The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-12
HON. ASA PACKER.

HON. .AS.A PACh'ER.
His Early Life and Pioneer Experiences.
Asa Packer was born in GrOton township New
London county, Connecticut i'm the early part OF the
year 1906 His father is said to have been man OF
strong sense, Industrious economical, and indepen-
dent in character yet never very successful In bus
ness although his grandfather had been the most
prosperous man in his native town, carrying on the
business of farming, tanning, and manufacturing Of
shoes at one and the same tirse The limited means
of his parents, together with the lack OF opp0rtun-
ties in the neighborhood, prevented him from ac-
quiring much Of an education but he made the best
OF his time when the district school was in session
during the winter. AS soon as he was old and stout
enough to work, he obtained situation in tannery
at North Stonington-what pity the Democrats did
not take him up, instead OF Seymour, that tanner
might have been pitted against tanner in the last
Presidential race where he remained until the
death of the proprietor who had rep)sed the utmost
confidence in his business capacity aud integrity. A
year was then passed upon the Iarm OF John
Brown, otherwise unknown to fame. Mr. Brown
was an old-fashioned anti-Federalist politician and
from Judge PaTkers early associations with MIN his
enthusiastic biographers have traced his present
Democratic afiliatons! A year at home then inter-
vened during which he attended school; and at the
end OF it, being at that time scarcely seventeen
years of age and an orphan, he was ready to start
out into the world.
In 1922 he arrived in Susquehanna county, Penn
sylvana with his entire outfit contained in the
knapsack which ne carried on his back. He appren-
ticed himself to carpenter, ami fixed his resi-
dence at Springville. AS soon as he had completed
his apprenticeship and become possessed OF some
means of his own he purchased small lot OF wild
land on the upper waters OF the SusIuehanna, and
settled down upon il.
His Removal TO the Lehigh Valley.
When he abandoned his farm. in 1888, the country
round about had assumed somewhat different
aspect. In the wilderness he had built up comfort
tho IIn into ha hah
frequently journeyed q hundred miles on foot,
through the rugged country which stretches between
the Susquehanna and the Lehigh, to the nearest
point where his labor would command a ready cash
reward. The evidences of eNhlustless wealth
which were just being developed in the Lehigh
Valley impressed him with the belief that change
OF residence to this locality would aiOrd wider and
more profitable field for his labor Accordingly, at
the age of twenty-seven, he again transferred his
home, and settled permanently in the Lehgh Valley,
with capital of but few hundred dollars to start
with During the summers of 1888 and 1894 he
acted as master of his own boat, while engaged in
transporting coal from Mauch Chunk to PnIade-
phia. He displayed so much energy at the very out
set that he attracted the notice of the managers
of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany, and was enabled to associate him
self with them very advantageous
terms His success and prospects were so encourage
ing that his brother, r. w. Packer, was persuaded
TO leave Connecticut; and, aided materially by an
merchandise business in Mauch Chunk, in 1885.
Starting with a cash capital Of only $1,000, their bust
ness was rapidly extended, until 1t embraced not
only the ordinary mercantile trans lctiOns but the
building of dams and locks for the Lehgh Coal and
Navigation Company, the working Of coal mines
LEASED from this company and finally the working of
Mr. Packers own mines near Hazlcton. They Were
also engaged in the shipping of coal to Philadelphia
and New York, on the schuylkll well the
Lehigh
His Great Railway Enterprise.
About the year 1850 Mr. Packer catered seriously
upon the task OF accomplishing the greatest business
achievement OF his career, the building of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad. Although the Lehgh Coal and
Navigation Company had extended their operations
until they had assumed gigantic SCALE he had
strven in vain to impress the managers with the ne
cessy of increasing their facilities for reaching the
market by the construction of railroad, In 1916
the Delaware, Lehigh, ScRuylkill aul Susquehanna
Railroad Company, projected 10y Edward r. Biddle,
had obtained charter its proposed route embracing
that section through which Mr.. Packer was so
anxious to see railway constructed. No surveys
were made until the fall of 1885, and when in April,
1861, but seventeen days OF the limit fixed for the
commencement Of the work were remaining not a
shovel had entered the ground. Mr.. Packer then
became one Of the managers, ana on the same
day the board, TO avoid tha annulling of
the charter, authorized the grading a
mile OF the route near Allentown In October fol-
lowing, Mr. Packer became Owhcr Of a controlling
portion OF the STOCK, ana subsequently submitted q
proposition 10 build the road rOa Mauch Chunk to
Easton, distance Oi fOrtysiX miles, for consdera-
ton, TO he paid in the stock and honds of the COM
pany, the name Of which was now changed TO the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company 10 suit its extent
and true field OF work. Mr. Packers proposition
was accepted and he commenced work in Novem-
her, 1852. Under his personal supervision it was
pushed with great vigor, and although he received
only stock aud bonds in payment, and was subjected
20 pressing financial emb9rrassments in conse
auenoe yet his business reputation and the advance,
OF connecting roads whose interests would be great,
| forwarded by It's completion, enabled him Il
finish and deliver 20 the company the entire line II
| September 1865. The success which attended tn
company from the outset laid the foundations o
MIR Packers princely fortune, which cannot he NOR
definitely stated than as something between flftee
| and twenty-five millions Of dollars. In 1868 he mad
| a handsome return for his wealth, by founding u
South Bethlehem the Lehigh University, for the ef
tablishment of which he donated magnificent parl
sixty acres in extent, and round half million Q
dollars in money. With the scope, prospects, an
prosperity Of this nstitutiop our readers nave quit
recently been made familiar aud we need not er
large upon them here
His Political Career.
While engaged in his extensive and absorbin
business projects, Mr. Packer has devoted much {
hs time ana attention TO political afIars, For sewers