Albert Earle Packer ~ 1883-1919

PACKER, CHAPMAN, BRADLEY, BUTTS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 1/31/2002 at 21:14:35

Albert Earle Packer, son of W.A. and Emma Chapman Packer, was born at Bonaparte, Iowa, May 21, 1883, and died at Silver Peak, Nevada, April 20, 1919, at the age of 35 years, 10 months and 29 days.

He grew to young manhood here, and was graduated from the high school in 1900, being the only young man in a class of ten graduates. Being an ambitious young man he went to Ames to qualify himself as an engineer, specializing in the mining department. He filled in an honorable and very satisfactory manner many positions of trust in Mexico, in Alaska, and in the western part of the United States.

On April1, 1918, he was united in marriage with Miss Dora Bradley of Oakland, California, who was unable to attend the funeral services because of a severe illness of pneumonia.

Those left to mourn their loss are the wife, Mrs. A.E. Packer of Silver Peak, Nevada; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Packer of Bonaparte; two sisters, Miss Ethel Packer of Bonaparte, and Mrs. E.B. Butts of El Cajon, California; and many other relatives and a host of friends.

He exemplified in his life the fine virtues which make manhood a power and an influence for good, living a life radiating with friendship and sincerity, thus winning to himself a wide circle of friends who will greatly miss his smile and cheer.

The remains were accompanied to Bonaparte by his friend, George Moore, who was employed at the same mine. Mr. Moore states that Mr. Packer was highly esteemed by his employers and that he was considered one of the best mining engineers in the west.

Since going west to his work as engineer he has been at the old home here but once, being called here about four years ago because of the serious illness of hi father. He and his wife had intended visiting in Bonaparte this summer. Both were taken ill of pneumonia about the same time, the wife being considered in a more dangerous condition than he.

Silver Peak is forty miles from the railway, this part of the journey being made by automobile stage. Mr. Moore left Silver Peak with the body of his friend on Monday, arriving here on Friday evening.

Funeral services were held on the lawn at the old home on Saturday afternoon, Rev. D. Mason officiating. Interment in the Bonaparte cemetery.

Source: Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings