The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-31
WILLIAM CONNELL.
Republican Candidate for Congress IN
This District.

Republican Candidate Tor Congress IN
This District.
William Connell, who has been ap-
pointed by the Republicans of this dis
trict for congress, WAS born at cape
Breton, Nova Scotia. His father, James
Connell. was a native of Scotland, ana
his mother, whose maiden name was
Susan Melville. was native or Nova
Scotia. and was of Irish and American
descent. Mr.. Connell did not have
many advantages in his boyhood, for
his parents, though industrious ana
worthy, were not possessed OF means
beyond their ordinary wants. Never
theless he made good use of his meagre
opportunities and acquired spfiiclent
knowledge of the usual EnSliSh
branches of education to form re-
liable foundation upon which TO build
in later years.
In 1874 his parents removed from
Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania settling
in LuZerne county. Here William, VINO
accompanied them. found employment
as a driver boy in the coal mines for
mining was then as now the chief in
dustry of that district, and colliery
work presented almost the sole open
ing for persons without capital settling
therein. The outlook was not at all
q promising one and would have dis
couraged a lad of ordinary stamina.
But young Connell was not one 10 re-
main idle. He gladly embraced the op-
portunity to earn his living and help
his parents ana did what came to his
hand with zeal and Intelligence.
In time he became Il workman in
the mines and remained thus occupied
nearly ten years during which he
sagaciously mastered all the intrica-
cies of the employment and thus pre-
pared himself for the opportunity
which eventually came to him as it is
pretty sure to come to every earnest,
energetic man who, while tuilinG, stud
les to know and embrace il when it ar
rives.
HIS OPPORTUNITY CAME.
The opportunity" in his case arriv-
ed in 1856 when he was called to this
city and placed in charge of mines,
operated by company of New York
capitalists known as the Susquehanna
and Wyoming Valley Railroad and
Coal company. In 1870 the charter of
this corporation expired and Mr.. Con-
nell. who had judiciously managed the
trust during the preceding fourteen
years. and who had carefully husband
ed his means so as to become himself
a capitalist. actually purchased the
property with his savings and on his
own account entered upon the business
OF mining. In the wears that have pas
sed since he made this venture the
business has steadily increased in i'm
portance.
. Additional capital has been called in
to meet the growing demands, but in
the firm of William Connell & Co.,
which owns and works the property.
MI. Connell, as founder, head and
front of the enterprise, retains the con-
trolling interest. For years Mr.. Con-
nell has personally supervised and
managed Mis- important interests. He
engage& In the business of banking in
1872 when: in conjunction with others.
he founded the Third National bank of
Scranton, which was Incorporated the
same year with a capital of 100000.
Having served i'm the meantime as a
director of this institution he became
its president in 1879. Under his wise
care and guidance the Third Nation
all of Scranton has reached the fore
most place among the banks of that
enterprisng and flOurshing business
center. In 1887 Mr.. Connell took Il lead
ing part in organizing the Scranton
Safe Deposit and Trust company.
which was incorporated with n capital
of a quarter of a million dollars, and
of which he became a director
a LEADER IN MANY WAYS.
Entertaining progressive views he
has lent his services and wealth to
the founding and development of sew
eral important industries in and near
the city of Scranton, and as an OIL
Ger or director still gives them the
benefit of his sagaciOuS counsel ana
the use of IA liberal portion of his am
Pile capital. He is largely interested in
the Dickson Manufacturing company,
Hunt & Connell company, limited,
Scranton Button Manufacturing COM
pany, Lackawanna knitting Mills
company, Scranton Forging company.
First National bank. the Scranton
Packing company, Weston Mill COM
pany and many other tloulishing busi-
ness institutions.
Many undertakings in Scranton and
vicinity of recent years have been ef-
ficiently aided by his capital, for he is
one of the most public spirited and en-
terprising of men ana in no way timid
in the matter of backing up his judg-
ment in business affairs. Both in pub
lie and private he is widely known for
his liberality and charity. Thousands
of dollars have quietly passed from
him to the aid of worty causes; and for
nearly every progressive ana charit-
able purpose he is one who may be re-
lied upon for prompt and generous as
sistance as occasion requires. His
benefactions extend to the worthy poor,
10 tne cnufcn. 10 tnp unfortunate, anu
to the struggling. Those leading a life
of honest and useful toll have an es-
pecially warm place in his large and
generous heart: for unlike many who
have been favored by fortune he does
not forget his own humble beginnings
nor turn coldly from those who labor
for their daily bread.
HIS CHARACTERISTICS
Mr.. Conenll is noted for his independ-
ence of character and also for his SYM
pathetic nature. But these qualities,
so largely developed as to be remark
able, are equalled by his untiring indus
try. When interested in any UNDER
taking whether it be of a business, re-
ligious or social nature. his whole heart
and soul seem to be enlisted. His COM
position is one of intense nervous en-
ergy. A self-made man in every sense
of the term, he supplements the physi-
cal toll of his earlier life by n mental
activity which never ceases. Few men
have his capacity for work and prob
ably fewer still the need for experiences
for constant activity. Life to him