Title: G.N. Falkenstein Realia Collection
Administrative/Biographical History
George Ness Falkenstein was born on July 16, 1859, in York County, Pennsylvania to David and Mary Anna Ness Falkenstein. In his early years, Falkenstein worked in a grain mill while saving money to attend school. Achieving his goal, Falkenstein attended the York County Academy, Brethren Normal School (now Juniata College), and Oberlin College. Upon graduating, he relocated to Kansas and later Illinois as a teacher. In 1886, Falkenstein married Eva Shellenberger. He taught at Mount Morris College in Illinois briefly before returning to Pennsylvania as the pastor of the Germantown Church of the Brethren, where he served from 1893-1900. During this time, Falkenstein began working with a group of men to found a Brethren college, thereby becoming an important founder of Elizabethtown College. Falkenstein served as acting principal of the school from 1900-1901 in the place of Isaac Newton Harvey Beahm, and was president of the College from 1901-1902. In 1901, Falkenstein taught the College’s first classes and would go on to teach courses in Bible, pedagogy, psychology, history, and science. Later, Falkenstein would open a store in Elizabethtown with a printing press and lending library, selling textbooks and other school supplies to college students. He served as secretary of the College’s Board of Trustees until 1903. Falkenstein was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from College president A. C. Baugher sometime after 1941. Falkenstein was also the author of several works, including comprehensive histories on the Church of the Brethren and Elizabethtown College. Falkenstein passed away on August 17, 1949, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
