The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-24
LEHtGnTON, PAa
SATURDAY. MAY "a, 1879.
DEATH OF luoN. ASA PACKER.

SATURDAY, MAY "a, 1879.
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DEATH OF HON. ASA PACKER.
Hon Asa Packer, president Of the Le-
high Valley Railroad Company, the closing
hours Of whose life were watched with much
sulicitude ior the past three weeks by the
business pubicas well as by personal friends
and associates. died ut 1920 on Saturday
evening. the 18th instant, at his city resi-
dence, 722 Spruce street. Philadelphia
man who has occupied So prominent posi-
ton in life and acquired so large an estate
and 50 commanding an influence in the
production Of the great staples Of the COM
monwealth, coal and iron, cannot be re-
moved permanently from the walks in which |
he has taken most active part for nearly |
an entire lifetime without causing some lit |
tlc halt for inquiry by the public and those
holding large pecunary interests in common
with him. In this connection, says the
Philadelphia Ledger it may not be improper
10 say, as we do, upon the best authority,
that some years ago, while still in robust
health Judge Packer made the most care
ful provision for the disposition aud admin
istrntion Of his estate. OF course until the
probate Of his will it will be impossible to
obtain the details for publication, but lie
fully explained from time to time to those
Immediately associated with him in the
management of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company that it was his purpose and in.
tention to make all necessary provisions for
the protection Of the interests Of the stock
holders and bondholders of the company.
II is understood that he has made arrange
ments to perpetuate the unity Of ownership,
and that he has given foil power and au-
thorty to his executors and trustees to re-
.tain and continue his investments in the
stool, and securities of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company and the other companies
connected with it, and to manage them in
such way as will best promote the inter-
ests Of the corporation. The holders Of the
stock and loans Of the company need feel,
therefore, no apprehension as to any change
in the policy Of the company. or that any
part of the holding Of the estate will be
thrown upon the market, as his executors
are authorized to renew loans, to subscribe
and pay for new issues Of stock, and gcncr-
ally to continue all his business arrange
ments in the same manner as he himself
could do if living. Any apprehension,
therefore, that may have been entertained OF
any undue amount Of Judge Packers large
holdings orstocks or bonds in this company
coming upon the market, thereby tending
to deprcss prices, may be dismissed. Ample
provision has been made by himself to in
sure directly the reverse. The Judges whole
interest in the Lchigh Valley Railroad and
its connections will remain intact. In thi:
large and important company, representing
in capital stock and loans about Sj2 800, 900
Judge Packer was about one-third owner
and that amonnt, in the opinion of thos,
best able to estimate inteligently, is the ne
fortune of which he died possessed. Hi
death was peculiar in this: he seemed at II,
time during his last illness to suffer pain
not a movement nor a murmur indica tee
the presence of pain of any kind. In tn,
language of one who stood at his bedside a
the last moment, lie did not die, h.
simply ceased to live"
Asa Packer was born in Groton, New Lon
don county, Connecticut, December 30, sos
His grandfather, on the fathers side, wa
Elisha Packer, leading citizen of the town
farmer, tanner and shoe manufacturer. Iii
father was Elisha Packer, Jr., who was note
for his good sense and industry, but did no
become successful business man. The so,
Asa began his working life at a very earl
age in the tannery of Elias Smith, of Mort
Stonngton, and here, young as he was, h
soon became the confidential friend and ad
wiser of his employer. This occupation wa
ended by the death of Mr. Smith. wine
young Packer went to farming, but whe
he was nearly eighteen years of age he LEI
the farm to seek his fortune in nnrther
Pennsylvania, arriving on foot at Brookly
Susquehanna county, ON the eighteenth IN
niversary of his birthday his entire posse.
sions being few dollars in his pocket an
the contents of knapsack he carried on h
shoulder. AT Brooklyn he bound himse
apprentice To acarpenter, and worked indus
trously at this trade for several years aitc
reaching manhood. His temperate habit
and frugal manner enabled him 20 say
enough of his small earnings to purchase
small piece OF land on the upper Susauehar
ma. Here, in one sense, he laid the found,
ton Of his very large fortune. The pu
chase of this piece of land incidental
brought out the qualities of perseverance
and persistence, which were among his prCu
inent characteristic traits. The owner froi
whom he purchased the land had sol
it several times before it was bought /
young Packers but on each Of these occf
sions the buyer had been unable or uuwi
ling TO hold the land, and had thrown
back upon the hands OF the seller. Your
Packer, however was determined that ii
land should not 90 back after he bought
and so he worked very diligently and live
very spariugly until he had saved enoup
money to cover the purchase. lie held th
little tract OF land to the day Of his deal
There he experienced some of the hardship
OF a pioneers life, clearing the land vii
his own hands aud building the log-hon
in which he dwelt for ten wears, and
which he took his young wife, adlughter
Zophar Bdkeslee, another Of the uiunpers
northern Pennsylvania. In the spring
1888 he lett the Susquehanua farm an
hi'fN'A " s'AaANh NlAANf NAGIt ne sNtklt
permanently.
Al Mauch Chunk and in that neighbo
hood he worked for awhile at his trade
carpenter aud joiner, but soon engaged
boating coal from Mauch Chunk 10 Phil
deiphla, acting as master of a hired Go.
and dom all the work he could with i
own hands. Mrs. Packer sometimes we
with her husband on these trips, and
this day is kept in the Packer mansion Il
ancient grldirou and stove with which 81
did the cooking ON the boat. At tins tim
outside of his land purchase, the boat hor.
and boat furniture constituted Young Packer
entire stock in trade.
Between this date, S33 and $50. he e
tered into partnership with his broth,
under the firm named of A. * r. W. Pack,
and they carried on a general mcrchundi
business in Mauch Chunk, as well as boa
ing coal from the mines. The firm so,
a ,fV... ~. 4