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, York County, Maine, on 8 August 1821. Morrell attended the public schools; moved to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1836; and entered a counting room as clerk.
In 1855, he became general manager of the Cambria Iron Company (which until the Johnstown Flood was the greatest manufacturer of iron and steel in the United States). Morrell also served as president of the local gas and water company 1860-1884 and president of the First National Bank of Johnstown 1863-1884; president of the city council many years; elected as a Republican to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses (4 March 1867-3 March 1871); chairman, Committee on Manufactures (Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress; commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1878; again engaged in banking; died in Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa., 20 August 1885; interment in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown. [1] He was a member of the elite South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club mainly to keep an eye on the club and its dam which formed Lake Conemaugh. Morrell died before the Johnstown Flood, caused by the failure of that dam.
Morrell 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 Franklin 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. His remains are Interred in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown.[2]
He is the namesake of the ill-fated SS Daniel J. Morrell.
| 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 |