Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

Page 14 text:

PIOX. E. BENJAMIN BIERMAN, EDUCATOR AND LEGISI.ATOR. WHOSE LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICES IN THE INTERESTS OF LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE AND THE STATE ARE VERY GRATEFULLY ' REMEMBERED, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.

Page 16 text:

8 The Bizarre HON. E. BENJAMIN BIERMAN HON. E. BENJAMIN BIERMAN was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, December i, 1839. His ancestors were Prussians who emigrated to this country from WestphaHa, Germany, near the close of the eighteenth century. They were prominent in civic, church and educational relations, and on his maternal side — the Bertrams — represent a long line of teachers in this country and in Prussia, the line being easily traced back to the period of the Thirty Years ' War. After enjoying the usual advantages of private schools of his boyhood days, at the age of seventeen he entered the Reading Classical Academy, then under the principalship of the Rev. William A. Good, A.M., where he prepared for the junior class in college, studying the ancient and modern languages including Latin, Greek, French and German, the literature of these languages, also higher mathematics, general history, logic and mental philosophy. In 1864 he was called to the principalship of the Hamburg, Pa., Public High School, which position he successfully filled until March, 1867, when he was chosen to assist in the organi- zation of Lebanon Valley College and became its professor of mathematics and astronomy, and ever since. Dr. Bierman has been deeply interested in the welfare of the institution, and through all the vicissitudes of fortune has nobly stood by her. He has been interested in the various auxiliary projects connected with the school, and is one of the founders of the Philokosmian Literary Society, the oldest of our literary societies. After the retirement of President Kephart in June, 1890, affairs at the Col- lege reached a crisis. Many persons prominent in our church and educational circles warmly advocated the relocation of the College and this movement un- fortunately retarded its progress seriously, and divided its patrons. At this juncture Dr. Bierman was called to the presidency at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held July 28, 1890, and after receiving assurances of hearty co-operation from members of the Faculty and m any other interested friends of the College, he decided to accept the position. Rev. Dr. Brane, the then Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees, in a recent address before the Lebanon County Historical Society, says : When Dr. Bierman accepted the presidency of Leba- non Valley College he undertook the management of the school in the midst of a financial crisis the fog of which shut out the sunlight of hope from many loving hearts. After he was elected I was appointed to notify him of the fact, and re- quest him to accept the responsibility. After much deliberation and prayer he reluctantly consented to take charge of the school, and for a period of seven years