Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Samuel Jones PACKER
Samuel J. Packer, seventh child of Amos and Elizabeth, (Jones) Packer, was born March 23, 1799, in Howard township, Centre Co., Pa. He received a good education for the day, attending a local school of the Society of Friends, under the superintendence of his father, and while still a boy commenced to learn the trade of printer, serving his apprenticeship at Bellefonte, Pa. He was subsequently engaged in
journalistic work at Harrisburg, this State, and while there reported the proceedings of the Legislature. There he formed the acquaintance of Hon. Simon Cameron, and the friendship then began between these two strong characters lasted through life. Mr. Packer came to Sunbury in 1820 and established the paper called the Publick Inquirer, issued at that time principally to advocate the reelection of Governor Findlay. It was continued for several years. During his career in the publishing business Mr. Packer took up the study of law, under the tutorage of the famous Hugh Bellas, and by devoting all his spare time to gaining the necessary preparation for the legal profession obtained admission to the
bar of Northumberland county in 1823, being formally entered Aug. 23d of that year. From that time until his death he devoted himself to legal practice and to the duties of the various official positions to which he was chosen, and though he died at the comparatively early age of thirty-five years, on Oct. 20, 1834, he left a permanent. impression upon the legal and public history of his county and State. He lived at Sunbury.
By earnest and faithful attention to the law work intrusted to him, he soon earned a leading and unassailable position among the noteworthy legal practitioners of his time and locality, and he maintained that position by the most thorough and painstaking care of every trust reposed in him. He was popular as a public speaker, particularly at political gatherings, and possessed in a large measure the faculty of winning his audience to his view - a gift which made him a potent factor in the activities of the Whig organization, with which he allied himself. On Jan. 27, 1824, Mr. Packer was commissioned prothonotary, holding that office until 1829. From April 20th to November, 1829, he was deputy attorney general. In 1836 he was elected to the State Senate, for a term of four years, and while a member of that body was appointed chairman of a special committee on the Coal Field of Pennsylvania. The report he presented, the first made on the subject, was remarkable for completeness of detail and exhaustive treatment of all its phases, and was largely responsible for the rapid development of the mining industry of the State. In fact, his great activity throughout the period of his legislative service was directed to the encouragement of enterprises for the development of the material resources of Pennsylvania, the Danville & Pottsville railroad being the most important project of this kind in his district which received his aid and support. Its construction from Sunbury to the Shamokin coal
field was the direct result of a measure introduced by him into the Senate and passed through the exercise of his influence. In 1834 Mr. Packer was the Whig candidate for Congress from the district in which Northumberland county was included. As previously stated, he died Oct. 20th of that year, having achieved much in his short but active career.
He married Rachel Black, daughter of James and Catherine (Cochran) Black, and they were the parents of five children. viz.: John B., Eliza J., Jane B., Samuel J., Jr., and Mary C. (who married Rev. F. B.
Riddle).
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