George C. Heckman
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Reverend George Creider Heckman
D.D. A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...
,
LL.D Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the earl ...
(January 26, 1825 – March 5, 1902) was a
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
minister and the ninth president of Hanover College serving from 1870 to 1879.


Early life

Heckman was born on January 26, 1825, in
Easton, Pennsylvania Easton is a city in, and the county seat of, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city's population was 28,127 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Easton is located at the confluence of the Lehigh River, a river tha ...
, to John and Mary Heckman, both of German descent. Heckman first pursued education in the field of ministry while studying at the Easton Classical Academy and later attended Lafayette College at the age of 16, graduating in 1845. After his graduation from Lafayette he attended Princeton Theological Seminary where he graduated in 1848. He was first licensed to preach on August 4, 1846, and was ordained by the Presbytery of
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, on February 8, 1849.


Career

Heckman's first eight years as a minister were spent in Port Byron, New York. In January 1857 he responded to a missionary call and preached for four and a half years in both
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and Janesville,
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. He then took his preaching to
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, for three years. During the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, Heckman was requested by Colonel John H. King to join the 9th Regiment as volunteer chaplain. While in the infantry, Heckman was a sergeant in a company of Indiana minute-men, formed entirely of clergymen, though never called into battle. Following the war, Heckman returned to the ministry, practicing in
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. He was requested numerous times over the following years to take on the role as president of Hanover College, and was presented by the college with an honorary
Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
in 1868. By 1870 he agreed to take over as president, taking over the presidency at a trying time for the college. During his nine years as president at Hanover, Heckman was known for erecting the President's house, securing $50,000 in funding from alumni contributions, and "laid foundations for the future growth and stability of the institution." Towards the end of his presidency the college came into financial crisis when a bad investment by the school's treasurer greatly reduced the college's income. Heckman, unable to provide for his family at a now reduced salary, resigned as president in 1879. Heckman continued his pastoral services for the next twelve years in churches in
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, and
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, and also served as secretary of the Centennial Fund for the church for one year during its centennial in 1888. Upon the conclusion of his duties in this office in 1889 he agreed to take the role as pastor in
Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philade ...
. Here, Heckman was greatly favored, and during the 50th anniversary of his ordainment was given a large celebration put on by the entire town. He was also at this time awarded an honorary
Legum Doctor Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...
degree, again by Hanover College, in 1890. During his tenure in Reading he attempted to retire twice but both times he was persuaded against this decision. An agreement was reached in 1901 to allow Heckman to retire, but stay on with the church as a Pastor Emeritus.


Personal life

On June 11, 1850, Heckman married Josephine A. Davis, and together they had eight children together. He was a long time member of the Sons of the American Revolution and president from 1891 to 1892 of the Pennsylvania German Society. He also served as a trustee on the boards of both Hanover and Lafayette College, and gave an address at the semi-centennial commencement of Lafayette College in 1882. He also published a book ''Dancing as a Christian Amusement'' in 1879. Heckman died in
Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philade ...
, on March 5, 1902, from heart failure.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heckman, George C. 1825 births 1902 deaths 20th-century Presbyterian ministers American Presbyterians Lafayette College alumni Princeton Theological Seminary alumni Union Army chaplains Lafayette College trustees 19th-century American clergy 20th-century American clergy