Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 688-691.

HON. JOSEPH S. DAILEY is a native of Wells County, Indiana, born May 31, 1844, and has always been a resident of the county. He is the fourth son of James Dailey, who in 1850 was elected auditor of said county, when he removed from his farm to Bluffton, where he lived and faithfully discharged his duties as auditor to the satisfaction of all. The subject of this sketch, after attending the public schools of his native county, received a thorough training in the law department of the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated in the winter of 1866, and immediately entered upon the practice of law at Bluffton, Indiana, with Hon. George S. Brown. In October, 1866, he was elected district attorney for the common pleas district in which he resided, and in 1868—'70—'72 and '74 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the judicial circuit to which Wells County was attached. In 1870 he formed a partnership with Hon. Levi Mock, with whom he has since been associated under the firm name of Dailey & Mock. When the Narrow Gauge Railroad was in process of construction Mr. Dailey was attorney for the road, and was at one time a director thereof, and has at all times been an active promoter of public improvements. His acquaintance and relationship is very extensive, and he is affable and obliging in his manners, and his success as a lawyer has been very great. So large is the number of his friends that when the question is asked by one needing a lawyer, "To whom shall I go for advice," the answer springs from many lips, "Go to Joe Dailey." No deserving poor person goes in vain to Mr. Dailey for such aid as is in his power, though he is by no means a rich man. Mr. Dailey's mother was Lydia Garton, a daughter of the well-known Judge Jonathan Garton of Wells County, who died recently at the age of eighty-three years, respected by all who knew him. Mr. Dailey's mother died in 1850, but his father is still living, an upright and intelligent farmer, active still in his labors, at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Dailey was elected a member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1878, serving his constituents with fidelity. In 1882 he was the nominee of his party for Congressman from the Eleventh Indiana District, but though defeated, he reduced the National Republican majority of that district from 1,080 to 333. Mr. Dailey was married March 15, 1870, at Marion, Indiana, to Emma, daughter of John P. and Henrietta Gutelius. His wife was rn in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 17, 1852, and came with her parents to Wells County in September, 1868, and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are the parents of four children—Frank C., born December 22, 1870; Lewis W., born March 8, 1874; Charles G., born March 29, 1876, and Blanche born February 9, 1886. Mr. Dailey’s qualifications as a lawyer are recognized by both bench and bar, and he has been several times called by court and counsel to sit as special judge in the trial of important law suits.