Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 284. MISS RUTH E. ROUNDS Principal of the Atkinson school, Portland, is a native of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Nelson rounds, D.D., a native of New York. Her parents were of English ancestry, who were early settlers of the Empire State. Dr. Rounds was a Methodist clergyman and a prominent educator, having been a professor in some of the colleges of the East before coming to Oregon. After his arrival here he was elected president of the Willamette University. In addition to his other scholastic attainments he was a specialist in Hebrew and Greek languages. In Pennsylvania he married Miss Mary Comfort, a native of that State, her ancestry having been early settlers of Pennsylvania. By this marriage there were nine children, all of whom were brought up and are still living. Dr. Rounds presided over the Willamette University acceptably and successfully for two years; but, his health failing, he resigned and retired to his farm in Clark county, Washington, where he hoped to regain his health; but that soon was not granted and he continued to fail until his death occurred in 1874. During his life he was a great power for good, as his knowledge, moral sense, refined susceptibility and piety were superior. His aged widow still survives and resides in Portland, with her daughter, the subject of this sketch. Miss Rounds, whose name heads this sketch, was the sixth child in the above family; was educated in New York and at the Willamette University, and at once selected as her life work the profession of teaching, in which she has been almost continuously engaged for seventeen years, eleven of these in the North school in Portland, now named the Atkinson school, in honor of the gentleman who had rendered the schools of Portland so much valuable aid. Miss Rounds began at the foot of the ladder, in the primary grade, and has gradually worked her way up, step by step, to the principalship of this school, which place she has filled for the past five years; and no better evidence could be given than the fact of her promotion to and continuation in this responsible position, where she had under her supervision sixteen teachers, with as many grades and departments. When she decided upon teaching as her profession, she determined to attain the highest proficiency therein, as an object of her highest ambition, and she has succeeded in doing her share in making the vocation of teaching a real profession of equal standing with the other professions. She attends to details, with exemplary patience, is naturally endowed with great executive ability and with all the qualities required in a first-class educator and disciplinarian. She is a worthy member of the Grace Church, Methodist Episcopal, at Portland, and enjoys the best wishes of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.