Andrew P. Foley Biography

	This biography appears on pages 959-960 in "History of South Dakota" 
	by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited 
	by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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ANDREW P. FOLEY, one of the sterling citizens and progressive 
business men of Watertown, Codington county, comes of stanch 
Irish lineage and is a native of the beautiful capital city of 
Wisconsin, where he was born on the 13th of January, 1859, being 
a son of Matthew and Mary (Gahen) Foley, both of whom were born 
and reared in Dublin, Ireland. They came to America about 1849, 
and the father of Andrew P. Foley located in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, where he became a farmer, while his sterling 
characteristics made him one of the popular and honored citizens 
of that section. Both he and his wife died in Wisconsin, and 
they are survived by their four sons and three daughters.

Andrew P. Foley was reared to manhood in his native state, and 
received his educational discipline in the parochial and public 
schools. At the age of sixteen years he entered upon an 
apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, becoming a skilled 
workmen. He continued to follow the work of his trade in 
Wisconsin and Minnesota until 1880, when he came to South Dakota 
and took up his residence in Watertown, which then had a 
population of about one thousand persons. Soon after his arrival 
he established a horseshoeing shop, which he conducted 
successfully for several years. For the past three years he has 
also done an excellent business in the handling of agricultural 
implements and machinery, carriages, buggies, wagons, etc. He is 
endowed with the alert mentality and business acumen so 
characteristic of the race, and has so effectively ordered his 
affairs as to have attained a position of independence, being 
one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. He is the owner of 
about two thousand acres of excellent farming land in Codington 
and Hamlin counties, and derives good returns from his 
agricultural and stock-raising interests, while he also has a 
considerable amount of property in Watertown, including his 
place of business and also his fine residence, at the corner of 
Warner and Cottonwood streets.

In politics Mr. Foley is a stanch Democrat and takes an active 
part in forwarding the cause of the party of his choice. In 1890 
he was elected sheriff of Codington county, in which capacity he  
served four years, giving a most able administration  and 
gaining unqualified popular endorsement. In 1898  he was elected 
to represent his county in the lower  house of the state 
legislature, serving during the  sixth general assembly and 
doing all in his power to  secure wise and effective 
legislation. He and his wife  are communicants of the Catholic 
church, being  prominent members of Immaculate Conception  
parish, and fraternally he is affiliated with the  Catholic 
Order of Foresters and the Benevolent and  Protective Order of 
Elks.

On the 1st of November, 1888, was solemnized the  marriage of 
Mr. Foley to Miss Dora Rourk, who was  born in Eden, Wisconsin, 
being a daughter of John  and Mary Rourk. Of this union have 
been born seven  children, namely: Francis died on the 18th of 
May,  1902, at the age of nine years; Thomas died January 19,  
1904, aged nine years, and those surviving are  Andrew, John, 
Marie, Catherine and Willard. Mrs.  Foley also passed away on 
the 17th of August, 1903,  after a brief illness.