Packer Cemetery is perhaps the oldest cemetery in Howard township. It was a private family graveyard located on the Packer farm. The oldest stones had only initials with no dates. The oldest dated stone found today is that of Hana Packer, wife of Aaron who died in 1804 aged 40 years. Local historian, John Linn, in 1883 noted a stone "J. P. died in 1805, aged 80 years" which is not found today. Governor William F. Packer's father, James Packer is buried here with the inscription reportedly carved by William F. when he was a boy. Governor Packer's siste, Sarah B. Packer, married Rev. Nathan J. Mitchell in Stark County, Ohio in 1832. They came to Howard where he organized the first Disciples of Christ Church in the county. Much of their family is buried there.

For many years the cemetery was allowed to grow up with briars and weeds. In the 1980s it was cleaned up as an Eagle Scout project. For some years it was mowed at least once in the summer, but from 1996 it was again allowed to revert to high grass. In 2002, it has again been thoroughly cleaned, the stones straightened, and it is being regularly mowed.

Directions to Packer Cemetery

From the monument in Milesburg take Route 150 north for 6.9 miles. The cemetery is on the left side of the road just before the causeway over Sayer's Dam to Howard. There is a very narrow stone driveway beside the cemetery.

Sources:
1. Linn, John Blair, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania L. H. Everts, 1883
2. Newspaper clippings from Centre County Library.
3. The Cemeteries of Curtin, Howard, and Liberty Townships, Centre County, PA printed in 2002 by the Centre County Genealogy Society. Page 67