Surnames: Daly, Marr, Anthony, Winpenny, Wilson
Thomas L. Daly was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 18, 1839, the sixth in a family of eight children of Thomas and Mary (Marr) Daly. His father and mother were natives of Dublin, Ireland, and after emigrating to this country eventual]y settled in Philadelphia.His father was a distiller and followed his occupation in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del. In the early part of the year 1857 he was employed to superintend the erection of the distillery apparatus of the Gibsonton Mills, situated in the township of Rostraver, Westmoreland Co., Pa. (For a full description of these extensive works see another page of this volume.) While thus employed he was killed by falling through a hatchway of the mills. His death occurred April 7, 1858.
Thomas L. Daly lived at home until eight years of age, when he went to live with Samuel Anthony, near Wilmington, Del., where he remained eight years. Mr. Anthony owned a farm and flouring-mill, and here young Daly received his first ideas of machinery. His education was received in the public schools near Wilmington and in Philadelphia. Upon leaving Mr. Anthony he spent about one year at home, then went to Iowa, where he remained about a year on a farm, with his brother James. In the spring of 1856 he went to Indianapolis, where for about another year he was employed in the flouring-mill of William Winpenny.
In April, 1857, he came to Gibsonton, where he was employed in the building of the mills there. Having filled one position after another in these extensive works, and having acquired by his experience a thorough knowledge of the business, in July, 1878, he was appointed superintendent of the works, which position he still (1882) holds. The management of works as extensive as are the Gibsonton Mills, involving the outlay of large amounts of money and the employment of a large number of men, requires business qualifications and an executive ability of no mean order.
In politics Mr. Daly is a Democrat. He is a member of the Trinity Church (Episcopalian), Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having received the three symbolical degrees at Monongahela City, Capitular and degree of Knight Templar at Washington, Pa.
He married, Sept. 19, 1860, Carrie W., daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann Wilson. Mrs. Daly was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 2, 1887. They have had five children, viz.: Mary Emma, born June 19, 1861, died Nov. 7, 1869; Harry C., born Dec. 5, 1864; Athalia C., born Dec. 4, 1868; Thomas L., born Nov. 20, 1872, died young; Kerfoot W., born April 24, 1874.