He was named in honor of Hon. Nathaniel B. Eldred, president judge of Carbon County during his father's official term as associate judge. He received his early education under the direction of Professor Charles Bowman, and finished his studies at the Lehigh University, so liberally endowed by Asa Packer. Having spent his life at the home of his parents, he became thoroughly conversant with the great interests which his father had so successfully established, and received that training which eminently fitted him for the prominent position he was called to fill on the death of the latter. At the age of twenty-nine he became actively identified with the coal and railroad interests of the State; was elected a director of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company; appointed general superintendent of a division of this prosperous corporation, and soon after chosen to fill the office of vice-president. In January, 1883, he was elected to the presidency of the railroad, and in January of the following year re-elected to the same position. Mr. Packer succeeded his father as one of the vestry of St. Mark's Church, of Mauch Chunk. He was nominated for the office of associate judge of the county by the Democratic party, of which he was an influential leader, and elected without opposition from the opposing party. He was commissioned on Jan. 1, 1882, by Governor Hoyt, and took his seat upon the bench soon after. Mr. Packer was largely interested in coal enterprises, and an important factor in the development of this great product of the State. He evinced much attachment for the locality of his birth, and in the erection of buildings and by generous contributions to worthy objects added greatly to the growth and prosperity of Mauch Chunk. As a citizen he was public-spirited and enterprising, as a friend, loyal and unselfish, traits that inspired many tender memories.