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.
