Minnesota & Wisconsin Durand Family Connection

By Roger Durand

Joseph Durand the Durand Tree Trunk

When you meet a Durand family member, and don't know if you are related to him/her, odds are you are related if their families were present in Minnesota or Wisconsin in the early parts of this century. Usually, a connection exists at or below the level of Joseph Durand and his two wives.

JOSEPH DURAND (1770-1835), ELIZABETH VADNAIS, and LOUISE SARRAZIN

Joseph Durand was born in 1770 at Berthier, Quebec and died in 1835 at St. Cuthbert, Quebec. Joseph is the first common Durand ancestor to the majority of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Durand families. His first wife was Marie Elizabeth Vadnais. They were married in 1793 in St. Cuthbert and they had seven children. After Elizabeth died, Joseph married Louise Sarrazin in 1805 at St. Cuthbert, Quebec. Louise and Joseph had fifteen children which made Joseph the father of twenty-two children! Joseph was a farmer and his farm remained in the family for many generations.

One of Joseph and Elizabeth's great grandchildren (Joseph Octave), by their son Joseph Ambrose, settled in the Apple River, WI area.

One of Joseph and Louise's sons, Gilbert, emigrated to Valparaiso, IN. This was the ancestor of the Elden Edwin DuRand family in Louisville, KY. Gilbert was the uncle of all the Joseph Durand grandchildren that emigrated to the US and are listed below. Perhaps it was his success in the United States which encouraged his nephews/nieces to leave Quebec for the United States.

Jean-Baptiste Durand ancestor to most of the Minnesota Durand families.

Three of Joseph and Louise Sarrazin's grandchildren, children of their son Jean-Baptiste Durand, emigrated to Faribault, MN. Nazaire, Joseph, and Eugenie Durand Champagne all lived in Faribault and started their families there. Thier sister, Euphemie Durand, married a Charpentier and their children also moved to the Minnesota area.

Francois Durand ancestor to most of the Wisconsin Durand families.

Three of Joseph and Elizabeth Vadnais grandchildren, children of their son Francois, also emigrated to the Faribault area (Pierre, Felix, and Olivia Durand Thibodeau ).

In the next newsletter, we will develop a visual diagram to present the above information. Perhaps we will be able to incorporate photos.

If you would like to write Roger an E-Mail click here rdurand@frontiernet.net.