Rash's Surname Index
Notes for John CONNELL
John Connell, likewise born at Marcus Hook, February 23, 1784, removed to Philadelphia and for many years resided in the suburbs, at what is now Broad and Chestnut streets. Later on, he moved to Wilmington. Delaware, having been in association with the Bayards, one of the founders and a director of the P. W. & B. Railroad.
When the War of 1812 broke out, John Connell called together a group of citizens of Philadelphia for the purpose of raising funds to carry on the war, and at the close thereof, brought over certain confidential diplomatic dispatches from the Ministers Plenipotentiary--Adams, Bayard, Clay, Russell, Gallatin--then at Ghent, which led to the treaty there signed. At Stockholm, 1825, whither he had repaired, in the prosecution of his business, John Connell wrote a booklet of parental advice called "Counsel to My Children," exhorting them to hold fast to the teachings of the Christian religion and giving them simple but wholesome advice as to things necessary for the conduct of a fruitful and successful life. He touched upon religion, moral conduct, economy, punctuality, grammar, freedom from ambition, the advantages of modern languages from a practical point of view, the value of mathematics, of which he said, "It was General Washington's knowledge of mathematics that laid the foundation of his fame and fortune."
Holding up Lafayette as an example of honor and integrity, he wrote in his "Counsel to My Children," "Having just returned from La Grange, where, by his kind invitation I passed several days with General Lafayette, I could not but reflect to what legitimate objects and ambition had been directed and how glorious his reward--the reward of an approving conscience and the approbation of millions of his fellow mortals." ("Written in Paris. 1825.)
And when President Adams, with whom he enjoyed a lifelong friendship, wrote some verses, a translation from Pythagoras, in this booklet, John Connell's comment was: "The above was written by Mr. Adams when President of the United States, in the midst of a session of Congress. It shows that by industrious habits and system and order in business that a man may always have time at his own disposal."
Upon perusing this booklet, Nicholas Biddle wrote to John Connell "My dear sir: I read your little volume of parental advice, which I have received with great pleasure, and am sure your children will read with great profit. You will leave them moreover what is the most instructive of all lessons, the benefit of your own good example. Very truly yours,
JOHN CONNELL, Esq. N. BIDDLE
Philadelphia June 2, 1827
As one of the old time Philadelphia merchants, John Connell traveled abroad extensively. We find him at Koenigsberg, when Napoleon's troops came through, helterskelter, on the way back from Russia. In a letter of appreciation and gratitude, one of Napoleon's officers wrote to "La Tribune," translated for the "Philadelphia Gazette," in which is graphically told the story that "John Connell is taking certain officers and soldiers of Napoleon's army into his home, feeding and sheltering them, giving them each a considerable sum of money and sending them on their way rejoicing."
Likewise, John Connell found an opportunity, while abroad, of prosecuting certain claims against Sweden for Stephen Girard, with whom he had been closely associated in business; with what success is told by John Bach McMaster, in his "Life and Times of Stephen Girard."
From his home in Delaware, John Connell, as late as 1855, issued an eloquent appeal to the people of America, urging the celebration of Constitution Day, of which the following is the opening:
To preserve and to perpetuate that Union, I would respectfully suggest to you
fellow-citizens, the propriety of annually celebrating, throughout the Union, the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, in the same manner as we now celebrate the Declaration of Independence. Such a celebration would tend to cherish and keep alive our attachment to the Constitution and to appreciate properly the multiplied blessings which flow from it. And what greater blessing has been conferred on the world, since the introduction of Christianity, than the Constitution of the United States? It is a living monument of the capacity of man for self government. For upwards of sixty years our Constitution has stood the test of peace and war, and has afforded more security of life, liberty and property than any Other government which human foresight ever devised, or human wisdom ever enacted. Notwithstanding all these benefits, and all these blessings, we are told that there are men amongst us who would scatter to the winds this fair fabric of freedom, and trample in the dust that glorious star-spangled banner, which has so often waved victorious upon the land and floated triumphant upon the deep. The principal cause of the difficulties which now agitate the country, at both ends of the Union grows out of a misconstruction given to the Constitution. We are told by many, that the Union is in no danger, that all our Interests, political, commercial and social, are involved in its preservation, and that there is nothing to fear. The signs of the times appear to show the reverse. Because man is a rational being, it does not follow that he will always act like one. The prejudices and passions of men often blind their Interests, and frequently dethrone their judgments. The most difficult of all things to conquer are our prejudices. Political prejudices are the bane of our country. Let us banish them from the land and cherish our Union, as the only ark of our safety. And, after having made every human effort to preserve the integrity or our Union, let us invoke the blessing of Him, who holds in His hands the destinies of nations, for Its perpetuity.
John Connell was a type of Pennsylvanian described by Henry Adams, when he said, "When one summed up the results of Pennsylvania influence, one inclined to think that Pennsylvania set up the Government in 1780, saved it in 1861; created the American system, developed its iron and coal power; and invented its great railways". DEATH OF A GOOD MAN - The Wilmington papers contain a notice of the death of JOHN CONNELL , Esq., who deceased last week, at his residence at Tusculum, in the 76th year of his age. Mr. CONNELL was at one time a resident of Marcus Hook, from whence he removed to Philadelphia, many years since, and engaged in merchandizing. Throughout his long life he was noted for his probity of character, integrity, and uprightness. He was indefatigable in whatever engaged his attention, and to him is due much of the credit of having obtained the indemnities received from France and Denmark. While in health, his vigorous pen was never idle, and to it the public are indebted for some of the ablest articles on Constitutional law which have been published of late years.
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