Daniel Johnson Morrell

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Daniel Johnson Morrell (August 8, 1821–August 20, 1885) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Daniel J.Morrell was born in North Berwick, Maine. He moved to Philadelphia in 1836 and entered a counting room as clerk and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1855 he moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became general manager of the Cambria Iron Company. He also served as president of the local gas and water company from 1860 to 1884 and president of the First National Bank of Johnstown from 1863 to 1884. He served as president of the city council many years.

Morrell became a member of and hounded the officials of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, site of the infamous dam which formed Lake Conemaugh. The failure of that dam eventually caused the great Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889. Morrell insisted on inspections of the dam's breastwork both by his own engineers and those of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He joined the club in order to keep a watchful eye on the matter. Unfortunately, his warnings went unheeded, and his offer to effect repairs partially at his own expense was rejected by club president Benjamin Ruff. Morrell died four years before the Johnstown Flood; his membership was then bought by Cyrus Elder, legal counsel for the Cambria Iron and Steel Company.

Morrell was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Manufactures during the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870. He was a commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1878. He was again engaged in banking and died in Johnstown in 1885. Interment in Grandview Cemetery.

[edit] Sources

• Daniel Johnson Morrell at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

Preceded by Abraham A. Barker

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district 1867-1871

Succeeded by Robert M. Speer