Ruth Mahala (Massey) Foley (1852 - 1939)

Born 30 Jun 1852 in Meadows of Dan, Patrick, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of John Wesley Foley — married 24 Jan 1871 (to 1930) in Patrick, Virginia, United States

Died 29 Nov 1939 at age 87 in Patrick, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anne Massey [send private message]

Biography

Ruth was born June 30, 1852 in Meadows of Dan, Patrick, Virginia, United States. In the 1860 census Ruth (age 7) was in North Division, Patrick, Virginia.^[1] In the 1870 census Ruth (age 18), Domestic Servent was in Smith River, Patrick, Virginia.^[2] Ruth (age 18), daughter of James Massey, married John Wesley Foley on 24 January 1871 in Patrick, Virginia.^[3]

In the 1910 census Ruth (age 58) was the wife of John W Foley in Portsmouth Ward 4, Scioto, Ohio, United States.^[4] In the 1930 census Ruth (age 77) was the widowed head of household in Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, United States.^[5]

Ruth died on 29 November 1940 and was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, United States.^[6]

Ruth's Story

About 1888 the townspeople in Vesta, Virginia wanted to improve their educational opportunities. Ruth Massey donated the land for the new school, the Blue Ridge Institute, a lot she owned on the north side of route 58--across the road from the "Foley apple orchard." Ruth and Wes Foley's eldest daughter, "Jennie" was one of the first graduates.

Ruth helped to secure family income by being appointed Postmistress for the town of Vest. She handled the mail from a little shack-like structure that is believed to have been her father's old cobbler shop. Also, with lumber from old crates, she finished off some upstairs rooms that she rented out to wagon drivers and drummer" who were passing through Vesta.

Around 1900, Wes and Ruth Foley left and settled briefly in West Virginia before moving to Portsmouth, Ohio. Ruth died at age eighty-seven of asthma and infirmities.

Written by Ruth's grandson, Williams Massey Foley in 1999

Sources

1. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: North Division, Patrick, Virginia; Roll: M653_1369; Page: 882; Family History Library Film: 805369
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #34097260 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth Massey (7) in North Division, Patrick, Virginia. Born in Virginia.
2. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: Smith River, Patrick, Virginia; Roll: M593_1670; Page: 542B
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #40340935 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth Massey (18), Domestic Servt, in Smith River, Patrick, Virginia. Born in Virginia.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940"
   Original data: Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 33351
   Ancestry Record 60214 #2848716 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth Massey (18) marriage to J. Wesley Foley on 24 Jan 1871 in Patrick, Virginia.
4. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Portsmouth Ward 4, Scioto, Ohio; Roll: T624_1228; Page: 12b; Enumeration District: 0156; FHL microfilm: 1375241
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #128693397 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth M Foley (58), wife, in household of John W Foley (59) in Portsmouth Ward 4, Scioto, Ohio, USA. Born in Virginia.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0040; FHL microfilm: 2341601
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #69620435 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth M Foley (77), widowed head of household at 1230 Grandview Ave., Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, USA. Born in Virginia.
6. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Find A Grave: Memorial #95372963
   Ancestry Record 60525 #50355138 (accessed 28 February 2024)
   Ruth Mahala Foley burial (died on 29 Nov 1940) in Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, United States of America. Born on 30 Jun 1858.

• Marriage of son Warren Massey Foley: "Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993"
  Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61378 #1200553187 (accessed 28 February 2024)
  Ruth M Massey's son Warren Massey Foley marriage to Anna Bernice Williams on 25 Feb 1924 in Hamilton, Ohio, USA.

• "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZYJ-D5G : 8 March 2021), Ruth M Foley, 29 Nov 1939; citing Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, reference fn 68458; FHL microfilm 2,023,769.

• "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDB5-GC7 : 8 March 2021), Ruth Massey in entry for James W Foley, 07 Sep 1923; citing Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, reference fn 56628; FHL microfilm 1,992,392.