John Wilkes Booth and the Socialist
From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library William H. Packer was probably among the last living Civil War veterans in Washington State. In his eventful life he was able to strut and fret his hour upon the stage alongside Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, serve in the Union Army, and help found a Socialist Utopian community in Washington State. Changing his surname from Packard to Packer in order to avoid detection from…