BIOGRAPHY: John S. FOLEY, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 455-6
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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.