My Genealogy Hound

PHILIP DALEY. Prominent among the Irish-American residents of Berrien County may be mentioned Philip Daley, who owns and cultivates a farm upon section 34, of St. Joseph Township. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, about twenty miles from the city of Dublin, February 17, 1836, being the son of Patrick and Elizabeth Daley, natives of the Emerald Island, the father having been a farmer by occupation. The parental family consisted of nine children, of whom five are now living.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the county of his nativity and received a limited education in the common schools. At the age of about fourteen years, accompanied by his brother Peter, he crossed the Atlantic and located at Newton, Mass., where for about fifteen years he was engaged in the gardening business, meeting with fair success in that enterprise. In 1854 he made his first visit to Michigan, and returning to Massachusetts, afterward came again to this State, where he sojourned temporarily in St. Joseph County, returning once more to his home in the old Bay State. In 1858, during the great gold excitement, Mr. Daley proceeded with other Argonauts to the El Dorado of the civilized world — the Golden State. During his short sojourn in California, he was employed in an orchard. Going back to Massachusetts, he remained for a time in Newton, and thence he moved to St. Joseph, Mich., where he secured employment and resided for a brief period. He purchased his first property at Benton Harbor, but shortly afterward disposed of it. In 1873 he purchased a tract situated upon section 34, St. Joseph Township, and in 1882 settled upon this place, where he has since resided. He owns fifteen acres of excellent fruit land, which he devotes to the cultivation of fruit, making a specialty of blackberries, grapes, pears, and peaches, which he markets in Chicago. He has made a number of valuable improvements upon the farm, including the commodious residence and substantial barn.

November 20, 1861, Mr. Daley was united in marriage with Miss Catherine, daughter of John and Mary O’Brien. Mrs. Daley was born in County Limerick, Ireland, March 17, 1841, and emigrated to the United States in company with her uncle, Michael Hartegan, when she was fourteen years of age, locating at Lawrence, Mass. There she resided for eight years and in that place she met and married our subject. Two children have been born of this union: Thomas Henry, a machinist residing in St. Joseph; and Jennie E., who is the wife of John Shanahan, a resident of St. Joseph. Politically, Mr. Daley is a Democrat and aids with his influence and ballot the principles of his chosen party. In his religious connections, he is identified with the Roman Catholic Church, to which his wife also belongs. He started out in life poor and friendless, a poor boy in a strange land, but he was industrious and energetic, and prosperity has rewarded his tireless exertions.