The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-22
From Haney's IN. y Journal J
A a II a c X f r..
BY JOHN ELDERKIN.

BY JOHN ELDERKIN.
Asa Packer was born IN the township of
Groton, New London county. Connecticut, in
the beginning of the year 1906. His grand
father, Elisha Packer, was the most promi-
nent and successful business man Of his native
town. He was farmer, tanner, and shoe
manufacturer, diligent in business, and not
neglectful of those higher responsibilities
which he inherited with his puritan blood.
He was a staunch member Of the Baptist
denomination, and worshipped in the church
erected on the site Of the old Pequot Fort,
still in existence, and known as the Fort
Hill Church. His Father, Elisha Packer, ST.,
was a man Of strong sense, Industrious, eco
nomical, and of independent character, but
never very successful in business. A young
er brother of his father, Daniel Packer, how
ever, had watchful eye 10 the interests Of
his nephew, and as soon as Asa was Of an
age to do something for himself, this Daniel
Packer got him situation IL the tannery of
Mr. Elias Smith, of North Stonington. Al
though Asa Packer had enjoyed very limited
opportunities of education, these had enabled
him to master the rudiments Of knowledge
and he made every. effort to improve his
mind and Increase his store Of information.
the first indications of manly character, he
won the confidence, and ultimately the aifec
tion of his employer. Despite his youth. he
came to be regarded by the tanner as a con-
idential friend and adviser, and if death had
not interposed and broken the connection,
Asa Packer would probably have become a
partner in the establishment. and ended his
life as a tanner. During Mr.. Smiths last
illness, Asa was his trusted manager, and
after the hours of business, his sympathizing
friend and companion.
After the death of Mr.. Smith, Asa en-
gagged himself to a farmer by the name of
John Brown. This farmer was a man of
strong character, and still stronger convic
tions. He was hard handed and hard-h head
ed. able either to hoe his own row in the
corn field, or hold his own ground in debate.
He was a Democrat of the school of Thomas
Jefferson, and always ready to maintain his
opinions by reasonable argument, and never
so happy as when pitted against worthy
antagonist. From this farmer Asa Packer
got the bias which has ever inclined his
heart and his Judgment to the party which
is now known as the Democratic.
. .
Like all young men of New England,
when Asa reached seventeen years of age. be
felt that it was time for him to make seri-
Gus effort to establish himself in the world.
Al this time Pennsylvania was attracting
great numbers of Eastern men. The tide
had not yet set for the more distant West
ern portions of our national domain. Taken
up by the current, IN the year 1923, when
but just seventeen, with knapsack which
contained his whole wardrobe, and a few
dollars in his purse, Asa Packer set out on
foot for Susquehauna county. Pennsylvania.
Arrived at the town of Brooklyn, he appren-
tced himself TO the trade of carpenter and
joiner. He rightly judged that man in
that frontier country was measured by his
power to WELD the axe, and that the skilled
mechanic WAS the man for whose services
there would be the steadiest and most profit
able employment. This selection of trade
which involved manly work. showed the
temper which the young man brought to the
task of making his way IN new field and
among new friends.
After serving his time as an apprentice.
and becoming the master of his business, he
continued to work at 1t assduously for sew
eral years, when he invested his savings in
a lot Of wild land on the upper waters of the
Susquehanna, and entered upon the hard but
free and adventurous life of the pioneer. He
made a clearing, and reared with his own
hands the cabin to which he soon after
brought bride The lady whom he select,
| Cd to be the mistress of his home was a
daughter of Gopher Blakslee, name that
will be recognized even now by many in
! Northern Pennsylvania. She proved a
| worthy wife to Asa Packer in his early
struggles. While he was about his work in
! the fields, or striking sturdy blows IN the
| forest which hemmed In his homestead on
every side, Mrs. Packer was equally hard al
- e
| household. Her nimole fingers, with the aid
Of the spinning wheel, made all the garments
worn by the family during the first ten years
| of their married life. There was no dispute
! about the authority or sphere of either f; each
| found appropriate work close at hand. and
| was content with doing it, and with recpro-
| eating sympathy aud counsel.
| Here Asa Packer lived eleven years. The
| circumstance which led to change in his
! field of labor, was occasioned by necessity
common to the more enterprising pioneer
| settiers-that of seeking employment in the
! thick appropriated districts during portion
of the year, iu order to obtain ready money
for taxes and articles essential to home com
fort and enjoyment. The nearest point
where labor could then command cash in
hand was a hundred miles away in the LIE.
high valley. The journey had to be made
on loot, oy paths through rough mountain
passes and the forests which stretched be-
tween the upper waters of the Susquehanna
and the Lehigh.
In the valley of the Lehigh, Josiah White
and Erskine Hazard, representatives of as
sociated capital of Philadelphia, had project
ed and executed improvements which made
the wonderful riches of this section-its coal
iron, timber. lime, cement. and slate-par-
TALLY available. Hither came Asa Packer, a
poor artisan. to labor with his hands, to mix
with crowd of men similarly employed and
undistinguished. What has raised Asa
Packer so far above the throng of which he
then was but a unit =?
Observing the character of the country
the almost immeasurable extent of the Goa
deposits, and the diversity of the rich pro
ductious of the Lehigh valley, he foresaw the