Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

Page 15 text:

Rev. George A. Mark Rev. George A. Mark was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1826 and died February 16, 1SS7. In 1852, he entered the East Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church and three years later was ordained, after which he served the following charges: Springville, Myerstown, Mill heim, I.vkens Valley and Grantville. Rev. Mark held the office of Presiding Elder for six years and was delegated to the General Conference which met in Western Iowa. On account of ill health, he was obliged 10 quit the ministry. His activity, however, did not cease for he is reverenced as one of the founders of the V. K. Mutual Aid Society, for which organization he served as Secretary until his death. That he was a faithful advocate of liberal education is proven by the fact that he was one of the founders of Lebanon Vatley College, was one of its Trustees for many vears and served on the Executive Committee for life. Mr. Mark ' s devotional activities increased as his years, for at his death he was a Trustee of the Trinity U. B. Church of Lebanon, a teacher in the Ann- ville U. B. Sunday School, the Class-leader and General Stewart for the Annville U. B. Church.

Page 17 text:

tlltr Histm-ir nf tttr iFarts iCfautnu Ep tn thr HunmMnn of Stratum Ifallnt (Unllrrir . H. Clay Deaner. Annville Academy was estab- lished in 1834, as a private school John Schertzer, Adam Ulrich, onard Heilig, Daniel Struphar, d others near the site of [ohn L. Savior ' s Coach Works. In 1836, the ..hi Academy Building was elected where the Lebanon Valley Academy, or Smith Hall, now stands. On March 28, 1840, the Annville Academy was incorporated. In 1855, the name of the Annville Academy was changed to Lebanon Valley Institute, while in 1857-58 the old Academy Building was torn down and a three story brick structure was erected by Prof. Daniel Balsbaugh who had purchased the property. ( )n the death of Prof. Balsbaugh, the prop- cm, on October 27, I860, was sold ami pur- chased by George Rigler, John Allwem. Peter Reider, Jacob Shertzer, Joseph Bomberger, John K. Bachman, and David Ki eider. The school continued under their supervision until 1 866. For years the need ot a higher institute of learning in the Last was deeply felt, for the church realized that man} ot her son, and daughters were lost to them because they were under the tuition ot other religious persuasions, hi response to this strong growing desire, in 1865, at the Annual Session of the East Pennsylvania Conference, held in Lebanon, Pa., it was decided by a very large vote to locate a school of higher learning within her bounds, or that of the Pennsylvania Conference. A committee was named to confer with a similar committee of the Pennsylvania Conference to determine upon a location. One year later, in 1 Sob, the committee reported to the Annual Session, at Columbia, Pa., and, on recommendation of the committee, on Education the following action was taken. — First, to establish a school of higher learn- ing for the education ot young men and women, to be under the management and supervision of the church. Second, To accept for this purpose, the grounds and buildings of what was then known as Lebanon Valley Institute, located at Ann- ville, Lebanon County, Pa., tendered as a gift to the Conference by Messrs. Rudolph Herr. John Kinports, George A. Mark, Lewis W, Craumer, George Hoverter, and other citizens of Annville. The public spirited citizens, Messrs. George Rigler, John Allwein, Jacob Shertzer, 13