand for decades (if not centuries), David <strong>Durand</strong> in his youth<br />
bagged a deer weighing 1,300 pounds. David’s story of this amazing feat will appear in the Fall issue. Also<br />
in the Fall issue we will see how census information can help us look in new ways at those we always<br />
thought of as old. Plus whatever else might happen to come in by mail or email or word of mouth….<br />
To update the<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> family tree, contact:<br />
Blanche <strong>Durand</strong> Hammer<br />
1547 Quail Ridge Road<br />
Woodbury, MN 53125<br />
Email: mbmn@attbi.com<br />
President<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong><br />
mikdurand@msn.com<br />
Vice President<br />
John <strong>Durand</strong><br />
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> Officers<br />
jcdurand3391@charter.net<br />
Secretary<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
rdurand@frontiernet.net<br />
Treasurer<br />
Alice Keppel<br />
amkeppel@2z.net<br />
1501 Rushmore Drive<br />
Burnsville, MN 55306<br />
Phone 952-431-5610<br />
624 East Market St #103<br />
Elkhorn, WI 53121<br />
Phone 262-723-7750<br />
76 Marcin Hill<br />
Burnsville, MN 55337<br />
Phone 612-898-2896<br />
To contact the<br />
<strong>Durand</strong>s in the Military Project<br />
LtCol James F. <strong>Durand</strong>, USMC<br />
(Lieutenant Colonel <strong>Durand</strong>, on temporary<br />
assignment, will have a new mailing address<br />
soon)<br />
Email: JFDURAND@aol.com<br />
1335 Mandan Ave No.<br />
Golden Valley, MN 55427<br />
Phone 763-540-0024<br />
The <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> is a public, not-for-profit, educational and research corporation chartered in the State of<br />
Minnesota and operating under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable.<br />
The <strong>Foundation</strong> affords no pecuniary benefit to its officers and members.<br />
20<br />
In this “classical” photo supplied by Mavis Johnston<br />
and now preserved in the DHF archives, these cut-ups,<br />
her father and others, were gathered in 1924 at the farm of<br />
Ray and Alma Dalton in Alberta, Canada.. L to R: Leonard<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> (Mavis’s father), Frank Koch, Esther, Laurence,<br />
and Alma (<strong>Durand</strong>) Dalton. Leonard, Laurence,<br />
Esther, and Alma were the youngest children of Joseph<br />
Albert (Albert) and Mary <strong>Durand</strong>. Esther, who would be<br />
14 years of age in this photo, later married Frank Koch.<br />
Leonard is flipping Frank’s tie. Laurence is getting<br />
ready to swig a soda.. Alma is holding a bunch of carrots.<br />
What Frank and Esther are holding is a mystery, but the<br />
photo seems to have a theme. Note the kerosene lantern.<br />
Thanks to Peter Keppel of Mayer, Minnesota for digitizing<br />
this photo and the identification on the back.<br />
Interested in the <strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>? Visit our website: www.durandfoundation.com<br />
<strong>Durand</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> Board of Directors<br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong>, John <strong>Durand</strong>, Roger <strong>Durand</strong>, Alice <strong>Durand</strong> Keppel, Tom Bacig, Yvonne Cariveau, Richard <strong>Durand</strong>,<br />
Susanne Krasovich, Mary Brusegard, Blanche <strong>Durand</strong> Hammer<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
John <strong>Durand</strong>, Chair<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Susanne Krasovich<br />
Ellen <strong>Durand</strong> Olson<br />
Research<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong>, Co-Chair<br />
Yvonne Cariveau, Co-Chair<br />
Richard <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Mike <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Susanne Krasovich<br />
To find out about<br />
the Young Writers Project<br />
Virginia <strong>Durand</strong> James<br />
2087 County Road A<br />
Spooner, WI 54801<br />
Phone: 715-635-3068<br />
Standing Committees<br />
Records<br />
Blanche Hammer, Chair<br />
Roger <strong>Durand</strong><br />
John <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Membership/Social<br />
Vacant- Chairperson<br />
Marilyn <strong>Durand</strong><br />
Mary Brusegard<br />
Joanne Berres<br />
Susanne Krasovich