JOSEPH DAILY, farmer; P. O. Manito; was born in 1829, in Ireland, and remained there until 15 years old, when he went with his mother to England, and engaged in driving stage coaches; in 1854, he came to New York and worked for President Fillmore for seven months; he then mined coal in Virginia for three months; he then came, to St. Louis and remained some time, when he went to Kingston, III., and engaged in mining; he next started a coal mine for himself near Peoria in 1856. and some time afterward, started another at or near Pekin, where he succeeded very well; he hauled his coal to Mason City and exchanged it for corn, which he hauled back and sold at Pekin; in 1859, he started another mine near Lancaster Landing, in partnership with Joseph Steward, and continued one winter; he then lived in Pekin for six years, teaming; he then moved to Manito, Ill., and engaged in lumbering and buying grain; in 1864, he bought eighty acres in Manito Township; in 1867, he settled on it and has increased it to 640 acres; when Mr. Daily began business at Pekin, he had just five cents. Was married, in I860, to Mary Fox, of Ireland; they have had two children:  Joseph, who died in 1865, and Joseph, born in 1866. He has property in Manito worth $1,000, and in Pekin $2,000, also 160 acres of land in Tazewell Co.; he has held the office of Highway Commissioner and Roadmaster.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer