Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Fred C. Foley, who followed his preliminary professional labors as a teacher in the schoolroom by a careful preparation for the practice of medicine, is now a leading and successful physician and surgeon of Newell, his ability being demonstrated in the excellent results which follow his professional labors. He was born in Arlington, Iowa, December 29, 1868, and is a son of Thomas and Jeannette (Hall) Foley, both of whom are natives of Illinois. The former was a son of Thomas Foley, a native of Canada and a tailor by trade, who lived near the city of Prescott. There he spent his entire life, passing away at the age of seventy-five years. His widow is still living at the very advanced age of ninety-five years, and possesses in a remarkable degree all of her faculties. She makes her home in Clayton, New York and is greatly esteemed in that locality. Their family numbered seven sons: Thomas, James, John, William, Joseph, Frank and Bernard.

The maternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Scotland, and followed the occupation of farming as a lifework. He was married in his native land and on emigrating from Scotland he and his wife settled in Canada, but later removed to Illinois, becoming pioneer residents of that state. They took up their abode near Rockford, where Mr. Hall followed farming until his labors were ended in death when he was yet in the prime of life. His widow survived to the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of five sons and seven daughters: William, James. John, Lovejoy, Thomas, Ellen, Kate and Martha (twins), Sarah, Agnes, Jeannette and Margaret.

Thomas Foley, father of Dr. Foley, is a contractor and builder living in Rockford, Illinois. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church are people of the highest respectability. Their family numbered two sons and a daughter, the brother of our subject being Dr. Clarence L. Foley, a practicing dentist of Rockford, Illinois; and Ma Belle, also living in Rockford.

Dr. Foley was reared to manhood in New Milford, Illinois, and after attending the public schools there until he had mastered the elementary branches of English learning he became a student at Rockford. Later he engaged in teaching for several years, but thinking to find other professional labors more congenial and profitable he matriculated in Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he completed the full course by graduation with the class of 1894. In that year he came to Newell, where he has since remained and in his practice has met with gratifying success. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases, and while never hasty in discarding the old and time-tried methods of practice, who value has been proven, he yet keeps in touch with all the progressive ideas of the profession, and utilizes every method which his judgment sanctions as of worth in his work of restoring health and checking the ravages of disease. As he has prospered in his undertakings he has made judicious investment in property.

On the 26th of June, 1895, Dr. Foley was married to Miss Lena Redfield, a daughter of John and Eldona (Gilbert) Redfield. They became parents of a daughter who was named Eldona, for her maternal grandmother. The mother died in 1899, and Dr. Foley has since married Miss Caddie Mankey, a daughter of James and Lizzie Mankey. Her death occurred in 1908, and Dr. Foley wedded Miss Fern Fay Ashley, of Des Moines.

Dr. and Mrs. Foley attend the Congregational Church and occupy a prominent place in the social circles of the city. He belongs to the Masonic and the Odd Fellows lodges and gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but while he is interested in all that pertains to public progress and cooperates in various measures for the public good, his attention is chiefly given to his professional duties and he keeps in touch with the advancement of the medical fraternity through his membership in the Buena Vista County Medical Society; the Sioux Valley Medical Society; the Iowa State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.