William Connell

William Connell (September 10, 1827 – March 21, 1909) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Early life William Connell was born on September 10, 1827, in Sydney in the colony of Nova Scotia colony, British Canada. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1844, he moved with his parents to what is now Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal...

William Connell (September 10, 1827 – March 21, 1909) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Early life William Connell was born on September 10, 1827, in Sydney in the colony of Nova Scotia colony, British Canada. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1844, he moved with his parents to what is now Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines as a driver boy. In 1856, he was promoted to superintendent over the Susquehanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad and Coal Company's National and Stafford mines in Minooka, with offices in Scranton. Career In 1870, the Susquehanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad and Coal Company's charter with the State of Pennsylvania lapsed. He took advantage of this opportunity, purchasing that charter and the company's plant with his savings and organizing business under the firm of William Connell & Co.. Through this company, he became one of the largest independent coal operators in the Wyoming Valley region. In 1890, he organized and practically owned the Connell Coal Company, which he developed into a large and successful coal operating company. He later sold the Connell Coal Company later sold to the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. In 1872, he was one of the founders of the Third National Bank of Scranton. In 1879, he became its president. During his lifetime, he was also president of the Lackawanna Knitting Mills, Weston Mill Company, and Meadow Brook Land Company. He was appointed sole arbitrator for the Lehigh Valley Railroad in settling claims arising from Mud Run disaster of October 10, 1888. He also acted as a mediator during attempted settlements of coal strikes, among other local industrial disputes. In 1891, he founded the Scranton Tribune. He was director of the Lackawanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Scranton Button Company, once one of the largest manufacturers of buttons in the United States, which branched out into the manufacture of telephone parts and phonograph records. U.S. State Representation Connell was a member of the Pennsylvania Republican Committee and a delegate to the 1896, 1900 and 1908 Republican National Conventions. For four successive terms, he was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania. He was elected as U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, and Fifty-eighth Congresses. For his first three terms, from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1903, he represented the 11th District of Pennsylvania. In his last term, he successfully contested the election of George Howell to the Fifty-eighth Congress and served from February 10, 1904 to March 3, 1905, representing the 10th District of Pennsylvania. Personal life Connell was one of the largest property owners in Scranton. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Around 1851, Connell married Annie Lawrence. Together, they had 11 children, including Mrs. James S. McAnulty, Mrs. Charles W. Fulton, Charles Robert, Ezra H., Alfred E., Theodore E. and James L. In 1902, his wife died. Connell died on March 21, 1909, in Scranton. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. Legacy His summer estate, Lacawac, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The building he built and owned for his business offices, the Connell Building, was once the largest office building in Scranton. It has since been converted into apartment units. Land he donated to the Scranton created Connell Park, a public recreation park in South Scranton. This nearly 16-acre park contains recreation facilities including a playground, pool, basketball court, athletic fields, walking path, BMX pump track and Scranton's first dog park. References External links Media related to William Connell (Pennsylvania politician) at Wikimedia Commons