The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-08

What Two Institutions Will Gain If Ills Last
Child Dies Childldess.

south Bethlehem Letter in Philadelphia Press
The only contingency by which the Lehigh
University can lose the six million to ten million
dollar endowment, and ST. Lukes Hospital the
one million to two.nillion dollar legacy from the
Packer estate is the birth of an heir The pos
sibility has been quietly talked about the past
week.
The whisper was that the late Asa Packers
only surviving child. now Mrs. Charles H. Cum
mings. of New York city, expects shortly to give
birth to an heir to the great Packer estates.
Such an event has been wholly unlocked for.
The trustees of the university, with a copy OF
Judge Packers will locked up in their vaults.
have possessed their souls with patience and
looked forward to the day when their institution
should be as rich as any seat of learning in the
land, and free to all ambitious youths who
should succeed in passing the necessary prelim-
mary examination.
When Asa Packer died, on May IT, 1870 his
wife, his TWO sons, Robert A. and Harry e.
Packer, and his daughter. Mary Hannah Pack
er. were still living. First Mrs Packer died,
and then the boys followed in quick succession,
leaving Miss Packer TO inherit the entire fortune
over one-half of which is entailed.
Miss Packer was then on the shady side of
forty years of age, and it was net deemed likely
that she would ever marry, more especially as
her brother Harry had strenuousy opposed her
wedding Mr.. Cummings. a Lehigh Valley rail
road employe, who had been paying her some
attention Even after her marriage tile residu-
airy legatees not disturbed. The contin
gency of an heir was remote as to receive lit
tie consideration. and that the money would u,
timately come to the university and the hospital
was thought to be next to certain
The will of the late Judge Packer was very
voluminous document The deceased had come
to Pennsylvania from Connecticut on foot in
1928. and he had found here fortune. 1t was
no wonder. therefore. that having ACQUIRED this
wealth by hard labor, energy and perseverance.
ne should be careful in the disposition of it, He
first named five trustees-his two sons, Elisha
2. Wilson and Robert H. Sayre, of Bethlehem,
and the president of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company, which road he built
and of which he was the largest stock
holder. Every bit of his property was
left to them in trust, though he stipulated that
they should give to his wife whatever amount
she should select, to be hers absolutely. His
Mauch Chunk mansion was left for the use of
his children, but at their death and the death of
their heirs it was to 60 back to the trustees To
the Philadelphia Divinity School he left $33. 800.
and TO the st. Marks Protestant Episcopal
Church Mauch Chunk, a like amount. To the
Lehigh University he bequeathed 81, 500 0O0 to
the Lucy Packer Linderman Library, n memoir
lal erected on the university grounds to his de-
ceased daughter, $500 000 and to the ST.
Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, Penn. $500, 600.
To each of his three children he left income
of $50, 900 annually and provision that the resi-
due of his estate after paying number of pri
vate requests, be divided equally between them.
Each was permitted to dispose of one-half his or
uer SHARE uy WILL DuL the OlneT nalI was 10 Uo
retained at the death of the last survivor by the
trustees, who should divide the estate then in
their hands into three equal parts, giving one
third to the children of Judge Packers daugh-
ter, the late Mrs. Linderman. one to his nephews
and nieces, and the other to the Lehigh Univers-
ity and ST. Luke's Hospital Bethlehem, in the
proportion of his previous requests to those in
situations. 1t is estimated that this one-third,
had Mary Packer Cummings died childless.
would have amounted to SIS. 600, 900 or So 600 00O
Judge Packers Robert was twice married
but never had any children. Harry Packer also,
died childless. and if his sister had followed his
advice she would never have married, and the
universty's rich endowment would have been q
certainty. Mr.. Cummings however. who was
at one time a conductor the Lehish Valley
railroad, and who worked his way up from that
post TO the position no now occupies of general
eastern passenger agent, with an Office in New
York, met with favor in Miss Packers eyes. and
about eighteen months ago she became his wife.
An effort was made to Dust Mr.. Cummings from
his place some months before his engagement 10
Miss Packer was announced but she asserted
her authority and, as tho controlling power in
the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, her word
was law. Mrs Cummings is now erecting hand
some chapel in the university grounds as me-
mortal to the deceased members of her family