Rounds, Nelson

Rounds, Nelson, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Winfield, Herkimer Co., N.Y., May 4, 1807. He was converted at the age of nine years, and graduated at Union College, New York, in 1829. On June 24, 1831, he was licensed to preach; and July 1, 1831, he was admitted on trial in the Oneida Conference. In 1836 and 1837 he was professor of ancient languages in Cazenovia Seminary; then served as presiding elder of Cayuga District two years, and of the Chenango District four years. In 1844 he was elected editor of the Northern Christian Advocate, where he served four years. When the Wyoming Conference was formed, he became a member of it, and labored within its bounds until 1867, when he became superannuated. The next year he took an effective relation and was soon transferred to the Oregon Conference, and elected president of the Willamette University at Salem, which position he held for two years. In 1871 he was elected by the Legislature of Washington Territory as superintendent of public instruction, which office he filled until within two months of his death, in Clark County, Wash. T., Jan. 2, 1874. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1874, p. 83.