by Bruce Whitaker
George Willis Pack was born in Fenner, Madison County, New York on June 6, 1831. He was the son of George W. Pack (1794–1875) of New Brunswick, Canada and Maria Lathrop (1810–1883). He married Francis Brewster Farman (1837–1917) in Detroit, Michigan.
Pack made his fortune in the timber and sawmill business in Huron County, Michigan, located at the top of what is called Michigan’s “thumb.” He owned 5,000 acres of hardwood timber in Huron County and 25,000 acres of pine. Even though the business was in Michigan, George and Francis lived in Cleveland, Ohio.
Francis developed respiratory problems in the early 1880s, and her doctor recommended the couple move to Asheville for her health. They moved to Asheville in 1884. They built a mansion on Merrimon Avenue, on the west side of the street where Harris-Teeter is now located. The house was called Many Oaks.
Pack fell in love with Asheville and quickly became involved with trying to improve it. He became the primary advocate of placing electric lights on what was then called the Public Square. He pushed to pave the streets, build sidewalks and improve the sewer system and encouraged the use of indoor plumbing. He donated a building for Asheville’s first kindergarten and paid the salary for one of the teachers. He assisted in the development of Mission Hospital and donated land for Aston Park and Montford Park. In 1900, he deeded property at the corner of Flint and Magnolia for a park.
The winter of 1898–1899 was one of coldest and most severe winters in Asheville, and Pack donated large sums of money to help the poor. During the Spanish–American War, when he learned that Asheville soldiers in North Carolina’s first regiment had run out of money and were having to do without essentials until the next government payday, he sent $500 to tide them over.
He was also a supporter of the city’s first library. He wrote the following to the Asheville Library Association: “I offer to purchase from its present owner the Palmetto Building, formerly the First National Bank Building, with the land appertaining there to and give it to the Asheville Library, with the understanding that the library shall be installed in the large room formerly occupied by the bank. And that the corporation shall be free from debt when it receives the conveyance of the property. The property to be conveyed and possession given on or before April 1, 1899.”
Pack did not live full-time in Asheville, He also had a house in Cleveland on Euclid Avenue, which was known as “Millionaires Row.” It was probably the most elegant street in America at that time. Cleveland’s reputation may be lessened now, but in the late 1800s and early 1900s it was one of the most booming and prosperous cities in the world. John D. Rockefeller made his fortune in Cleveland, not New York, and was Pack’s neighbor.
George Pack died on August 31, 1906 in Southampton, Suffolk County, New York at the age of 75. Francis B. Farman Pack died on November 21, 1917 at the age of 81. George and Francis are buried in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
George Willis and Francis Pack had four children.
1. Charles Lathrop Pack was born on May 7, 1857 and died on June 14, 1937.
2. Mary Pack was born on September 23, 1860 and died on November 14, 1939. She married Amos Bush McNairy (1854–1941).
3. Millicent Pack was born on February 22, 1865 and died on November 3, 1865.
4. Beulah Brewster Pack was born on August 27, I869 and died on December 22,1957. She married Phillip Ashton Rollins (1869–1950).
Local historian Bruce Whitaker documents Fairview area genealogy.
To get in touch with him, contact the Crier at copy@
fairviewtowncrier.com or 828-771-6983
(call/text).