Background
He was born in Canada, and was educated in that country and in Boston, Massachusetts.
He was born in Canada, and was educated in that country and in Boston, Massachusetts.
He graduated from the law department in 1884, then continued teaching two years more, and in 1887 began the practice of law at Lyons.
He began to practice about 1888 at Lyons, Kansas. In 1880, at age twenty, he moved to Kansas and by teaching school in the eastern section of the state earned enough to defray his expenses at the University of Kansas. In addition to building up a good practice he served as county attorney for four years.
His public record began with his election to the State Legislature in 1896, and by re-election he served during the session of 1897-1898-99.
In 1909 Governor Stubbs appointed him regent of the University of Kansas, and four years later he was reappointed by Governor Hodges and served until July, 1913. In February, 1915, he had been reappointed by Governor Capper, and on the expiration of his short term in January, 1916, Governor Capper reappointed him for the full term of three years.
Foley was a Democrat, a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. On December 8, 1913, he was appointed by Governor Hodges a member of the Public Utilities Commission, and served as its chairman until April 1, 1915.