BIOGRAPHY: John S. FOLEY, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 455-6 ____________________________________________________________ JOHN S. FOLEY, the scholarly and efficient editor and proprietor of Carrolltown News, is one of the active Democratic leaders of Cambria county. He is a son of Thomas and Amasacia (Shannon) Foley, and was born in Cameron Bottom, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1858. Thomas Foley was born, in 1815, in County Wallingford, Ireland, and in 1844 came to the New Foundland fisheries, which he soon left to locate at Cranston, Rhode Island, where he worked for some time in a cotton factory. He then returned to Ireland, married and followed farming until 1851, in which year he came to Cameron Bottom, in Indiana county, where he followed farming up to the time of his death. He died July 31, 1888, when in the seventy-third year of his age. He was a member of the Catholic church, and a hard-working and energetic man. He was married three times. His first wife was Amasacia Shannon, a native of Ireland, and who died January 11, 1877. His second wife was Amelia Storm, who died in about a year after marriage, and he afterwards wedded Ellen O'Neil, who survived him. By his first marriage Mr. Foley had nine children: Thomas, an attorney of Allentown, this State; Ellen, wife of David Fletcher, of Mitchell's Mills, Indiana county; Michael F., a business man of Whittier, Colorado; John S.; Margaret, married W. A. Wills, a resident of Homestead, Allegheny county; Mary, wedded James Maloy, and both are deceased; and Catherine, who became a nun in Mercy convent, at Altoona, and is dead. The two eldest of these children were born in Ireland, and the others in Indiana county. John S. Foley, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm, and, after attending the public schools and Penn Run Normal school, he entered the Indiana State Normal school of Pennsylvania, from which he was prevented from being graduated, in 1886, by a severe spell of sickness. This sickness so impaired his health that he took a trip to Colorado in hopes of being benefited physically by the climate of that State. He remained west a year, and during that time taught one term in a government school provided for Indians at San Diego, California. Returning home, in 1887, greatly benefited in health, he assisted Professor Leech in conducting a summer normal school at Ebensburg, and from that time up to 1893 was engaged in teaching in Indiana county, being principal of St. Augustine, and then of Frugality schools. Retiring from the profession of teaching, in 1893, he succeeded T. W. Letts as editor and proprietor of the Carrolltown News, which was founded by T. S. Williams. The News is a weekly seven-column folio, and Democratic in politics. While Mr. Foley's career as a teacher was a success, not less has he made his mark upon the community as a journalist. He takes a strong common-sense view of things, and has an adequate conception of what a local sheet should be. Giving everything important in local news, the affairs of the State and nation are not neglected, while in politics the paper unswervingly supports the true principles of Democracy. An increasing importance and an increasing circulation attest the success of Mr. Foley's editorial ability and business management. He is a strong democrat, and frequently takes the stump in defense of his party, being a good public speaker. He is a good business man, and has been a consistent member of the Catholic church for several years. On July 27, 1890, Mr. Foley was united in marriage with Emma M. Grimes, a daughter of John and Margaret Grimes, of Chest Springs, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Foley have one child, a daughter, named Margaret Clare.