William Connell (Pennsylvania)

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This article is about the Pennsylvania Congressman. For the Nebraska Congressman, see William James Connell.

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

Connell, father of Charles Robert Connell, was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He received a limited schooling, and moved with his parents to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in 1844. He worked in the coal mines, and in 1856 he was appointed superintendent of the mines of the Susquehanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad & Coal Company, with offices in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Upon the expiration of that company’s charter in 1870 he purchased its property and became one of the largest independent coal operators in the Wyoming Valley region. He was one of the founders of the Third National Bank of Scranton in 1872, and in 1879 he was chosen its president. He was also identified with many other industries and commercial enterprises of Scranton. He was a delegate to the 1896 Republican National Convention, and a member of the Pennsylvania Republican committee.

Connell was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, and Fifty-seventh Congresses. He successfully contested the election of George Howell to the Fifty-eighth Congress. He died in Scranton. Interment in Forest Hill Cemetery.

[edit] Sources

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

Preceded by: Joseph A. Scranton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district 1897 - 1903	Succeeded by: Henry W. Palmer
Preceded by: George Howell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district 1904 - 1905	Succeeded by: Thomas H. Dale