Representative Henry Burd Cassel

Henry Burd Cassel (October 19, 1855 – April 28, 1926) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania who served four consecutive terms in Congress from 1901 to 1909. A member of the Republican Party, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Cassel was born in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he spent his early years and received his initial education. He attended the Columbia Classical Institute in nearby Columbia, Pennsylvania, an institution that provided him with a classical education suited to the professional and political career he would later pursue. After completing his studies, Cassel returned to Marietta and entered private enterprise.

Following his education, Cassel engaged in the wholesale and retail lumber business, establishing himself in commercial life before entering politics. His involvement in local Republican politics began relatively early. He served as a member of the Republican County Committee in 1881, marking his first formal role in party organization. Over the ensuing years, he became increasingly influential within the party, culminating in his selection as chairman of the Republican County Committee in 1893. His growing prominence was further recognized when he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1896, reflecting his stature within Pennsylvania’s Republican ranks.

Cassel’s state-level legislative career began soon afterward. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving terms in 1898 and 1900. In the state legislature he gained experience in lawmaking and public affairs that would prepare him for national office. His work in Harrisburg, combined with his longstanding party activity, positioned him as a logical candidate when a vacancy arose in Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.

Cassel was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Marriott Brosius, taking his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1901. He was subsequently reelected to the Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, and Sixtieth Congresses, serving continuously from 1901 to 1909. During his tenure, he represented Pennsylvania as a Republican member of the House and took part in deliberations and legislation during a transformative era that included the early years of the Progressive Era and the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. Cassel held a leadership role as chairman of the United States House Committee on Accounts during the Fifty-ninth Congress, overseeing matters related to the financial and administrative operations of the House. His four terms in office reflected sustained support from his district and ongoing engagement with the legislative needs of his constituents.

Cassel’s public career was later overshadowed by legal difficulties. In 1909, he was convicted of fraud related to the construction of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, a major public works project that had become the focus of controversy and investigation. This conviction effectively ended his active political career and marked a significant reversal for a figure who had risen through party ranks from local committee work to national office.

After leaving Congress and following his conviction, Cassel returned to private life and resumed his involvement in business as a manufacturer and contractor. He lived out his later years in his hometown of Marietta, maintaining his ties to the community where he had been born and first established himself professionally. Henry Burd Cassel died in Marietta on April 28, 1926. He was interred in Marietta Cemetery, closing a life that spanned local business, state and national legislative service, party leadership, and a notable, if ultimately troubled, public career.