Rownd, William Schofield

Hon. William Schofield Rownd; Livingston, then Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

Hon. William Schofield Rownd. No citizen of Tangipahoa Parish is held generally in higher esteem, and none bears a more honorable public and private record, than Hon. William Schofield Rownd, of Hammond, a leader of the parish bar and ex-judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District of Louisiana. Still in the very prime of life, his achievements have been numerous and his public service has been of a character to gain for him the utmost confidence of his associates and clients.Judge Rownd was born near Springfield, Livingston Parish, Louisiana, September 8, 1882, and is a son of William B. and Tullia (Carter) Rownd.

His father, who was born in 1847, near Clio, Livingston Parish, was reared in his home community, and when only sixteen years old, in 1863, enlisted in the Third Louisiana Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war between the states. As a young man he went to Springfield, Livingston Parish, and there engaged in numerous activities, including logging and farming. He likewise found time for public service, and shortly following the war between the South and North acted as assessor of Livingston Parish, being also parish surveyor for many years.

In politics he was a democrat, and fraternally a Mason. A lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he was a very strong and generous supporter thereof. While his residence was located at Springfield, his death occurred March 15, 1920, at a New Orleans hospital, where he had undergone an operation. Mr. Rownd married Tullia Carter, who was born at Springfield, and died there December 25, 1884. Three children were born to them: Grace Amanda, who is unmarried and resides on the home farm near Springfield; William Schofield, of this review; and Marcus Carter, a Springfield attorney, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work.William Schofield Rownd was born on the home place, and received his early education in private and public schools of Livingston Parish.

He entered the Louisiana State University in September, 1906, and was graduated with the class of 1908, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, being admitted to the State bar in May of the same year. He began the practice of law in Livingston Parish, with offices at Springville, the county seat, and shortly after settling down to practice was elected a member of the House of Representatives to represent that parish. After serving his four-year term he was re-elected for another four years, but in 1914 resigned because of his election for a two-year term as judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District of Louisiana. In 1916 he was re-elected for a term of four years. At the expiration of this term Judge Rownd transferred his scene of activities to Hammond, where he founded the law firm of Rownd & Hungate.

In 1923 Nathan B. Tycer was admitted to partnership, the firm then becoming Rownd, Hungate & Tycer, of which Judge Rownd was the senior member, the offices of the concern being situated in the First State Bank, Thomas Street. Mr. Hungate has since died, and Mr. Tycer has withdrawn from the firm. In June, 1924, Mr. Rownd became judge of the City Court of Hammond. In various ways Judge Rownd has connected himself with the active life of the community and lent his abilities to the furtherance of projects which have redounded to the benefit of his fellow-citizens.

Politically he is a democrat. A member of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church of Hammond, he belongs to the board of vestrymen. He is worshipful master of Livingston Lodge No. 160, F. and A. M., and belongs to Hammond Chapter No. 48, R. A. M.; Doyle Camp, W. 0. W., of Livingston Parish; Maurepas Lodge No. 154, K. of P., Maurepas, Louisiana; and to the Hammond Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the board of directors of the Albany (Louisiana) Bank. Judge Rownd is the owner of a comfortable residence on Sanders Avenue, and of a considerable amount of real estate in Livingston Parish.

During the World war he served as chairman of the Legal Advisory Board of Livingston Parish, in addition to which he gave his assistance, moral, physical and financial, to the various drives.On March 21, 1911, at Hammond, Judge Rownd was united in marriage with Mrs. May (Cooper) Allen, the daughter of Mayhew and Henrietta (Waddell) Cooper, the latter of whom resides with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Cooper, who died at Springville, served as clerk of court of Livingston Parish for about twelve years, and as assessor of that parish for two years, and was a man universally respected.

Mrs. Rownd attended the Silliman Collegiate Institute and is possessed of numerous graces and accomplishments. Judge and Mrs. Rownd are the parents of three children: Iris Lucille, William Schofield, Jr., and Tullius Carter, all attending the Hammond public school.A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 190, by Henry E. Chambers.

Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.