The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-12-01
g. P. ROUNDS, GOVERNNBNT
PRINTER A KENOSHA
SCHOOL, BOY.

1t always pleasing to note what our
Kenosha schools have done to fit young
men for the duties and higher respon-
sibilities of public life. Frequent in
stances of this kind are brought to
notice, which are chronicled with
just pride. Hundreds of the older in
habitants of this city will remember
Sterling P. Rounds. He came from
Vermont to Kenosha Chen called
Southport) with his father, Lester
Rounds, to reside in 1S43. He was
then little more than twelve years of
age, an active, sprightly youth. He
was fond of books, and readily took to
learning what was useful. His fond
ness for knowledge attracted the atten-
ton of Hon. L. P. Harvey, then a
teacher in one of the schools in this
place. Young Rounds became pupil
in the school of Mr.. Harvey; the at
tachment between teacher and scholar
grew preceptibly strong, and great
pains were taken by the former to i'm
bue the latter with principles which
lead to success in life. The parents of
Mr.. Rounds, though in moderate Cir
cumstances, were anxious their son
should fit himself for entering college.
The son, however, resolved to be con-
tent with a practical business educa-
ton, and that being accomplished he
chose the trade of printer. He entered
the Office of a newspaper then pub
lished here, known as the Southport
american. And here we may digress
to say word of L. P. Harvey, the
faithful teacher of Mr.. Rounds. He
was for considerable time the editor
of the Southport american; he left
here for another part of the State,
and, after a period of a few years,
was elected Governor of Wiscon-
sin. During the term of his Office
as Governor the war of the rebellion
was in full progress, and learning that
many of our Union soldiers were suf-
fering from sickness and want Of sup
plies he hastened south, and while on
his mission of kindness was accident
ally drowned in the Tennessee river.
Mr.. Rounds, after having learned
the trade of printer in the office of
the Southport american, was employed
in that occupation in other towns in
the State, and eventually engaged in
the publication business in Chicago.
It was in that city he succeeded in
founding one of the largest establish
ments for the sale of printing presses
and printing materials in the North
west. The enterprise and skill with
which he managed his affairs in Chi
cago attracted the attention of the
government officials at Washington.
On the retirement of J. ID. Defrees
from the Government printing Office
the President appointed Sterling P.
Rounds Government Printer. Mr..
Rounds is now the chief of the largest
printing establishment in the world.
The building he occupies is four stories
high and covers over one and one-half
acres of ground. There are employed
under his charge two thousand persons
as compositors, pressmen, folders,
binders, messengers, clerks, &c.
Mr.. Rounds was of the original
abolitionists, as was his father and all
his relatives. He has always been a
prominent temperance man, and a |
short time after leaving Kenosha he
published temperance paper in
Racine. He has been staunch |
ever since the organization
of the party. Many interesting Incl
dents in his history might be given,
but would swell the notice of him to |
undue length in this paper. His sue,
cess in business-life furnishes an en-
couraging example for young men,
what may be accomplished, beginning
the world with small pecuniary re
sources.