Samuel Gordon Daily

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Samuel Daily was a member of Congress. Born in Kentucky, Daily moved to Indiana where he attended college and was admitted to the bar.  He practiced in Madison, Indiana for a time and was an unsuccessful candidate of the Free-Soil Party.  The Free-Soil Party, was a third party influential in the United States from 1848 to 1854. The main party  objective was to prevent the extension of slavery into the new territories. Additionally, the Free Soil party, demanded free homesteads for the people. In 1854 the first free homestead bill was introduced in Congress. It was not until May 20, 1862, that the free homestead act was finally passed and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, taking effect January 1, 1863.

Daily moved to Peru in 1857 and settled in Peru where he built a sawmill.  Elected to serve in Congress as a Republican, Daily was later appointed to the position of Deputy Collector of Customs.  He died in 1866 in New Orleans and is buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Peru. Learn more about Daily at Congress's website.

Timeline:

• 1823 Born in Trimble County, Kentucky 
• 1824 Moved to Jefferson County, Indiana
• 1857 Moved to the Nebraska Territory (Peru)
• 1858 Built a sawmill on the Missouri River
• 1858 Became a member of the Territorial House of Representatives
• 1860 - 1865 Member of Congress
• 1865 Appointed Deputy Collector of Customs in New Orleans, LA.
• August 15, 1866 Died
• Interned Mount Vernon Cemetery, Peru, Nebraska