Peter Daly

Peter Daly

PETER DALY, farmer, section 20, Denver Township, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Agen) Daly, natives of Ireland and of Irish descent. He was born in the town of Galloway, Ireland, June 16, 1838. At the tender age of eight years, he and a younger sister came by themselves to America, landing at New York, June 28, 1844. Shortly afterward he went to Long Island to work on a farm for nine months, thence to Saratoga County for a year, thence to New York City, where he engaged himself as cabin boy on a steamer. He remained here some time, and then, in company with his brother, came to Michigan and settled on a farm of timber land in what is now known as Climax Prairie, Kalamazoo County. They succeded in cultivating a farm that took the first premium at the State fair for five consecutive years. Mr. Daly then removed to Grand Rapids, where he was employed on the steamboat Empire, as steersman, on Grand River, until 1856, when he sailed on Lake Michigan one year. While on the lake he was accidentally thrown overboard one midnight in November, and almost Miraculously rode the waves for 12 hours on a part of a bale of shingles, when he was finally picked up by a passing vessel. After this he came to White Lake, Muskegon County, where he has since been engaged as pilot during the summer season, and winters engaged as foreman in the camps of the pineries of this and Oceana Counties.

In 1867 Mr. Daly purchased 80 acres of land in Denver Township, which he has partly improved, and has since bought 90 acres more, partly under cultivation. Dec. 26, 1868, he was married, at Whitehall, to Miss Annie L. Rossiter, daughter of Jeremiah and Bridget (Fortune) Rossiter, natives of Wexford, Ireland, where Anna was born, March 4, 1850. When 18 months old her parents emigrated to Lower Canada, and after three years came to Port Huron, Mich. Here she received her education, and afterwards came to Denver Township, where she has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Daly are the parents of seven children: Maggie, born April 25, 1869; Katie, June 30, 1871; Nellie, Sept. 17, 1873; Anna S., May 24, 1876; John, April 11, 1878; Jennie, Aug. 15, 1881; Bessie M., born Jan. 20, 1868; died April 3, 1868. They are active members of the Roman Cathlic Church. Mr. D. has held the office of School Director and Postmaster for 13 years, and in politics is a Republican.

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