The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-06-21
WILLIAM /. RAND
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Prominent Printer and Pub
Usher Dies At Home Of
His Daughter.
lRy Associated Prcss.l

% Nby AHSOCtAle1 fEcSSsJ
NEW HAVEN, Conn, June IL
William H. Rand, for many years head
Of the printing and publishing house
of-Rand McEally Company. died here
last night at the home OF his daughter.
Mrs. Henry W. Chappell. He had
been Ill for some time.
William H. Rand was born at Quin'
CT, Mass, May 2, 1928, the twelfth
child and seventh son Of Jonn Rand.
. minister. He attended the local
schools, and In his early youth was
employed in the printing Offices OF
his brothers, Franklin anud George.
who later founded and conducted the
firm Of Rand, Avery & Co. in Boston.
IN 1S49 he joined the gold rush to
California, making the voyage around
Cape Horn. His labors at mining
brought small success, and>after about
3. year Of them, he returned 10 his
trade as a printer and in partnership
with the late John A. Lewis, OF Bos'
ton, a nephew by marriage, establish
ed the first newspaper in Southern Cal
ifornia, the Los Angeles Star. The
text was printed in both Spanish and
English.
Returning to Boston he established
q printing business in that city, and
in 1856 married Harriet Robinson, OF
Bath, Me. Mrs. Rand died in 1905.
In 1856 Mr.. Rand moved to Chica'
20 and was thereafter closely identi'
ned with the business and growth OF
that city. He printed the Chicago
T-Hh--a 4nl woe fnr VnoFS a mari
owner OF that paper. Having sold his
interest shortly after the Civil War
he founded with Andrew McNaE.y'
who had been his foreman, the print
ing and publishing house OF Rand. Nc.
Nally & Co.
In the great FIRE OF 1871, the build,
ing and machinery Of the firm were
destroyed, but business was resumed
on the day following in rented prem
ises. Nj. Rand's health at this time
became impaired and, being obliged
to take a long rest from work, he went
to Europe and lived abroad with his
family for five years in Switzerland
Germany and France. Returning in
the centennial year, he resumed active
business, in which he continued until
1884. He then retired and has since
lived in his boyhood home at East NIL
ton, Mass, passing his summers at
Martha's Vineyard Island.
Mr.. Rand believed that every man
owed q duty to his calling, and many
inventors Of improvements in the art
of printing found in him an enthusias.
tic helper and wise adviser. In 1883
he, with Whitelaw Reid. Melville E,
Stone. Stilson Hutchins. W. H. Smith
and others organized the syndicate
which brought to perfection the type
or matrtx setting machine, known as
the Mergenthaler Linotype, n 1t was
Mr.. Rand who suggested the express
stve name Of that wonderful machine.
Nj. Rand was widely known and
much respected and beloved in Chica-
70 for his philanthropy and public
shirt. He was a loyal member ana
generous supporter Of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was long presl-
dent Of the Newsboys Home. n was
one Of the founders Of the Chicago
Manual Training School, and charter
member Of the Commercial Club OF
Chicago. He was a lover of paintings,
Of books and chiefly Of flowers, and
took and gave much pleasure from
hfs garden and greenhouses
He Is survived by five children,
Charles E. Rand, Mrs. Otto T. Freer
and Mrs. Charles E. Springer. of Chi
cago, and Mrs. Henry w. ChappeN and
William Rand, Jr, OF New YORK.