Bio of SKELLET, Thomas J. (b.1872), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol II, pg 378-381
THOMAS J. SKELLET
The life record of Thomas J. Skellet is a notable example of successful
achieve­ment through individual effort. With the courageous spirit of youth, he
left his native land when sixteen years of age, arriving in a strange country
with no capital save his ambition and determination and further handicapped by
ignorance of the language and customs of the people among whom he had cast in
his lot. The strength of his mental endowments and the force of his character
have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path and
press steadily forward until he is now numbered among the foremost business men
and leading citizens of Minneapolis. A native of Denmark, he was born March 15,
1872, and his parents, Jens J. and Maria (Jensen) Skellet, were also natives of
that country, in which they spent their lives.
Thomas J. Skellet attended the schools of his native country for seven years and
when a youth of sixteen severed home ties and sailed for the* United States,
arriving in New York city alone and friendless. Making his way to Hayward,
Wisconsin, he secured a position in a sawmill, where he worked for one summer,
and with his earn­ings he went to Blair, Nebraska, for the purpose of entering
Trinity Seminary, which he attended for one winter. He then returned to Hayward,
resuming work in the saw­mill, where he was employed until winter, when he
became a pupil in the public schools of that place, while he also increased his
knowledge of the English language by judicious reading. In 1889 he secured a
clerical position in a grocery store, where he remained until the fall of that
year, when he came to Minneapolis to attend the Curtis & Chapman Business
College, which was then in the old Siddle block but is now located in the Andrus
building. In the spring of 1890 he left school, his funds being exhausted, and
became bookkeeper for the Flour City Transfer Company, whose offices were in the
Kasota building. He also acted as collector and in recompense for his labors was
paid a salary of twenty-five dollars per month. He remained with that firm for
about a year and then secured the position of bookkeeper with the Pioneer Fuel
Company, with which he was identified for seven years, resigning to take charge
of the fuel department of the Backus-Brooks Lumber Company, which he organized
under the name of the B. B. Fuel Company. He next joined the Bovey-De Laittre
Lumber Company, assuming the management of their fuel department and also
acquir­ing an interest in the business, with which he was connected for two
years, during which period he built up a large trade. In 1902 he embarked in
business independently, establishing the Skellet Fuel Company, and three years
later Ezra Elliott bought an interest in the firm, which then became known as
the Elliott & Skellet Fuel Company. In 1910 Mr. Skellet disposed of his share in
the undertaking and in the same year he purchased the 0. G. Peterson Express
Company, incorporated the business and changed the name to the Skellet Company,
which he is now successfully conducting, the business being one of extensive
proportions. Their offices are located at No. 201 South Fifth street and they
own, lease and operate a number of fireproof warehouses in Minneapolis and St.
Paul. In August, 1921, Mr. Skellet bought out the Ballard Fireproof Storage &
Transfer Company of St. Paul, of which he is also president, and he is one of
the most successful business men of the Twin Cities. He is essentially a member
of the class of doers, gifted with initiative and quick resolve, and has never
yet set his hand to an enterprise without carrying it through to a satisfactory
issue.
In October, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Thomas J. Skellet and Miss
Mollie Thone of Minneapolis, and they have become the parents of four children:
Oliver, aged twenty-four years; Evangeline, who is a graduate of the University
of Minnesota and is now twenty-two years of age; Thomas J., Jr., a young man of
twenty; and Rosalyn, who is eighteen years of age. The two children last named
are both students at the State University. Oliver, the elder son, served as an
ensign in the United States navy during the World war, being assigned to coast
duty at New York, while he was also on board vessels patrolling the Great Lakes.
He is a graduate of the €niversity of Minnesota and after receiving his
discharge from the navy completed a business course at Harvard College. He is
now serving as manager of the Ballard warehouse at St. Paul and is a very
capable young business man.
The family reside in an attractive home at No. 2701 Lake of Isles boulevard and
are prominent in social circles of the city. Mr. Skellet is a popular clubman,
having membership with the Kiwanis, Odin, Minneapolis Athletic, North Side
Commercial and Calhoun Commercial clubs, and he is a Knight Templar Mason, being
also con­nected with Zuhrah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, while he is likewise
identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His success is the
result of intense appli­cation, ceaseless watchfulness of opportunity,
unwavering courage, self-confidence and a readiness to assume responsibility,
and the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity, so worthily has it been
won, so well used. He is thoroughly American in spirit and interests and the
welfare and progress of his adopted country are to him matters of deep and vital
concern. He is a democrat in national politics but independent in local affairs.
He served two terms on the Board of Charity and Corrections; was chairman of
Workhouse Committee; and is president of the Voters Information Club.