Mr. Speaker

The Cannon Brothers of Danville amassed a great deal of power and wealth by building up the Danville Electric Railway and Light Company. William P. was President of the company, and his older brother Joseph G. was part owner. Joseph G. Cannon was elected to congress in 1873 and became arguably the most powerful Speaker of the House in U.S. History, serving in the post from 1903-1911. They sold their streetcar company to William McKinley in 1901, a year before William P. Cannon's death.