Daniel J. Morrell

American politician

Daniel Johnson Morrell (August 8, 1821 – August 19, 1885) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Early life

Morrell was born in North Berwick, York County, Maine. He attended public schools. Afterward, he moved south to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1836. He entered a counting room as clerk. He later engaged in mercantile pursuits.

Career

In 1855 he moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. There he became general manager of the Cambria Iron Company, which was the greatest manufacturer of iron and steel in the United States until the 1899 Johnstown Flood.

Morrell also served as president of the local gas and water company from 1860 to 1884, and as president of the First National Bank of Johnstown from 1863 to 1884. He also served as president of the city council for many years.

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 appointed as a US commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1878.^[1]

Johnstown Flood

Morrell became a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, an exclusive club made up of elite industrialists and businessmen from Pittsburgh. Its property included the South Fork Dam and its large reservoir, which the club named Lake Conemaugh.

As he had long been based in Johnstown, Morrell knew the dam had failed in 1862. He was concerned about its maintenance through multiple owners and wanted to keep a watchful eye on its stewardship by the club. He repeatedly brought up the issue of dam safety to club officials, especially to co-founder, Benjamin Franklin Ruff. Morrell sent multiple letters to Ruff, expressing his concerns about the dam.^[2]

Morrell had insisted on inspections of the dam's breastwork both by his own engineers and those of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Morrell's warnings went unheeded,. His offer to make needed repairs, partially at his own expense, was rejected by club president, Benjamin F. Ruff.

Morrell died in 1885. His membership was bought by his colleague, Cyrus Elder, who was legal counsel for the Cambria Iron and Steel Company.^[3] Ruff died in 1887.^[4]

The dam failed in 1889, causing the great Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889. It killed more than 2,200 people, and destroyed homes, businesses, and industry in the valleys and city. It was the largest disaster in U.S. history.

Death and legacy

Morrell was again engaged in banking and died on August 20, 1885, in Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

He is the namesake of the ill-fated SS Daniel J. Morrell.^[5]^[6]

References

^ "MORRELL, Daniel Johnson". Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
^ Farabaugh, Patrick (2021). Disastrous floods and the demise of steel in Johnstown. Richard Burkert. Charleston, SC: The History Pres. ISBN 978-1-4671-5001-9. OCLC 1260340723.
^ Johnstown’s Flood of 1889: Power Over Truth and The Science Behind the Disaster, by Neil M. Coleman, Springer, 2018, page 185. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
^ "Benjamin Franklin Ruff (1835-1887)", "Johnstown Memorial", National Park Service. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
^ "The Morrell Survey". Lakeland Boating. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
^ "Daniel J. Morrell 1906 to 1966". Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online. Retrieved September 26, 2012.

External links

United States Congress. "Daniel J. Morrell (id: M000964)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
The Political Graveyard
Daniel J. Morrell at Find a Grave
Pictorial History: Daniel J. Morrell 1906 - 1966
Great Lakes Vessel Online Index: DANIEL J. MORRELL
Lakeland Boating: The Morrell Survey

U.S. House of Representatives
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