Pueblo County, Colorado
Sperry S. Packard
Contributed by Maggie Stuart Zimmerman.
Sperry S. Packard, an able attorney of Pueblo and one whose professional
interests now divide his attention with his active work in behalf of the Red
Cross and other patiotic movements, was born in Ashkum, Iroquois county,
Illinois, February 26, 1880, a son of Sidney M. and Jennie (Hayden) Packard. The
father was a wheelwright and farmer, devoting his life to those pursuits up to
the time of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt
of the south to overthrow the Union and he joined the One Hundred and
Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry for active service at the front. He is still
living but his wife has passed away. They were the parents of three sons and a
daughter, and one of the sons, Dr. H. P. Packard, is now in Persia.
Sperry S. Packard, whose name introduces this review, is the third in order
of birth in the family and was a little lad of but seven years when the removal
was made to Colorado, so that he acquired his education in the public schools
and in the Centennial high school of Pueblo, from which he was graduated with
the class of 1898. He afterward attended Colorado College at Colorado Springs,
there completing his course in 1902. He also pursued a business course in a
commercial college and spent three years as a law student in the office of
McCorkle & Teller, J. H. Teller of this firm being afterward a member of the
Colorado supreme court bench. Mr. Packard was admitted to the bar in 1905,
ranking second in the class of twenty-three who at that time sought admission to
practice in the courts of Colorado. He opened an office in Pueblo, where he has
since practiced continuously and successfully, ranking today with the
representative members of the bar in his section of the state. He has made a
specialty of irrigation law for the past twelve years.
On the 24th of June, 1909, Mr. Packard was married to Miss Ella L. Graber,
of Colorado Springs, who is a graduate of the Colorado Springs high school and
of Colorado College. They have become parents of two children: David, five years
of age; and Ann Louise, two years of age.
Mr. Packard's religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Pilgrim
Congregational church. He votes with the republican party but has always avoided
office. However, he has represented the sheriff on legal matters in the county.
He belongs to the Chi Sigma Chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He also
has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of
Pythias, and in Masonry has attained the Knight Templar degree. He is fond of
outdoor life and of athletics. He has always been greatly interested in the
state and its development and has contributed much to projects of local
improvement. At the present time he is doing active work for his country as a
public speaker for the Red Cross and was chairman of the campaign committee of
the Red Cross, which raised one hundred thousand dollars in Pueblo on the first
drive. He has represented the attorney general in legal matters in Pueblo, and
is a member of the legal advisory board for the Pueblo county draft board. He
counts no effort or sacrifice on his part too great if it will promote the
interests of the nation or in any way advance war work. He has always been one
of the first to offer cooperation where aid has been called for. He belongs to
the State Bar Association and to the American Bar Association, and his position
in professional circles in Colorado is an enviable one.
Extracted from History of Colorado Illustrated Volume II 1918
to the Pueblo County Index Page.
Please e-mail comments and suggestions toKaren Mitchell.
| © Karen Mitchell |