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William Connell (Pennsylvania politician)

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William Connell (September 10, 1827 – March 21, 1909) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

William Connell
Connell in a 1903 publication
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 10th district
In office
February 10, 1904 – March 3, 1905
Preceded byGeorge Howell
Succeeded byThomas Henry Dale
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 11th district
In office
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903
Preceded byJoseph A. Scranton
Succeeded byHenry Wilbur Palmer
Personal details
Born(1827-09-10)September 10, 1827
Sydney, Nova Scotia colony, British Canada
DiedMarch 21, 1909(1909-03-21) (aged 81)
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeForest Hill Cemetery
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Annie Lawrence
​
(died 1902)​
Children11, including Charles
Professionbusinessman
Signature

Early life

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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.[1][2][3] In 1844, he moved with his parents to what is now Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines as a driver boy.[1][2][4] 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.[1][2][4]

Career

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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.[1][2] 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.[5][2][3]

In 1872, he was one of the founders of the Third National Bank of Scranton. In 1879, he became its president.[1] During his lifetime, he was also president of the Lackawanna Knitting Mills, Weston Mill Company, and Meadow Brook Land Company.[3][5][4]

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.[3]

In 1891, he founded the Scranton Tribune.[6][5]

He was director of the Lackawanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Scranton Button Company[3], once one of the largest manufacturers of buttons in the United States, which branched out into the manufacture of telephone parts[7] and phonograph records.[8][6]

U.S. State Representation

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Connell was a member of the Pennsylvania Republican Committee and a delegate to the 1896, 1900 and 1908 Republican National Conventions.[1][3]

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.[9]

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.[1][9]

Personal life

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Mrs William Connell

Connell was one of the largest property owners in Scranton.[2]

He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[2]

Around 1851, Connell married Annie Lawrence.[10] 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.[1][3][6][10]

In 1902, his wife died.[10]

Connell died on March 21, 1909, in Scranton. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.[1]

Legacy

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His summer estate, Lacawac, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[11]

The building he built and owned for his business offices, the Connell Building, was once the largest office building in Scranton.[2] It has since been converted into apartment units.[5]

Land he donated to the Scranton created Connell Park, a public recreation park in South Scranton.[5] 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.[5][12][13]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Connell, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Slauson, Allan B., ed. (1903). A History of the City of Washington: Its Men and Institutions. The Washington Post. pp. 475–476. Retrieved November 23, 2024 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "William Connell is Claimed by Death". The Pittsburgh Gazette Times. March 22, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved November 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 Mcauliffe, Joshua (April 15, 2016). "150 People Who Made Scranton Great - William Connell". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Costello, Thomas W. (May 17, 2009). "William Connell (1827-1909) Biographical Summary" (pdf). Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "William Connell Died at Scranton". Times Leader. March 22, 1909. p. 13. Retrieved November 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Listing of companies in the Scranton area, from the Scranton Board of Trade Journal, April 1906". Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  8. ↑ Kashuba, Cheryl A. (September 14, 2008). "At one time, Scranton had button industry sewn up". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. p. D1. Retrieved March 31, 2009.[dead link]
    Alternative: Kashuba, Cheryl A (September 14, 2008). "At one time, Scranton had button industry sewn up". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. p. D1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Conlan to Connelley". February 17, 2025. Connell, William (1827-1909). Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 "Death of Mrs. Connell". The Scranton Times. June 25, 1902. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "National Register Information System – Lacawac (#79002367)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. June 24, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau. "Connell Park". Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ City of Scranton (March 5, 2025). "Scranton Proposes Connell Park Design Contract with GPI". Retrieved May 16, 2026.
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  1. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Conlan to Connelley". February 17, 2025. Connell, William (1827-1909). Retrieved February 17, 2025.
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