Lester Rounds

From a Rounds family genealogy on the Internet:

In 1818, Lester was apprenticed to blacksmith John Dwyer and in this work suffered an injury which crippled his left arm.

He returned to school in Richford Center, Vermont, and received more education than the combined total of his 13 brothers and sisters. .

In 1830 he migrated with his family to Cuyuga County, N.Y. where his older brother Horace had preceeded him in 1827. He worked there as a school teacher and clerk in a general store until 1838 when he returned to Richford Vt.

In 1838-39 he taught school in Richford, with several sisters and a brother in his class.

In late 1839 or 1840 he migrated to Southport (now Kenosha) Wisconsin, where he operated a general store and was postmaster.

He helped found the Wisconsin Phalanx of the Fouriers' Association and became its first secretary. After a charter was granted by the State Government he was elected permanent secretary and moved with the Phalanx to Ceresco (now Ripon) Wisc. Lester was appointed first postmaster at Ceresco when a post office was established there in 1844.

In 1848 he moved to Waukau, Wisc. where he operated a general store and was postmaster.

Lester moved his store to the site of Eureka, Wisconsin, in 1850 and was one of the 3 co-founders of that village. He also was first postmaster there.

Lester Rounds served in many civic capacities during his lifetime. He probably was the first "white collar" worker among the descendants of Joseph and Mary Round(s).

With his wife, Arilla Parker, he was the father of:

Sterling Parker

Rhoda Ann

Horace E.

Edward L.

Florence A.

Margaret A.