PACKER, DAVID – Biographies – History of Homeopathy

ACKER, DAVID, M. D., of Chelsea, Mass., was born in Newark, Vt., February 20th, 1808. His father,
Eleazar Packer, was one of the pioneers of northern Vermont. His mother, Abigail Potter Packer, came from an old New England family, and was a woman of
great energy and firmness. Dr. Packer received his early education in the common schools, and afterwards at the Academy at Concord, Vt. In 1833, he was
married to Miss Angeline Woodruff, of Burke, Vt. Five children were born to him, three of whom died in childhood ; two daughters, both married, are
now living. In 1841, he joined the Vermont Methodist Conference. In 1842, in addition to the cares of his pastorate, he undertook the study of medicine,
first with Dr. Asa George, of Calais, and afterward with Dr. George Hinman, of Derby. In 1848, his attention was called to homœopathy, and after a
careful investigation of the Hahnemannian law, he embraced that doctrine, studying with Dr. Darling, of Lyndon. In 1850, after nine years’ study in both
schools, he began his medical labors as a homœopathist in Derby, Vt. For fifteen years he continued his double duties, as a physician and a clergyman.
Under the stress of these combined labors his health, in 1865, gave way, and a pulmonary difficulty forced him to relinquish public speaking. He then
devoted himself entirely to medicine. In the same year (1865) he attended the Homœopathic Medical College at Philadelphia, graduating the following
year among the first of his class. He immediately located in Lowell, Mass., where he remained in practice for three years. In 1869, his health again
failed, forcing him to sell his practice and leave Lowell. He then removed to Chelsea, where he now resides. His reputation still followed him, however,
and he was unable to escape practice. Overwork resulted, in February, 1873, in an apoplectic attack, from which, in April, he had not entirely
recovered. There are strong hopes that his life may be spared for another extended term of usefulness.

Source : Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons By
Egbert Cleave