Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-10-05

noon lasti sept ~, 1871. lie was
the second son Of James and Charity
Packer and was born in Howard twp..
Centre co, Pa, on the ID day Of April,
1907 His father was a native of
Chester CO., Pa, and son of James
Packer and Rose Mehdenhall. Chark
ty Bye, the mother Of the Governor
was born in Bucks CO., Pa. She was
a daughter of lIezolnah BYE and Sarah
Petit The Governors ancestors on
both sides were Quakers
When VIM. f. Packer was only
seven years old his father died leay.
ing widow and five small cbildren
the eldest under ten years of ageZ
Bereft Of paternal care, the sons, Hez.
ekiah b., now Judge Packer of vii.
Transport; William f., the subject Of
this sketch; and John p, merchant
ofFlemington, Clinton CO., Pa, as they
arrived at the task of assisting their
mother in maintaining the family, and
cheerinlly sustained whatever hard.
ships their situation imposed. receiv-
ing at the same time such education
as the limited facilities Of the country
schools Of that time afforded.
In January, 1920, William. then in
his thirteenth year, entered the office
OF Saml J. Packer, kinsman of his,
who published newpaper at Sunbury
entitled the Public Inquirer, engaging
himself as an apprentice. The paper
was discontinued in the fall of that
year, and be returned TO Centre CO.,
aud completed his apprenticeship in
the Office of the BeAefonte Patriot,
then under the control of Henry Pet
lrikin, who subsequently became a dis.
tinguished member Of the State Leg
islaturc and was Deputy Secretary OF
the Commonwealth under Governor
Skunk. AT the meeting of the Legis.
lature in December, 1925, he came to
Harrisburg aud worked as Journey.
man printer in the Office of the Penn
sglcdnia Infetiigeacer, of which Bon.
Simon Cameron was at that time one
Of the proprietors Here he remained
till 1927, when he went to Williams
port and entered his name as a stu.
dent at law IN the Office of Joseph A,
Anthony. He never applied for ad.
mission TO the bar, yet the knowledge
thus acquired OF the rudiments of the
common law was of great value to him
IN the public stations he subsequently,
filed.
In the fall Of 1927 be purchased an
interest in the LycomiHg Gazette, and
in 1929 he became its sole proprietor.
On the oath of December in this year
he was married to Mary w. Wander.
belt, daughter of Peter Vanderbilt,
Esq, highly respected citizen of
Williamsport, by whom he has since
had ten children, six of whom are liv-
ing. His connection with the Gazette
continued till 1886, when he left it in
a fourishing condition and with wide
influence, and united himself with
Benjamin Parke and o. Barrett in es.
tablishing The Keystone at Harris.
burg, paper which commanded the
confidence and support of the Demo-
cratic party Of the State. The enter
prise was successful, and the firm of
Packer, Barrett & Parke continued
till 1871, when Mr.. Packer retired
from it.
In February, 1889, Mr.. Packer, who
had contributed largely to the election
of David r. Porter as Governor the
previons year, was appointed by him
one of the three Canal Commissioners
of the State. At the commencement
of Gov. Porter's second term, in 1912,
he was appointed Auditor General,
and discharged the duties Of that Of
fee till 1915. In 1916 he was duly
elected a member of the House of
Representatives from the district com.
posed of the counties of Lycoming
Clinton and Potter, but by mistake
in carrying out the returns of Porter
township, Clinton county, his oppon-
ent was returned as elected. and ac.
tually served the whole session before
the error was discovered. The sue
ceeding year. being again a candidate,
he was elected by majority of over
fifteen hundred
Although this was tho first appear.
ance rs a member of the legislative
: body, his reputation was such that he
was chosen to preside over the House
= as its Speaker. lie was again elected
in lS4S by an increased majority, al.
though the political tide ran heavily
against his party that year There
was tic in the House, and there
might have been protractod struggle
for the Speakership if Mr. Packer had
not been a member But in fines:
for the position he lowered 30 far above
all the rest that the chair was at once
! given to him. How worthy he was
of this distinction single fact viii
show. No decision of his ever wa.
reversed by the House. Only once
was an appeal from bis decision taken
: and in that instance, after he haC
!, stated his reasons, the member whC
! took the appeal voted to sustain tht
decision Of the chair as did tho Who'll,
House.
In lS49 Mr. Packer was elected L
the State Senate from the district com
posed Of Lycoming, Clinton, Centr,
and Sullivan counties. His opponen
: In this contest was Hon Andrew G
: Curtin, who in 1860 succeeded him q
. Governor. In this body he at ono,
+" took rank as a leading member an,
= left his impress upon the Legislature
y of the State
When the Democratic State Con
y vention met at Harrisburg in March
u 1851, to nominate candidate for Gov
u ernor, William f. Packers namo wa
! presented to it, and he received th
y highest vote on the first and ever
" subsequent ballot, until he finally re
! ceivcd majority Of all the voters an
y was declared unanimously nominated
y There were two other candidates i
the feld, Hon. David Wilmot an
~ Hon. Isaac Hazlchurst Mr.. Packe
was elected, beating Mr. Wilmot ~
T4T and having majority of 1857