WASHINGTON ROUNDY

HON. WASHINGTON ROUNDY, one of the pioneers of Shelby County, was born in Onondaga County, New York, September 22, 1825. He is the son of Uriah and Polly (Lyons) Roundy, his mother being a cousin of General Lyons, of Connecticut. The father was a native of Vermont, and the mother was born in New York. Washington was the fourth in a family of nine children, of whom three survive, a brother and sister, both residents in Iowa. When he was about nine years of age his parents came to Ohio, and settled in Cuyahoga County, remaining there one year. They afterwards lived in Clay County, Missouri; Adams County, Illinois, and Pike County, Illinois, remaining in the last-named place for thirteen years. Our subject received his education in the common schools, and was reared to farm life. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced life for himself, with nothing but pluck and ambition; however, he was determined to succeed; and success has been his reward.

He was married October 31, 1848, to Alvira Williams, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Coleman) Williams, natives of Kentucky, who had removed to Illinois at an early day; there they remained until death. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom Alvira was the sixth; she was born in White County, Illinois, December 5, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Roundy are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living - Newton, Polly A., wife of William McCole; Sarah, wife of James Addison; Adda, wife of William Major; Julia, wife of William Fonts; Rena, wife of James Fonts; Ellen, wife of David Adamson; Fannie, wife of Freeman Vandemark; John W., Mary E. and Adelbert. In the spring of 1850 Mr. Roundy, on account of ill health, attempted to make a trip to California, and pursued his journey as far as Council Bluffs; here he was dissuaded from continuing the trip, and remained the winter in the Bluffs, then a small village. The following spring he traded one of five yoke of oxen for 160 acres of land in Grove Township; this claim had been taken out by Frank Rudd, and a rude log cabin had been erected on it. Here Mr. Roundy and family settled, intending to stay a year or two and then go on to California; they were among the very first settlers in the township, only seven other families having located there previous to them. The plan to go to California was abandoned, and they have ever since made this their home. They endured all the hardships encountered by pioneers in those early days, and have done their share in building up Shelby County from a wild and unbroken prairie, inhabited by wolves, deer and elk, to a fine, prosperous, enlightened community. They have ever extended a hearty welcome to the cold and hungry traveler, and have always lent a helping hand to the needy. In sickness and distress, in joy and health, they are ever the same true friends, and they receive the affection and respect of the entire community.

Mr. Roundy possesses nearly 1,000 acres of land in Shelby County, 645 of which are in his home place. At one time he owned over 1,200 acres in this county. He has made many valuable improvements, and has one of the finest homes in this part of the county; he has commodious barns for live-stock and grain, and devotes his time to general farming. He is a staunch Democrat, and strongly advocates the issues of the party. In 1887 Mr. Roundy was elected a member of the Iowa Legislature, and has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituency.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 310-313. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.