Daily, Peter bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 524-525; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Peter Daily, a retired builder and capitalist, one of the wealthy men of this county, has done as much or more than any other man to promote the growth and material prosperity of Canton. He was born in the county of Meath, in the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland, June 6, 1830, the eleventh child of Garrett and Frances (Flood) Daily. His father was a modest farmer and in 1850, emigrated to this country with his family, landing at New York City. He located in Somerset County, N. J., and there died in 1853. In 1856 the mother and the rest of the family came to Fulton County, and here she passed the remained of her life, dying in 1879, quite advanced in years.
Peter Daily received most of his education in his native country. After his arrival in the United States, he went to work on a farm in New Jersey, and on coming to Fulton County, he learned the trade of a bricklayer and plasterer. For a short time he engaged in the saloon business, but soon abandoned that and began building houses, he having prudently save his money and acquired a good capital. He bought land and lots which increased in value and he built fifty-eight houses, and was one of the most extensive builders in Canton, or this part of the county. Fifteen or twenty of the buildings he put up were dwellings, from whose rental he derives a handsome income. He erected the Canton Opera House, the first in the place. He has a fine farm within the corporate limits of the city. He has a handsome residence on Pleasant Street, and the neat, well-laid out grounds with the pretty fountain, shrubbery and flowers, add to the beauty of home attractions. He owns much other valuable property and has all his money judiciously invested so as to insure him good returns.
Our subject has been twice married. His first marriage was with Ann McGinnis, and was contracted in New Jersey in 18954. She died in this county in 1868, leaving two children – Joseph and Garrett. He married his second wife, Johanna McMahon, in 1872. She is a native of this county and a daughter of Michael McMahon. Her union with our subject has been productive of five children: Elizabeth, Agnes, Fred, Anna and Lillie.
Mr. Daily’s career as a business man has been marked by honest and fair dealings, and his name is honored in financial circles. He is zealous in promoting the religious interests of the community, where he has dwelt so long, and is one of the prominent members of the Catholic Church. He was one of the organizers of the church here and was a liberal contributor towards the erection of the present magnificent brick building in which that society now worships, presided over by Father Fallihee. In his political views he is a decided Democrat.