BIO: Henry MARK, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ HENRY MARK. In these days of change and restlessness it is unusual to find a family occupying the same farm for a century, but the subject of this sketch, a prosperous agriculturist of Gregg township, Centre county, enjoys this distinction, as he resides upon an estate which was first opened in the primeval forest by his grandfather, and has ever since been held by descendants. The family is of Swiss origin, and the first of the American line was Killian Mark, who crossed the ocean in 1735, and settled in what is now Lebanon county, Penn., then a part of Lancaster county. He had a large family, and his eldest child, Conrad, was the first to locate within the present borders of Centre county, but the panic which resulted in the "Great Runaway" in 1778 caused him to leave and make his home elsewhere, and none of his descendants are to be found in the county. Another son, Jacob, came about 1800 to Centre county, where he passed the rest of his days, and where many of his descendants now live. Rudolph, another son, located permanently in Haines township, Centre county, where he reared a large family of daughters, of whom one married a Mr. Weaver and left a numerous family. The progenitor of the Centre county branch of the Mark family was another son of Killian Mark, David, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Lebanon county (then Lancaster), in 1766, and was married there to Miss Gertrude Kupp. He removed to Centre county in 1800, settling in Gregg township upon the present homestead, which he cleared and improved. At one time he owned more than 230 acres, but later he sold all but 108 acres, and finally reduced his holdings to seventy-five acres. He was a large man, active both mentally and physically, and had remarkable ability as a mechanic, which was, however, never developed by training. He engaged in different trades and seemed equally successful in all, though he probably did more work in blacksmithing and shoemaking than in any other lines. After removing to his new home he espoused the doctrines of the Democratic party, which he continued to hold during the rest of his life. He was an active member of the Evangelical Church at Millheim, founded in 1806, and was one of the first four members of the class connected with the society. He died April 14, 1844, and was buried in Heckman Cemetery beside his wife, who passed away in 1826. They had ten children, of whom our subject's father was the youngest; George and Elizabeth did not survive their childhood; John died in Snyder county; Elizabeth (2) married Philip. Swartz, and died in Snyder county; David, Jr., died in Sugar Valley in 1874; Catherine married George Heckman, and died in Gregg township, Centre county; Rebecca (Mrs. Henry Jacoby) died in Clinton county; Mary married (first) John Kern, and (second) Michael Gephart, and died in Millheim; and Lydia (Mrs. Jacob Henney) died at Cedarville, Illinois. George Mark, the father of our subject, was born at the homestead August 17, 1810, and passed through the usual experience of the sons of pioneer farmers with limited means, his early education being confined to the subscription schools of that day. He was fond of sports, especially fishing, and was a robust man, his health being excellent until a few years prior to his death, which occurred December 17, 1880, at the homestead where his entire life was spent. Among other improvements which he made upon the estate was a commodius barn, built in 1847. A man of domestic tastes, the old home was always dear to him and being the youngest son he remained in charge of it during his father's declining years, and after the latter's death he settled the claims of the other heirs in order to retain it. He was an earnest and thoughtful student of the Bible, and while not a member of any Church he helped liberally in religious work and contributed to the building of the churches in his neighborhood. His convictions were formed through his own investigations, but while he held them firmly he never argued, not caring either to convert or condemn any one who differed from him in the belief. On February 17, 1838, Mr. Mark was married in Gregg township, Centre county, to, Miss 386 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Margaret Rager, a daughter of Simon Rager. She was born in Dauphin county, Penn., September 11, 1806, and came to Centre county with a brother. In stature she was small, but she possessed much artistic taste and sound judgment, and having been in business as a milliner and dressmaker at Philadelphia and Harrisburg, previous to her removal to this section, she continued those occupations at Aaronsburg until her marriage. She died October 21, 1851, leaving one son, our subject, and her remains now rest in Heckman Cemetery. She was a devout and consistent member of the Evangelical Church. The father was married a second time, this wife being Miss Mary Keen; they had no children. She survived her husband about two years, her death taking place at Millheim in August, 1882. The subject of our sketch was born May 13, 1840, and has always had his home at the old farm, to which as the sole heir he succeeded at his father's death. During boyhood he attended the neighboring schools regularly in winter, his first teacher being Dr. William Stemm. Study was a pleasure to him, mathematics being especially easy, and his progress was rapid in all lines. He never cared to teach, and remained at home, gradually assuming the management of the place. On January 15, 1863, he was married in Aaronsburg to Miss Amanda Heckman, who was born in Gregg township, Centre county, April 20, 1842. Her father, Frederick Heckman, was a son of Peter Heckman, who settled in that township in 1797, and her mother was Elizabeth Miller, the daughter of Christopher Miller, who served in the Revolutionary army for seven years. Mrs. Mark was the eleventh child and youngest daughter in a family of thirteen children, and as a young girl used to assist her parents in the outdoor work of their farm, as was then customary. She was given good educational advantages for that time and locality, as she attended the schools of Penn Hall after completing the course offered in the schools of the Heckman district. Ten children blessed this union: (1) George F. W. and (2) Margaret E. (twins), born September 21, 1863, the former being now the principal of the public schools at North East, Penn. He married, and has one child - F. Wood- ward. Margaret E. married William Fiedler, and resides in Gregg township, Centre county. (3) A son born March 14, 1865, died in infancy, unnamed. (4) Ida M., born April 6, 1866, married Harry W. Weaver, of Gregg township. (5) William H., born January 4, 1871, married Miss Vianna Styers, in February, 1895, and resides in Coburn, Penn. (6) Sarah E., born May 4, 1872, died May 28, 1880. (7) Harvey H., born January 10, 1874, is now a farmer at the homestead. (8) Andrew F., born April 26, 1880, (9) Albert C., April 1, 1882, and (10) Loeda, November 26, 1888, are at home. Mr. Mark and his wife are prominent members of the United Evangelical Church, and he has held every office in the society. At present he is class leader and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. As a citizen he stands high in the esteem of the community. He is a man of progressive ideas, his farm, which contains 145 acres of good land, showing excellent management. All of the buildings, except the barn, were built by him. In business transactions he is honest and upright, and his comfortable fortune is not tainted by the memory of any unscrupulous act. He has always been fond of reading, the information thus gained covering a wide range, and including the varied issues of the day.