****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

****************************************************************************

The Biography of George L. FOLEY 

[Surnames: FOLEY, SHEPLEY, WRIGHT] 

FOLEY, GEORGE L. 

    
A well known resident of Canton, Fulton County, IL, who has followed coal mining since he was a boy of fifteen years and for several years was manager of an extensive coal mining enterprise in the vicinity of Canton, was born in Peoria, IL in 1876, a son of W. E. and Kate L. Foley. Mr. Foley is the younger of a family of two children, namely William F. and George L. Foley. 
    
In early youth the subject of this sketch enjoyed the advantages afforded by the public schools of Peoria, and after finishing his studies secured employment in a coal mine. In this occupation he continued for several years. Together with his brother, W. F., and his father, he located at Canton in 1902 and sunk a mine on the Shepley farm. The brothers purchased five acres of land and leased 600 acres of coal area. They built a shaft and equipped it with the Shaw hoisting machinery, furnishing the mine and plant with electric lighting appliances and installing electric motors in their blacksmith shop. In connection with their work are used Shaker sieves and the Christie box-car loader. The output of the mine is 350 tons daily and the force employed numbers 100 men. The equipment of the plant is sufficient to hoist 1000 tons of coal per day. All of the product of this mine is shipped to the Northwest via the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, on the tracks of which it is located. December 16, 1905, the Messrs. Foley sold their Canton mine to H. W. Lynch and Company of Peoria, and are now operation a mine at Mapleton, Peoria County. 
    
Mr. Foley was joined in matrimony in 1898 with Maggie Wright, who was born in England, a daughter of William Wright. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Foley, namely: Katie, Paul and Margaret. 
    
Fraternally, Mr. Foley is affiliated with the Order of Eagles. He is considered one of the most energetic, capable and promising young man in Fulton County in his sphere of operation.