 FOLEY, a railway village and the county seat, located in Gilmanton
Township, was named for John Foley, its founder, one of five brothers who came to this
state from Lanark County, Ontario. Its post office was established in 1883. When this line of the Great Northern Railway
was built, in 1882-84, John and others of the brothers were contractors, camping on the site of this village, and he
acquired lands here. Later he led in the effort, 1901-2, of transferring the county seat from Sauk Rapids to this place.
He died in St. Paul, August 11, 1908. In 1890, the Foley brothers operated a lumber mill and general store, and
Thomas Foley, brother of John, was postmaster; the townsite had a steam-power saw,
a planing mill, creameries, a grain elevator, and a pickle factory.
Extracted from Minnesota Place Names, by Warren Upham
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