Oregon George H. Atkinson

portrait of atkinson in later years

upon arrival family settled @ oregon city, oregon first oregon missionary sent american home missionary society on june 21, 1848, atkinson given charge of congregationalist church in oregon city, not build church building until 1850. in january 1849 helped organize first congregational society of oregon city. church later become atkinson memorial congregational church. george atkinson serve minister 15 years @ church, , helped found clackamas county female seminary. helped found tualatin academy in forest grove along tabitha moffatt brown , harvey l. clark. atkinson had been given instructions missionary board start academy before leaving oregon. school incorporated on september 29, 1849, , atkinson served trustee of school later become pacific university.

also in 1849, atkinson pushed laws create public schools, earning him title of “father of oregon schools” educators. proposed education should @ no cost students financial support coming through taxes, permanent fund provide financing should established, control of schools should @ local level, schools should allow religious freedom, , teachers should certified meet professional standards. once public education laws passed, george atkinson became first superintendent of schools in clackamas county. in 1865, moved portland , became pastor of first congregational church school superintendent multnomah county.