Riverside
County
Biographies
ROBERT DOUGLAS SKELLEY
Like his father, Robert D. Skelley
has stimulated the development of the citrus fruit industry in Riverside County
and in addition he has promoted business enterprises in the city of Riverside,
which numbers him among its prominent capitalists. His grandfather, Robert Skelley, who died in
1848, was born near Beamsville, in the province of
Ontario, Canada, and there married Sarah Corwin, of Irish and English ancestry.
Edgar Robert Skelley, the father of
Robert D., was born in De Witt, Missouri, October 13, 1846, but obtained his
grammar and high school education in the Dominion and as a youth joined the
Canadian Militia, serving during the Fenian troubles. While living in the east he took up
mercantile pursuits and also gained some experience in strawberry culture. Coming to California in the spring of 1882,
he purchased a tract of sixty acres at Lugonia, near
Redlands, in San Bernardino County, and was one of the early growers of oranges
and deciduous fruits in that locality.
In December, 1884, he engaged in the fruit shipping business with W. M.
Griffin, of San Francisco, already well known in Riverside, under the style of
the Griffin & Skelley Company. As
packers and shippers of fruit they were associated until August, 1895, when Mr.
Skelley discontinued his activities in behalf of the organization, although he
permitted it to continue the use of his name, and due to the extent of its
shipments, the Griffin & Skelley Company became known throughout the United
States. Later the company was
consolidated with others of a similar nature under the name of the California
Packing Corporation, which now has branches in all parts of the state, and
controls a large part of the fruit raising and canning
industry on the Pacific coast. On his
retirement from business Mr. Skelley sold most of his fruit ranches, retaining
about twenty acres on the east side of Riverside. He personally planted the orange trees on
this land, developing a fine grove, which is now under the capable management
of his son, Robert Douglas. The father
was one of the progressive, far-sighted men who aided in bringing to light and
utilizing the unrivaled horticultural resources of California and his intimate
knowledge of the citrus fruit industry made him a recognized authority on
matters pertaining thereto. An
Episcopalian in religious belief, he contributed liberally to the support of
the church, and his public spirit prompted his effective work as a member of
the Riverside Chamber of Commerce.
In 1880 while living in Canada, Mr.
Skelley was married to Marie Louise Romain, a native
of that country and a daughter of Francis and Anne (Chisholm) Romain, the latter born in Inverness, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Skelley were the parents of
three sons, but Robert Douglas is the only one now living. He obtained his higher education in Harvard
University, qualifying for the profession of a mining engineer, but
horticultural pursuits and business affairs have largely occupied his
attention. He has added many modern
improvements to the home ranch on the east side of Riverside and is accounted
one of the foremost growers of oranges in this part of the state, while he is
equally well known as an enterprising businessman of keen sagacity. In many ways he has given proof of his
devotion to the best interests of his city and is an ex-president of the
Riverside Community Hospital.
Mr. Skelley was united in marriage
to Miss Constance Beveridge, of Fresno, California,
and they have two sons and two daughters:
Jane, Robert, Kathleen and Hamilton.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 247-248, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S RIVERSIDE BIOGRAPIES