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Parents:John Foley
Johanna O'Brien
Notes:John's older brother, Timothy Foley, at a young age
became involved in the lumbering business and soon acquired
a reputation of proficiency, especially at clearing log jams on the
river, and a good head for business. He eventually started Foley Bros.
in 1875, including brothers Thomas, John and Michael. Their
business was supplying railroad ties and construction of rail beds,
tracks and trestles for the Canadian National Railway and Canadian
Pacific Railroads. They are credited for laying all of the track between
Winnipeg and Calgary, a distance of 830 miles.
In 1879 he moved his business to St. Paul, Minnesota becoming the
major rail line contractor for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railroad.
Additionally they did work for the Duluth Mesabi & Northern, Soo Line,
Columbia & Western and Northern Pacific Railroad companies. Their
construction business is credited for laying more than 250,000 miles of
railroad track, a distance slightly exceeding the circumference of Earth.
Foley Bros. Construction earned a reputation for being innovative and
efficient in getting the job done, overcoming many impediments ie:
earthmoving and spanning gorges with trestles. They also developed a
reputation as honest, effective and reputable businessmen.
Their earthmoving and construction was done during the summer months
and lumbering and milling was conduted in the winter months.
The company operated lumber mills in St. Cloud, Milaca, Forestown and
Foley, Minnesota, all under the supervison of John Foley.
John Foley never married and when his estate was probated in 1913, it was
valued at approximately $550,000.00. He bequeathed a generous amount to
charities.
Additionally, Foley Bros. construction company's major projects involvement
included: Shasta Dam, Halifax Ocean Terminal, St. Paul Cathederal and
Rectory, St. Paul Catholic Orphanage, Port Arthur-Sudbury line of the
Canadian National Railway, Halifax Harbor.
Their business grew to the point of their expansion into a branch office in
New York City, to better serve their East Coast clients.
In addition to the construction business they started:
Foley Bros. Grocery, -- a wholesale grocery supply business in
St. Paul with a branch operation in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Foley Realty and Securities Co. -- farm development and banking
Purity Bakery -- multi-state commercial bakery.
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