JAMES E. DAILEY

The esteemed pioneer, whose name heads this article, is one of the substantial men of the county and a leader in many lines and is accredited with the distinction of living 'longer in Latah county without using whisky than any other man in the Palouse country. He is a man of sound principles and unswerving integrity and is highly esteemed by all of his fellows.

James E. was born in La Salle County, Illinois, on April 16, 1858, the son of Robert Dailey and Eleanor (Hughes) Dailey. The father was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1826, and is now living in Latah County. His grandfather, James Dailey. was a native of the same place and died there. The mother of our subject was born in Greene County in 1836 and is now living in Latah County. Her father, John Hughes, was born and died in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and his father was killed there by the Indians at an early age.

Our subject's parents removed to Story County, Iowa, in 1864, and four years later went thence to Handlton county and farmed. Our subject attended school and later came with his parents to San Francisco, thence to Portland by steamer and on to The Dalles, whence they made their way by teams to the Palouse River, there being no Palouse City then.

They took land and at the age of twenty-one, James took a portion of his present place, seven miles northeast of Palouse. Since he has purchased more and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He raises abundant crops of hay and cereals from his half-section of fine land. He took part in the defense of the settlers at the time of the Indian outbreak. He was packing to Camas Prairie at the time and assisted in taking all his people to Colfax.

The marriage of Mr. Dailey and Miss Ida, daughter of Talbott and Sarah ( Haynes ) Ingraham, was celebrated on January 1, 1882. They have five children: Blanche, deceased; Ward E., deceased; Robert T., at home; Maud I., and Sarah Odna, at home.

Mr. Ingraham was a farmer, born in Ohio on May 6, 1833. His grandmother was Jemimah Birch and his grandfather Ingraham was born in Wales. Mrs. Dailey was born in Knox County, Illinois, on November 23, 1864, and gained her education in the public schools. Mrs. Dailey has brothers and sisters as follows: Warren S., in Pennsylvania; Eliza J., wife of Bert Trownfelter and living in Lewiston; Daniel S., deceased. Mr. Dailey's brothers and sisters are named as follows: Louisa, wife of Walter Dean, in Latah county, John L. and Hughes I. on Nez Perces reservation; Anna E., wife of W. W. Davis, of Latah county; Robert R., at home in Latah county: Charles M, also at home in Latah county. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are members of the Christian church and he is a member of the school board. It is of note that six uncles of Mr. Dailey fought in the Civil War, one. I. I. Hughes becoming captain.

Mrs. Dailey had five uncles in the Civil War and three died there, one in Andersonville prison. They were fifers and one was a drum major. In 1875 Mr. Dailey carried the mail from Lewiston to Spokane. Lewiston being the distributing point then. And it is of note that at that time J. M. Glover kept a little store in a box house in Spokane and there was no accommodation for a horse to be found and Mr. Dailey was obliged to feed him on a picket rope.

An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties, State of Idaho; Western Historical Publishing Co., 1903.

Submitted and transcribed by Barb Ziegenmeyer