He also worked seasonally as a carpenter in New York City and later in Springville Township, Pennsylvania, where he met his wife Sarah Minerva Blakslee.

In the winter months, he went to Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River and used his skill in carpentry to build and repair canal boats.

[2] George Washington Woodward at the 1868 Democratic National Convention entered Packer's name as a candidate for President as a Favorite son despite himself not being present or actively campaigning.

being used as the headline for many New York journalists, who started to see Packer as an unoffensive moderate candidate that could increase the Democratic party's electability.

Packer endeavored to found a university in the Lehigh Valley, an industrial region located in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1866, the year following the end of the American Civil War, the school, named Lehigh University, was chartered and began instruction.

After the initial gift of one half million dollars, Packer continued to support the university and took an active role in its management.

Lehigh University continues to honor him with a large portrait by Charles A. Boutelle and an annual celebration of Founder's Day.

[12] Lehigh Valley Railroad named a passenger train after him, the Asa Packer which ran to and from New York City to Pittston, Pennsylvania until 1959.