President Robert Laban Abernethy (1822-1894)
Founder of Owl Hollow School in Burke County, N.C. (a.k.a. Happy Home Academy), later named Rutherford Academy, Rutherford Seminary, and, finally, Rutherford College.
His tenure spanned 1853-1894
Reverend R.L. Abernethy, a preacher, a teacher, and a Lincoln County native residing in Lenoir, North Carolina, was asked to take over the school. The school expanded in 1853 and was renamed Rutherford Academy due to the financial help provided by John T. Rutherford, one of the richest men in Burke County. In 1857 the school had forty students. When the Union divided, military tactics and philosophy were taught, but the school was forced to close at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1868, R.L. Abernethy returned to the school and reopened it as Rutherford Seminary, a four-year college, and the small community around the school incorporated as Excelsior. Three years later the town was renamed Rutherford College. In 1888 Rutherford Seminary had ten professors and 200 students. In 1894 R.L. Abernethy died due to a fall from a horse.
Founder of Owl Hollow School in Burke County, N.C. (a.k.a. Happy Home Academy), later named Rutherford Academy, Rutherford Seminary, and, finally, Rutherford College.
His tenure spanned 1853-1894
Reverend R.L. Abernethy, a preacher, a teacher, and a Lincoln County native residing in Lenoir, North Carolina, was asked to take over the school. The school expanded in 1853 and was renamed Rutherford Academy due to the financial help provided by John T. Rutherford, one of the richest men in Burke County. In 1857 the school had forty students. When the Union divided, military tactics and philosophy were taught, but the school was forced to close at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1868, R.L. Abernethy returned to the school and reopened it as Rutherford Seminary, a four-year college, and the small community around the school incorporated as Excelsior. Three years later the town was renamed Rutherford College. In 1888 Rutherford Seminary had ten professors and 200 students. In 1894 R.L. Abernethy died due to a fall from a horse.
President Robert Laban Abernethy (1822-1894)
Founder of Owl Hollow School in Burke County, N.C. (a.k.a. Happy Home Academy), later named Rutherford Academy, Rutherford Seminary, and, finally, Rutherford College.
His tenure spanned 1853-1894
Reverend R.L. Abernethy, a preacher, a teacher, and a Lincoln County native residing in Lenoir, North Carolina, was asked to take over the school. The school expanded in 1853 and was renamed Rutherford Academy due to the financial help provided by John T. Rutherford, one of the richest men in Burke County. In 1857 the school had forty students. When the Union divided, military tactics and philosophy were taught, but the school was forced to close at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1868, R.L. Abernethy returned to the school and reopened it as Rutherford Seminary, a four-year college, and the small community around the school incorporated as Excelsior. Three years later the town was renamed Rutherford College. In 1888 Rutherford Seminary had ten professors and 200 students. In 1894 R.L. Abernethy died due to a fall from a horse.
Founder of Owl Hollow School in Burke County, N.C. (a.k.a. Happy Home Academy), later named Rutherford Academy, Rutherford Seminary, and, finally, Rutherford College.
His tenure spanned 1853-1894
Reverend R.L. Abernethy, a preacher, a teacher, and a Lincoln County native residing in Lenoir, North Carolina, was asked to take over the school. The school expanded in 1853 and was renamed Rutherford Academy due to the financial help provided by John T. Rutherford, one of the richest men in Burke County. In 1857 the school had forty students. When the Union divided, military tactics and philosophy were taught, but the school was forced to close at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1868, R.L. Abernethy returned to the school and reopened it as Rutherford Seminary, a four-year college, and the small community around the school incorporated as Excelsior. Three years later the town was renamed Rutherford College. In 1888 Rutherford Seminary had ten professors and 200 students. In 1894 R.L. Abernethy died due to a fall from a horse.
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