An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 356.

ROBERT RAND, owner and operator of the Wau-Guinn-Guinn hotel, one of the most
beautiful summer resorts in Oregon, is well known in Wasco county and is a man
of enterprise and ability. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on August 28,
1836, the son of William and Margaret (Winters) Rand, natives of Vermont and
Jefferson county, Ohio, respectively. They both came from prominent New England
families. Reed, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a
relative of the Rands. Robert was reared in Virginia, whither the family had
moved when he was small. He gained his education by hard labor, having to walk
three miles to the district school, and working between times on the farm. When
seventeen, he came with the family to Wisconsin and then he started for himself.
Lumber work occupied him some and in 1859 he came to Amador county, California,
where he mined for two years. He returned to Wisconsin via the isthmus, having
come overland to the coast. He farmed five years in Wisconsin and then married
and came west to Iowa. In 1884, the winter of the deep snow, Mr. Rand came
hither, and bought fifty acres on the Mt. Hood road and other land later. Also
he was in Hood River in the hotel business, having bought the Mt. Hood hotel in
the fall of 1885. This he conducted eight years and sold it to Charles Bell.
During this time he sold his Mt. Hood land and bought one hundred and sixty
acres on the east side. He took up merchandising with his son, J.E., after
selling the Mt. Hood hotel. After five years in business with the son they sold
to A.S. Blowers & Son. In 1904, he erected his present hotel, and, considering
his late start, had a very successful season the first year.
The hotel is situated in full view of the falls, which take a leap of two
hundred and fifty feet, and is where the scenery of Mt. Hood, the other
mountains, and the broad Columbia are in full view, all of which combine to make
it one of the most entrancing spots in the country. The building itself is
commodious and well supplied with all modern conveniences including the latest
sanitary plumbing, and is conducted on strictly up-to-date principles. The
grounds are choice, having rustic seats, minature lake, beautiful shade and
flowers. Mr. Rand is a business man and understands the way to cater to the
comfort of guests. He has a farm of thirty-five acres and oversees that in
addition to his present business.      

On September 16, 1857, Mr. Rand married Miss Cristiana Gillespie, a native of
New York, and a daughter of John and Charlotte Gillespie, natives of Scotland
and New York, respectively. Mr. Rand has three brothers, Martin, James B., and
Thomas B., and one sister, Mrs. Lucy Boorman. To Mr. and Mrs. Rand five children
have been born, J. Elmer, William F., Delbert E., Ernest C., and Mrs. Henrietta
Rham. Mr. Rand is a member of the A.F. & A.M., having joined in 1866. He has a
choice collection of Indian curios and is a student of these things. On January
29, 1899, at Hood River, Mrs. Rand was called away by death.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.