My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH A. SKELLEY, real-estate and insurance agent, McKeesport, was born near Latrobe, Pa., March 28, 1852, and is a son of Michael and Mary A. (Henry) Skelley. He was educated at the public and normal schools of Latrobe, learned telegraphy, and in 1871 went to Ohiopyle, on the Pittsburgh, Washington & Baltimore railroad, as agent and operator for that road. In 1872 he located in McKeesport, and was freight, baggage and ticket agent for a number of years at that place, where he has since resided, and was for two terms city clerk. In 1884 he was unanimously nominated (without solicitation) for clerk of court of Allegheny county; his party being in the minority, however, he was defeated, but his popularity in his party was shown by the fact that he polled 2,000 votes more than the Cleveland electors did in the same county. He has always been an active democrat, and prominent in the councils of his party. He formerly conducted a drug store in McKeesport, and later was with Skelley Bros. In the spring of 1888 he embarked in business as a real-estate and insurance agent. In 1881 he married Miss Ella Kane, of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Mr. Skelley is one of the auditors of the New Enterprise Building & Loan association, a member of the Board of Trade, on the executive and transportation committees, and one of the trustees of the grand council of the Catholic Mutual Benefit association, and district deputy of the same.