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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Clark County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James Foley, merchant, grain and hay dealer, was born April 13, 1828, in New Boss, Ireland, the eldest of eight children of John and Margaret (Nolan)Foley, natives of Ireland, and born in 1802 and 1803, respectively. The father was engaged as a grain merchant at New Boss until 1856, when they crossed the Atlantic, landed at Quebec, and came to Alexandria directly. After about eighteen years at this place he went to St. Louis, where he died at his daughter’s home in 1875. The mother died in 1868. Our subject was educated in Ireland, and at the age of twenty-one years came directly to Alexandria, where he spent two years as a general laborer. He was next a member of Maxwell & Foley’s commission house at Alexandria, but during the war abandoned that for farming. In 1867 he came to Gregory’s Landing, and after three years of farming he began mercantile life. He has continued this in various partnerships ever since, and also is engaged extensively in the grain and hay business. Besides this he owns 180 acres of land adjoining the town, and nearly all the buildings in the village. His wife, Elizabeth (Nevitt), was born in 1828 in Indiana, and was married about 1871. Their only child is John P. She died December 14, 1877, and in September of 1882 Margaret Gibbons became his wife, a lady who was born in 1850 in NewYork. James E. and Charles F. are their only children. Our subject is a Democrat, while in religion his entire family are united in the Roman Catholic faith. He has been post master since 1882, and is a well-respected citizen.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in the Clark County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clark County, Missouri family biographies here: Clark County, Missouri Biographies

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