Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 418-419

JOHN FOLEY is the well known editor and proprietor of the Cassville Index, which paper was established in Cassville, Grant county, March 8, 1888, by Charles DE WITT, who conducted it for a few months, and then sold out to Mr. FOLEY. The latter has since engaged in its publication, and has made it one of the leading newspapers of this section of the State. The office is well equipped with both hand and roller presses, and, in fact, everything needed in a first-class establishment of the kind.

A native of Wisconsin, Mr. FOLEY was born in Mineral Point in 1853, a son of James and Ann (CREAVY) FOLEY, who were born in Ireland, and located in Mineral Point at a very early day in the development of this State. The father, who followed farming and also engaged in mining, died at Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 27, 1893, and the mother is still a resident of that city. In their family were the following children: John; James, a hotel man of East Dubuque; Ellen, a resident of Dubuque; Annie; Margaret; Elizabeth; and Maria.

John FOLEY was reared at his birthplace whence he removed to Bellevue, Iowa, and there operated a flouring-mill for about eight years. He then became interested in theatricals, and was for several years a member of a dramatic stock company, of which he was manager and stage director. That this was his natural element is evidenced by reference to printed matter now on file. He was, however, dissuaded from his purpose by friends old in years, if not experience; friends who, in their anxiety for his welfare, thought he was fast going to ruin by the stage route; and he therefore gave up his job. As a matter of course the play came to an end, and Mr. FOLEY, to use his own words, "went back to real, rural life again," and purchased a flouring-mill in Patch Grove, Grant Co, Wis., conducting it until his removal to Cassville, in 1885. Moving the machinery to this place, he erected a new building - a mill which he fitted and operated until he took charge of the Cassville Index. He still owns the mill at that place, but at the present time it is not running. In his journalistic work Mr. FOLEY has met with good success, being a fluent writer and a man of good business and executive ability. The paper is independent in politics.

On May 25, 1881, Mr. FOLEY was married, in Patch Grove, to Miss Millie LEWIS.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck