Person Page - 326

     Ralph was born at Ansonia, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, on 13 November 1909.¹ Ralph died on 14 August 1942 at Ansonia, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, at age 32.¹

     Edwin was born on 10 October 1851.¹ He married Carrie Warner Durand [Du420] on 29 October 1880. "Edwin Jas. Yeomans of Washington, Conn.".¹ Edwin died on 25 August 1889 at age 37.¹

     Edwin was born at Stepney, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA, on 20 October 1882.¹ Edwin died on 27 February 1902 at Presidio Hospital, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA, at age 19.¹

     He married Eudora Emily Durand [Du418]. "No chn.".¹

     Reuben was born on 30 March 1733.^1,2 He married Hannah Foster on 24 June 1753.² Reuben died in 1829.²

     Moses was born at Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA.^1,2 He married Margaret Johnson on 16 September 1722.² Moses died in 1739.²

     Anna was born at New Jersey, USA, in 1879. Gravestone definitely says 1879. Durand Wives definitely says 1880 NJ, probably from census data..^1,2,3 She married Frank T Durand [Du950] on 23 June 1898.^1,2,4 Anna died in 1953 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.^1,3 Her body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^1,3

     Maud was born at Iowa, USA, on 10 October 1885. Carly Basped: b 1886 IA.^1,2,3 She married David H Durand [Du952] on 28 April 1904.^1,2,3 Maud died on 25 January 1931 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at age 45.^1,3 Her body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^1,3

     Wada was born in 1881.^1,2 She married George Emmett Durand [Du951].^1,3,2 Wada died in 1927 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.^1,2 Her body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^1,2

     Joseph Franklin Durand (Du1203) Email from a descendant, John Nelson Jr, 29 Jun 2001:

"I have it from a good source, his daughter, that Joseph F. Durand
commited suicide. He was a sporting goods store owner in Denver. I just confirmed last night that his wife Frances' maiden name was Swett. Her mother's (Emma May LaBrie) first husband was named Howard Swett. They were divorced when Frances was 3 years old. Emma May later married Jack Probert. Frances was never adopted by Jack, even though her name is somtimes listed as Probert."

Another email from John, 10 Jul 2001, includes a newspaper article from a CO newspaper:

"The flies were made by the 12-year-old daughter of Joseph F. Durand, administrative officer of the Office of Defense Transportation in Denver - and by the way he is a brother-in-law of Bert Cruse. But the skill of this young girl in making good trout flies is admired by fishermen throughout the state.
...
I still will be of the belief that Mr. Durand's young daughter can tie flies better now than I can ever hope to accomplish..."

This refers to dau JoAnn (qv).

See also text for father. Joseph was born at Colorado, USA, in 1900.^3,4,5 He married Frances Leon Swett on 15 September 1923.^3,4,5 Joseph died in 1948 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.^3,5 His body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery. His gravestone appears to say Joseph T Durand 1900-1948.^3,6,5

     Frances Leon Swett Blk 34: "DURAND, Frances L. 1900-1953, Joseph F. 1900-1948." Frances was born in 1900.^3,4 She married Joseph Franklin Durand (Du1203) on 15 September 1923.^3,5,4 Frances died in 1953.^3,4 Her body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^3,6,4

     JoAnn Durand (Du1310) John A Nelson Jr evidence:

"My mother, JoAnn Durand, had an interesting childhood. When she was in high school she had a fly tying business. I'm sure it was set up by her father who owned a sporting goods store in Denver. She hired women that worked in her in the basement while she was at school, piano or dance lessons, to tie her name branded flys- then she came home and designed and tied some more. The company was called "Durand Sure Strike Fllies". She had customers from all over the NA
contenent. She was featured in a full color (3-5 pages) Saturday Evening Post article trying out her flies in Colorado rivers. Additionaly, Ripley's Belive It Or Not featured her as "Kid Capitalist", the youngest female buisness owner or something like that. When she left for Colorado State the business shut down.

She married John Arthur Nelson Sr, in Colorado - A Forester, who's father was also a forester. We lived all over the South-East. Their Children:

John A. Nelson Jr. (Me!) b 01 Jun 1952 in Denver - Computer Systems Analyst
James Gregory Nelson - b Louisanna - Outside Sales Person
Nancy Nelson - b Arkansas - Expert Dog Groomer"

John's email of 10 Jul 2001 contains a newspaper article about his mother:

" 'Youngest Manufacturer' Has Dodge City Link

When a recent issue of the Saturday Evening Post featured an article about the youngest manufacturer in the United States, Jo Ann Durand, 14, of Denver, who makes Sure Strike Flies for trout fishermen, there were few in Dodge City who knew the girl is a granddaughter of Mary LaBrie, who attended schools in Dodge City 40 years ago and was a student at the old Soule college.

The grandmother was a relative of the Strange family in Dodge City, of whom Ben and Henry Strange are members still living here. During a visit to Colorado last year Mr. and Mrs. Ben Strange were told of the business their distant cousin, then 13 years old, had established in the manufacture of trout lures that were much in demand.
...

Her father, Joseph F. Durand of Denver, is quite a fisherman and he likes to tie his own trout flies. As a small girl his daughter began helping him, and soon was turning out a professional job ..."
JoAnn was born at Colorado, USA, circa 1933.¹ She married John A Nelson at Colorado, USA. I am guessing that his first name is John A since the son's name is John A Nelson Jr..¹ JoAnn died before 20 June 2001.¹

     He married JoAnn Durand (Du1310) at Colorado, USA. I am guessing that his first name is John A since the son's name is John A Nelson Jr..¹

     Elizabeth Durand (Du1204) I am making a leap here that Elizabeth D married to Albert F Cruse is Elizabeth Durand because her gravestone photo appears in John Nelson's collection along with Joseph Durand's.

Note added 16 Nov 2001 (Alvy Ray Smith III): On a recent visit to the Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, I found the Probert tombstone next to the Cruse tombstone. The Proberts adopted the wife, Frances Leon Swett, of Joseph Franklin Durand, Elizabeth's brother. See Frances Leon Swett for further information. Here is the transcription of the Cruse tombstone:

Block 34, Fairmount Cemetery, Denver:

"CRUSE
Albert F. Eliabeth D.
1899-1984 1902-1955"

On reverse of this stone:

"CRUSE
Esther H.
1900-1983"

who, judging by the name and dates, is probably Albert Cruse's sister. Elizabeth was born at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, in 1902. I am guessing that Elizabeth D is Elizabeth Durand because of proximity to other Durands, apparently in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, in the email which contains the data..^2,3,4 She married Albert F "Bert" Cruse.^2,5,3 Elizabeth died in 1955 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA. D 1954 according to Darline (Durand) Wilson.^2,3,4 Her body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^2,3

     Albert F "Bert" Cruse Darline (Durand) Wilson, via John Nelson:

"As the story goes Bert Cruse quit school in the 8th grade. Later he went to business school - worked in a bank in Oak Creek, Co. Moved to a bank in Steamboat Springs, became president of that bank, also president of a bank in Craig, Co. He was Colorado State Treasurer for 2 terms and was the National VFW Commander." Albert was born at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, on 23 January 1899.^2,3,4,1 He married Elizabeth Durand (Du1204).^2,5,4 Albert died in December 1984 at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at age 85.^2,3,4 His body was interred at Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA, at Fairmount Cemetery.^2,4

     He married Sophronia Durand.

     Frances May Belle Meeker Sophronia Durand email, 20 Jun 2001:

"According to Frances May Belle Meeker's obituary she was born in Coopersville, Michigan on July 4, 1856. It does not list her parents. Frances was married to Watson M Smith and later in life to Loren Frink. Frances & Watson Smith were my great great grandparents and together they had 16 children. Nine of these children lived to be adults & marry. Francis lived most of her adult life in Cadillac, Michigan area.

Frances Meeker Smith Frink's death certificate list her mother as Sophronia Durand and her father as Mr. Meeker." Frances was born at Coopersville, Ottawa, Michigan, USA, on 4 July 1856. Death certificate gives 28 Aug 1856 explicitly but 4 Jul 1856 implicitly (d 1 Apr 1939 at 82y8m28d). Obit gives 4 Jul 1856. It also states Mr Meeker as her father and Sophronia Durand as her mother..^1,2,3,4 She married Watson M Smith at Wexford, Michigan, USA, on 15 August 1875. IGI record has his name as Walson; the other sources have Watson. Note that her IGI record has same batch no, etc as that for her brother Thomas..^1,4,5 Frances was divorced from Watson M Smith before 20 October 1910.⁶ She married Loren Frink on 20 October 1910.^1,4,3 Frances died on 1 April 1939 at Cadillac, Wexford, Michigan, USA, at age 82.³ Her body was interred on 4 April 1939 at Boon, Wexford, Michigan, USA.³

     He married Rachel N Felton at Wexford, Michigan, USA, on 30 January 1881.^2,1

     He married Sophronia Durand.

     Watson was born. He married Frances May Belle Meeker at Wexford, Michigan, USA, on 15 August 1875. IGI record has his name as Walson; the other sources have Watson. Note that her IGI record has same batch no, etc as that for her brother Thomas..^1,2,3 Watson was divorced from Frances May Belle Meeker before 20 October 1910.⁴ Watson died in 1931.²

     He married Frances May Belle Meeker on 20 October 1910.^1,2,3

     She married Bob Wilson.¹

     She married (?) Watkins.¹

     He married Myrtle Smith.¹