James T Doherty, of Scranton, is a native Pennsylvanian, and an energetic and enterprising business man, being assistant superintendent of the Scranton district of the Prudential Life Insurance Company. He was born at Dunmore, in Lackawanna County, 27 Jan 1877, the son of P J and Ellen (Scott) Doherty.
Both P J Doherty and his wife were natives of Ireland and early settlers of Dunmore, PA, where Mr Doherty was employed in the coal mines. He died at the age of 84 years and his wife died at the age of 65 years. They are buried in Mt Carmel Cemetery, Dunmore. To Mr and Mrs Doherty were born nine children, two of whom survive: James T, the subject of this sketch; and Nellie, who is a teacher in School No 4, Dunmore. She is a graduate of Dunmore High School and Pennsylvania State College.
James T Doherty began life working in the coal mines of Lackawanna County in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. He continued in this work for five years, and received his only schooling through attendance at night classes. After leaving the mines he was employed by his brother-in-law, James T McHale, grocer, of Green Ridge, with whom he was associated for six years. After the death of Mr McHale, the business was taken over by Thomas H Gordon, and Mr Doherty continued in his employ for three years. He then became associated with Swift & Company for two years as a traveling representative, and afterwards became interested in the grocery business for himself at Dunmore. He was later connected with the Cash stores of Dunmore. He became interested om the insurance business and entered the employ of the Equitable Life Assurance (sic) Company, with whom he was associated for five years. Mr Doherty has been with the Prudential Life Insurance Company since 1917, having started as an agent in the company's employ. He was promoted to assistant superintendent of the Scranton district in 1924, and has offices in the Lincoln Trust Building.
On 26 May 1901 Mr Doherty was united in marriage with Miss Mary E McKenna, of Dunmore, the daughter of John and Mary McKenna, both deceased. They have four children: Leonard, born in 1903, is a graduate of Dunmore high School, Stroudsburg State Normal School and St Thomas College, now a member of the faculty of Dunmore High School; John, born in 1910; James, born in 1913; and Paul born in 1916.
Mr Doherty has always been a Democrat. He is a member of St Mary's Catholic Church of Dunmore and belongs to the Equity Club of Scranton.