Packer, Robert A. (Robert Asa), 1842-1883

Robert Asa Packer; b. 19 Nov 1842, Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, Pennsylvania; d. 20 Feb 1883, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida; Business Magnate. He was from a wealthy family in Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe) PA. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. The family was involved in mining, canal building and later railroads. He was the son of Asa Packer. He was also nephew by marriage of Josef Marie Piollet. R.A. Packer was president of the Northern Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He was also an investor in Howard Elmer's Sayre Land Company and with Mr. Elmer was one of the key players in the promotion of the development of Sayre. Packer built a large Victorian mansion which was later occupied by the Robert Packer Hospital. Packer was a Democrat in politics and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania in 1876. He died of Bright's disease. After his death, the mansion was donated to the town by Packer's sister Mary Packer Cummings for use as a hospital for railroad workers and other town people. He was buried at Tioga Point Cemetery in Athens, Pennsylvania, but in 1884 was reinterred in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania.