WILLIAM DAILEY BIOGRAPHY

WILLIAM DAILEY, who resides on section 32, Lone Rock township, Moody county, near Flandreau, is a very large land owner, and one of the most prominent farmers in that section.

Mr. Dailey was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, October 11, 1855. He is a brother of another well-known agriculturist of Moody county, James Dailey, whose sketch appears in this work.

William received a good education in his younger days, in the common schools and at a seminary at Osage, Iowa. He remained at home until of age, when he began teaching in his native state. In 1876 he went to Dakota, arriving at too early an age to take out a claim of his own from the government. He returned to Iowa, where he carried on farming for two years.

In the spring of 1878 he went to Dakota once more, and this time located upon the land which is now his home. He put up a small shanty and "broke" one hundred acres of the land during the first year.

In 1889 he built the fine residence in which he now lives. His farm is a very finely improved one and now consists of seven hundred and twenty-five acres of good land, most of which is under cultivation.

Will specialized in corn production and from an early date started to develop a white dent corn which would grow and mature in his part of the country. His "Dailey's White Dent" was the result and he took state and national prizes for many years. [Ed. Note: As this is written Will's corn, "Dailey's White Dent" is being planted again in south eastern South Dakota.]

Mr. Dailey carries on general farming and stock raising. He has about one hundred fine Poland China hogs and some blooded cattle, and, altogether, one of the finest farms in that part of the state.

Mr. Dailey is a Populist politically, though he formerly adhered to Republican principles. He served three years as county commissioner, and was chairman of the county board in 1896. He has been chairman of the township board for many years, and has held school and other minor offices. Mr. Dailey is a member of the A. O. U. W. at Flandreau.

On 01 Feb 1881, Mr. Dailey married Miss Amelia Christianna (Minnie) MALLDER, a native of New York, at Mitchell, Mitchell, IA, and came to what was then known as "Valley View Farm" where they resided their entire married life of 53 years.

When they first arrived in Moody County the Daileys lived in a barn Will had erected before his marriage. A portion of the barn was fitted up with living rooms and the remaining space was used for storing grain. The horses and livestock were housed in an improvised shelter. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are the parents of four children, Robert, Edward, Lawrence E. and Myrtie.

Will was honored in Feb 1932, at the age of 76, as an Eminent Farmer at South Dakota State College and his picture now hangs in Ag Hall at Brookings, SD.