Squint Shot 100810

There were a number of Rounsvilles in the late 1870s and long into the early 1900s. One short "local news item" I found was of F. Gifford Rounsville, published in The Fowlerville Review in 1915, "F. Gifford Rounsville of the Western Military, Alton, Ill., is spending the holiday vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Rounsville." The first headstone shows a Frank G. Rounsville, b. 1848 and d. 1929.

The next headstone is for Claude G. Rounsville, b. 1871 and d. 1931. Instead of an obituary, I found the following article in The Fowlerville Review:

For Nearly a Half Century~~This is neither an obituary or a eulogy, but simply an item of recognition of one of our oldest businessmen who is retiring from years of activitiy.

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F.G. Rounsville, who entered the business circle in this village in 1874, last week sold his grain elevator and coal business to the Fowlerville Farmers' Co-operative association and has retired from business, although he still retains his farm.

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For almost half a century, Mr. Rounsville has been actively identified with the business interests of Fowlerville and has been one of the foremost progressives in the village, always being ready to put himself and his money into what looked to be the best business interests of the village and whatever would be for its advancement, having always been an enthusiast along all lines of progress.

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He was a member of the school board for something over 30 years and had much to do with placing the schools on their present high grade, and he has also served the village in nearly every official capacity. He was also an ardent Democrat and served this county for two terms as a member of the state house of representatives at Lansing.

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He began his business career with the old firm of D.R. Glenn & Co. in 1874 and soon after conducted continuously until last week. He was literally blown out of the original elevator building when the cyclone struck it a few years ago, but he immediately began the erection of the present building undismayed, cheerful and optomistic and we opine that he will still be actively interested in whatever pertains to the prosperity and best interests of Fowlerville.

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Another article published in July of 1931, possibly shortly before Mr. Rounsville's passing, follows:

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Rounsvilles Entertain Friends at Dinner~~Mr. and Mrs. Claude Rounsville were hosts to a group of friends at their home last Friday, their guests having spent the past winter with them in Lake Worth, Florida, and all are very close friends. A delicious bohemian dinner was served at six o'clock on the lawn, the company being seated at small tables. Bridge and pinochle were enjoyed after dinner. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Will Wieland, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Dunham, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Green, Mr. and Mrs. Houghton Gladden, Mr. and Mrs. George Tooley, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Youngs, Mr. and Mrs. John Buehler, Herman Peters, Mrs. Clara Abbott, Mrs. C. Beckwith, Mrs. Carrie Barnard and Mrs. Carrie Manz, all of Lansing; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Peters of Detroit.

In my book, The Fowlerville Chronicles, you can look under the years 1878 to see a picture of the house he built on South Grand, across from his grain elevator, and 1913 to see the grain elevator after it had been rebuilt following the 1909 cyclone. Under 1909, there are accounts of how he was "literally blown out of the original elevator building" as G.L. Adams, publisher and editor of The Fowlerville Review, described it.