Ezra Durand was born in Seneca Falls, New York, on March 8, 1833, and is the youngest of a family of thirteen sons and daughters of David and Betsey (Crowell), Durand. His father was a farmer and his early boyhood was passed on a farm. His opportunities for gaining an education were limited to a few winters at the district school. At an early age he left home and went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he obtained employment in a musical instrument factory. This was followed by similar work in a factory at Norwich, Connecticut. He seemed to have a natural taste for the business, making rapid progress in a thorough knowledge of every branch. At the end of a few years he secured a situation with a Boston firm and traveled all through the New England States, tuning pianos and doing such other work in connection with musical instruments as the nature of their business required. In later years he was traveling salesman for the well known organ manufactory of Estey & Co., of Battleboro, Vermont.
In 1881, Mr. Durand came to the Pacific Coast, and for a few months was located in San Francisco, California, but in. 1882, came to Portland. He soon after embarked in the piano and organ business and from the very start his venture proved to be highly successful. In 1883, he incorporated the Durand Organ and Piano Company, with a capital stock of $100,000, of which he has since been president and general manager. The business which this corporation has built up within the last few years extends over a vast territory. Mr. Durand has been indefatigable in his exertions and it has mainly been through his thorough practical knowledge of the business and good judgment that such gratifying success has been attained.
Mr. Durand was married in 1881, to Miss Jennie Smith, a native of Illinois. They have recently erected a fine house on Portland Heights which is an ornament to that delightful residence part of the city.