The Thomas Foley Family; Ireland to Iowa

I am researching Thomas Foley who, I believe, was born about 1812 in County Tipperary, Ireland and came to the United States through New York City after the year 1848 and before March of 1853 and settled initially near Chillicothe, OH. By 1858 he was farming four miles south of Anamosa, IA, where he resided for forty years before moving to the city two years before his death in 1900.

He and his wife, Mary Kelly, raised a family of eight children; Ann, Kate, Maggie, Mary, William, John, Edward, and Thomas Leo Foley from whom my particular line is descended. I believe that John was born in Ireland about 1838; Edward born in Ireland about 16 March, 1848; Margaret Mary born in Ohio on 06 February, 1853; and Thomas Leo born near Racine, WI in 1856. Much of this is pure speculation based upon bits and pieces of information gathered over the past 20 years from family and friends and a smattering of real documentation.

Thomas Foley had at least two brothers, both of whom were in attendance at his funeral in Anamosa, IA in 1900. According to Thomas's obituary, his brother Malachi Foley traveled from Hastings, Nebraska while brother Ed was residing in nearby Calhoun Co., Iowa.

Thomas Leo Foley was living, with his wife Margaret Quigley and their children, in Sanborn, O'Brien County, IA by the time of the elder Thomas' death in 1900. He worked for the Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul railroad and mention of him is made in the O'Brien Co history. It may have been here in O'Brien County where his son, my grandfather Thomas, first worked for the "Milwaukee" railroad while driving water wagons at the young age of about 12; it was in Sanborn, IA where, in 1907, my father, Leslie John Foley, was born to Thomas Foley and Myrtle Fairley.


Anyone who may have information regarding members of this Foley line are encouraged to contact me. I am most happy to share information which may allow each member of our family to better understand our roots.

The following link will take you to my preliminary attempt to provide you with the most complete set of information I have available. Revisions will be posted as soon as the information becomes available.

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals


• InterneTree


• Sources

GEDCOM Trees (viewing trees requires 4.0 or later)

• A preliminary FOLEY genealogy file. (144 KB)
  This incomplete file contains the surnames FOLEY; FAIRLEY; BILSLAND; and QUIGLEY as well as many other surnames associated with this family. I will update to a more current version as soon as possible.

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• InterneTree: Descendant Tree of Thomas Foley