Lorin Rounds, born December 9, 1843, in New York, was a respected landlord of Howe, Nebraska, who led a varied and successful career. Son of John W. Rounds, a painter from Pennsylvania, Lorin moved to Wisconsin before enlisting in the 40th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Afterward, he worked as a carpenter. On May 18, 1885, he married the widow of Daniel McLean, and they moved to Nebraska in 1890. They built and operated the Cottage Hotel in Howe until 1903. A Republican and Methodist, Lorin was known for his industry and community spirit, leaving a lasting impact on Howe.
Lorin Rounds, who for many years was a popular landlord of Howe but is now retired, has had a busy and successful career in various parts of the country. He has been a carpenter by trade, and is also one of the survivors of the Civil War. His industry and business ability have given him a comfortable place in life and won him the regard of all his fellow citizens. He has proved his excellent citizenship during the years that he has been a resident of Howe, and has played his part in life with fidelity to self and loyalty to country and society.
Mr. Rounds was a son of John W. Rounds, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1819, and was a painter and decorator, following that pursuit in St. Louis, Missouri, for a number of years. He was fairly prosperous, and had accumulated about four thousand dollars with which he intended to buy lands in Nebraska, but on his way was murdered in St. Louis in 1883. He married Miss Abbey Tracey, a native of New York state, where they were married in 1840. They had five sons and one daughter, and two of the sons died in infancy. The others were married, and there were eight grandchildren. Mrs. Abbey Rounds died in 1850, aged about thirty-five, and her husband was again married, but had no children by the second union.
Lorin Rounds was born in New York state December 9, 1843. In young manhood he came to Wisconsin and lived on Sun Prairie until 1864, when he enlisted at Madison, Wisconsin, in Company K, Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served less than a year owing to physical disability, and he now draws a small pension. He followed carpentering for a number of years and was successful.
May 18, 1885, Mr. Rounds was married at Brownville, Nebraska, to the widow of Daniel McLean. She is a daughter of John and Sarah Jane (Roberts) Stampp, who came to Nebraska from Michigan in 1892 and are now living in Howe, the former having been born in the territory of Michigan in 1832 and the latter in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1838. Daniel McLean was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, January 15, 1851, and died in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He married Mrs. Rounds, July 20, 1877, in Monroe County, Michigan, and their one daughter, Sarah Jane, born November 24, 1878, died when nearly three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Rounds lost their first child, Arthur Lorenzo, born in Michigan, February 28, 1889, and died aged about three years. They have a son, Cecil Thomas Rounds, born July 24, 1902.
Mr. Rounds came from Monroe County, Michigan, to Nebraska in 1890, and in April, 1891, they built the Cottage Hotel on their four lots, and they conducted this until May 1, 1903. Mrs. Rounds had about five thousand dollars which she and her former husband had made by hotel-keeping in Tecumseh, Nebraska, where they had the Depot Hotel for five years, and which Mrs. Rounds conducted for five months after her second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Rounds have built their present comfortable residence, also two tenant houses, and a barn and other buildings. In 1900 they established their meat market and grocery in their brick block, and in all their enterprises have made unusual success. Mr. Rounds is a Republican voter, and he and his wife have been members of the Methodist church. Another member of their household is Mr. George Hinkle, a widower of seventy-six years and with two children in Auburn. He has been in the store and market for some time, where he has been the right-hand man of Mr. Rounds, and he is one of the favorites about the home, being especially so with the baby boy of Mr. and Mrs. Rounds.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company, A Biographical and Genealogical History of Southeastern Nebraska, 2 volumes, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904.