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From: "Mike Peterson" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of John Foley
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 09:41:04 -0800
References: <01eb01c40eb4$651e4040$c8114a0c@4ladz>


html (web page) version available at http://iagenweb.org/chickasaw/biosf.htm
.

John Foley
New Hampton
If there is a self-made man in Chickasaw county, Iowa, that man is John
Foley. He came to this state a poor boy twenty years ago; worked hard on a
farm, and educated himself largely by studying during the evenings, fitting
himself for a teacher and for general business.
Mr. Foley is a native of Ireland, and was 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
1857. John came with her to this state in June, 1857, and settled on a farm
in Jacksonville township, ten miles from New Hampton. There he worked until
1871, being very industrious in his manual labor, and commencing to teach
during the winters as soon as he could fit himself. This he did by giving to
study hours which many young men give wholly to amusements, and some to
dissipation. .
Six years ago he was nominated for the office of treasurer of the county,
and elected by a fair majority. So well did he discharge his duties that he
has been three times reelected, each time by a vote which showed that the
people had an increasing knowledge of his eminent fitness for the office.
After he had served the county nearly two years, the New Hampton "Courier"
of the 4th of October, 1873, thus spoke of his official work: .
" Attentive to the duties of this office, cordial in his intercourse with
the taxpayers, and correct in his business, he has made scores of friends,
and not a single enemy. It is infinitely to his credit that, without fear
without favor, and without prejudice, he has sought to perform the duties of
the place rather than to build up a clique who should conspire to keep him
in office. A man of the people, he has faithfully performed the people's
work, with an eye single to their interest. .
He found the finances of the county embarrassed, its credit depressed, and
distrust of its financial condition and management universal. When he t ook
possession of the treasurer's office county warrants had not been redeemed
over its counter for years, but had been hawked about the streets and
peddled from hand to hand till they finally found their way into the hands
of the money brokers at a discount, to the people of from ten to thirty per
cent. .
His advent in the treasurer's office changed all this in a single day.
Public confidence rose as by magic. The ability of the county to meet its
obligations promptly was no longer doubted. County warrants commanded their
face in greenbacks on the street and in the treasurers office. They have
continued to do so up to this hour.
The people of Chickasaw county owe Mr. Foley a debt of gratitude. he has
done their work ably, faithfully, and for the compensation fixed by law. In
his official capacity he has known no friends, and no enemies. He has
favored no organized rings, and sought to build up no special interests; but
with rigid impartiality has dealt honorably with all. More than this, at the
time of his election he was perhaps the only man in the county upon whom all
the elements of opposition to treasury misrule could have been concentrated.
He accepted the office of treasurer at a positive sacrifice of his private
business interests. "
Prior to holding the office of treasurer Mr. Foley had been a member of the
board of supervisors for one term and was for nine years connected with the
school board of his town. He is an ardent friend of education, and labors
assiduously for its advancement. Mr. Foley was reared in the Catholic faith,
and steadfastly adheres to the religious teaching of his ancestors.

Source: Iowa Biographical Dictionary, 1878, Page 258.
Transcribed By Mike Peterson

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