Santa Clara County
Biographies
JOHN B. DALEY
JOHN B. DALEY. That intense satisfaction felt by all
strong and ambitious men who have aided in the upbuilding of a town, whose
fortunes have traveled parallel with its advancement, and whose name is
associated with its moral and financial stability, is the heritage of John B.
Daley, one of the largest property owners of Palo Alto, and who is at present
engaged in real-estate and building operations. When Mr. Daley came to the
present site of Palo Alto in 1891, he found one small house to encourage him in
his glowing predictions of the future town’s prosperity. For his own comfort
and convenience, he erected a temporary shelter of two rooms, with few
architectural adornments, and, fortunate in the possession of a useful trade,
began the contracting and building which has served as the foundation of his
competence. For two years he worked on the Stanford University, assisted with
the erection of the first quadrangle, or boys’ and girls’ dormitory, and at the
same time began to buy and sell property, and to engage in a wood and coal
business. In 1894 he added to his responsibilities that of a livery stable, and
later an express and drayage business, which he retained in 1899, after
disposing of his other local enterprises. Continuing to engage in buying and
selling property, he disposed of his drayage business in 1902, and has since
devoted himself exclusively to real-estate and building. His personal
possessions include property on the Middlefield road, on East University avenue, Everett and Cowper avenues, the Daley block on the
corner of Emerson and High streets, the Daley flats, consisting of six
apartments in a two and one-half story building at 625 Emerson street, and
several other improved and unimproved properties.
A source of satisfaction to other strugglers along the
road of life is the fact that Mr. Daley is the architect of his own
success, and that he has built with as much care and forethought as he has put
into the houses and public structures which bear the stamp of his ability in
Palo Alto. He has the wit and resource usually associated with the sons of
Irish parents of the middle class, and he has behind his endeavor a youth into
which was firmly instilled the principles of thoroughness and integrity. Born
at Clifton, Gloucester county, N. B.,
April 22, 1850, he is a son of Joseph and Mary Daley, both of whom
were born in Ireland, and the former in County Cork. His mother came to America
with her parents when four years old, and her death occurred in New Brunswick
February 22, 1904. Joseph Daley settled in New Brunswick about 1836,
purchasing a farm at Clifton, Gloucester county, which
proved to have a grindstone quarry, and was also remarkably well adapted to general
farming. On a small scale he began the manufacture of grindstones, and in time
enlarged his business to such an extent that he was able to ship to Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, and other eastern marts of trade, being thus employed until
shortly before his death, December 10, 1888. He was a shrewd,
practical business man, and worked up one of the largest grindstone
manufactories on the Atlantic coast. At the same time he reared a family of
eleven children, eight sons and three daughters.
John B., the second in his father’s large family,
acquired his first experience on the New Brunswick farm, where he was gradually
initiated into the grindstone business and eventually undertook the management
of that business. In 1876 he carne to California and engaged
in building and contracting in Rio Vista. Removing to St. Helena,
Napa county, in 1878, he purchased a farm on Howe
mountain, and in 1880 established himself in St. Helena until 1884. The same year he went to San Francisco and built and contracted
until 1890, in which year he settled in Menlo Park, a year later coming to the
site of Palo Alto. In Oakland he built a home which he still owns.
February 4, 1885, he was married there to
Miss Catherine Moore, a native of New Brunswick, the ceremony being
performed by Rev. Dr. McClain. Mr. Daley is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for
James G. Blaine. He is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters. With his
wife he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Daley has perseverance
and determination, which, allied to practical common sense, and many-sided
ability, render him an increasingly useful and influential citizen. His name is
identified with progress, substantiality, and genuine worth, and his counsel
and opinion are eagerly sought and depended upon in matters of public moment.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 07 May 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
583-584. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.