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John Foley
Chickasaw County
A native of Ireland, born in the county of Galway on the 14th of August, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Catherine (Lyden) Foley, who immigrated to this country when John was a child. His father died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1852, and his mother in Iowa in the spring of 1877. Mr. Foley came to this state in June, 1857, and settled on a farm in Jacksonville Township, ten miles from New Hampton. In 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Conley, and they resided on the farm until 1872, when he was elected county treasurer and they came to make their home in New Hampton. In 1882, Mr. Foley engaged in the retail lumber business in New Hampton, continuing till 1900. Here he again and continuously showed the qualities of the able business man coupled with the utmost fairness and fidelity in dealing with his customers. During these years he served the city of New Hampton as mayor, and was several years a member of the board of education. In 1889, he was chosen vice president of the Northwestern Lumbermen’s Association, and a year later was elected its president. In 1899, at the organization of the State Bank of New Hampton, he assisted in that work, became a heavy stockholder and was elected its president. During this time his larger political career was developing. He was elected to the lower house of the Iowa legislature, and later served a four-year term as state senator from the Chickasaw-Floyd district. The democrats of the state nominated him for state treasurer and the party honored him with the nomination for congress from the Fourth district. Throughout all these years he was prominent in the councils of his party in the state and nation and his advice was sought many times. Mr. Foley, during all his life, was a devout member or the Catholic Church and assisted liberally in the upbuilding of St. Joseph’s church and school. He was a fourth degree member of the Knight of Columbus and adhered with fidelity to the tenets of his order, Its members recognized in him a brother Knight of high Worth and one who reflected great credit upon their organization.
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