The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-05

HIS OPPORTUNITY CAME.
The Opportunity in his case arrived in
1855 when he was called to this city and
placed In charge Of mines. operated by
| u company Of New York capitalists known
as the SusQuehanna and Wyoming Val
ley Railroad and Coal company. In 1870
the charter of this corporation expired,
and Mr.. Connell. who had judiciously
managed the trust during the preceding
| fourteen years, and who had carefully
| husbanded his means SO as to become him
| self capitalist. actually purchased the
| property with his savings and on his own
account entered upon the business of min
Ing. In the years that have passed since
| he made this venture the business has
| steadily increased In Importance.
Additional capital has been called in to
| meet the growing demands. but In the firm
| Of William Council & Co., which owns
| and works the property. Mr.. Connell, as
founder, head and front OF the enter
prise. retains the controlling interest.
For years Mr.. Connell has personally su-
| pervised and managed his important tn
terests. He engaged 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 500. .OO0.
Having served In the meantime as u direc-
| tor Of this institution he became its presi>
| dent in 1879. Under his wise care and
guidance the Third National" of Scran-
ton has reached the foremost place among
! the banks Of that enterprising and -four
| ishing business center. In 1857 Mr. Con-
nell took a leading part I'm organizing the
Scranton Safe Deposit and Trust COM
pany, which was Incorporated with cap.
ital Of q quarter of u million dollars, and
| Of which he became director.
| A LEADER IN MANY WAYS.
Entertaining progressive views he has
lent his services and wealth to the found
| ing and development of several impor-
tant Industries in and near the city of
Scranton, and as an officer or director
still gives them the benefit of his sagacious
| counsel and the use Of u liberal portion
of his ample capital. He is largely in
terested in the Dickson Manufacturing
company. Hunt & Connell company, lin.
tied. Scranton Button Manufacturing
company, Lackawanna Knitting Mills
company. Scranton Forging company,
First National bank. the Scranton Pack
| ing company, Weston Mill company and
many other fiourishing business institu-
tions.
| Many undertakings in Scranton and
vicinity of recent years have been eff
ciently aided by his capital, for he Is one
of the most public spirited and enterpris-
ing Of men and in no way timid In the
matter of backing up his judgment in
business affairs. Both in public and pri-
vate he Is widely known for his liberality
and charity. Thousands of dollars have
| quietly passed from him to the aid OF
worthy causes; and for nearly every prog
ressive and charitable purpose he is one
| who may be relied upon for prompt and
| generous assistance as occasion requires
His benefactions extend to the worthy
poor. to the church, to the unfortunate
and to the struggling. Those leading q
life Of honest and useful toll have ar
especially warm place in his large and
generous heart; for unlike many who have
been favored by fortune he does not for.
get his own humble beginnings nor turn
cOldly from those who labor for their daily
bread.
HIS CHARACTERISTICS.
Mr.. Connell is noted for his independence
of character and also for his sympathetic
nature. But these qualities. so largely
developed as to be remarkable, are
equalled by his untiring industry. When
interested in any undertaking whether II
be of business. religious or social ma
ture. his whole heart and soul seem to be
enlisted. His composition is one of in
tense nervous energy. A self-made man
in every sense of the term, he supple
ments the physical toll Of his earlier life
by mental activity which never ceases
Few men have his capacity for work and
probably fewer still the need he expert
ences for constant activity. Life to him
means action. and no small part Of his
enjoyment Is In the vast amount Of gOoL
he SO unostentatiously accomplishes. Ht
has merited and he receives both the al
fection and respect Of thousands who have
come within the sphere Of his varied ant
useful as well as beneficient activities.
Mr. Connell presents one of those rare
examples in which appears a combination
of extraordinary business sagacity with
the finest literary taste. In his busy 'if'
he finds many an hour for communion
with the best authors, and IS always
ready, as II for relief. to turn from the
excitements Of business activity, to Il dis
cussion Of some literary or philosophical
subject. Before and after business hours
Emerson. Prescott, Carlyle and kindred
authors are laid under contribution and
made to yield some inspiring thought. OF
throw the charm of their beat tiful style
over the mind and heart of the reader.
HIS FRIENDS KNOW HIM.
Besides, the subject Of this article, Is
possessed of the most refined senslbilities
Beneath the man of business bold, tlong
aggressive, as Mr. Connell appears TO the
world, his closest friends know there
lives another natrre-a soul Of the fines,
grain, and q temperament highly poetic
His Is nature that vibrates responsive
to the noblest sentiments in poetry, liter.
ature. art and music. Thus richly dow.
cred by nature. had Mr.. Connell in his
early life received a liberal education
there Is little doubt but that he woult
have devoted himself to letters or to pro-
fessional life. and would never have
been known as the wealthy capitalist
and successful man of business that he Is
today. though he must have won dis
tinction in other spheres.
As a member Of the Methodist Episcopa
church, Mr.. Connelrs aid and counse
have been sought by various institutions
and he has been made trustee in Syracuse
university, Wesleyan university and Drew
Theological seminary. He was also q
member of the general conference that met
in Philadelphia in 1884,
On January 2. 1852, Mr.. Connell married
Miss Annie Lawrence, of Llewellyn
Schuylkill county, Pa, charming and
kind-hearted lady whose delight it Is tC
Cooperate In the charitable deeds which
come SO natural to her worthy husband
OF the eleven children born to their mar.
rlage nine are now living The family life
in the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Connell is
an exceptionally happy one and each re-
CARDS the other with that abiding affection
born Of many trials shared in common anu
many good deeds mutually undertaken
and zealously performed.
QUEEN EMMA PLAIN MRS. kobe.