John
Francis
Daly

JOHN FRANCIS DALY was born in Ireland in February of 1859. He came to America in 1888, marrying his first wife, Catherine, around 1890. He served with the United States Army in North Dakota, and was one of the first soldiers on the scene in the aftermath of the Battle of Wounded Knee, on December 29, 1890. 

By July of 1908 John F. Daly was operating Daly's Cafe at 201 Vine Street in Camden. He also served as a freeholder from Camden's First Ward. At some point around the time of World War I, Catherine Daly passed away, and he remarried, his second wife being named Mary.

John Daly's business interests included the North Camden Theatre, which was next door to to the bar, at 203-05 Vine Street. He also owned the house at 207 Vine Street.

Granddaughter Maryanne Mingle writes: "My grandfather owned the North Camden Theatre but rented it to Mr. Adelman who was a very nice man. I'm positive he didn't have the movie house built. There'd be no reason because he never operated it. Mr. Adelman let my brothers and me in free but my grandfather, who actually went into the theatre to rest and perhaps take a nap, always paid. Mr. Adelman told him not to but he wouldn't hear of it. It cost 10 cents in those days and on certain nights, dishes were given to the ladies. Mr. Adelman, year later, asked Pop if he could buy the building and Pop sold it to him. Shortly after that, TV came out and less and less patrons went to the movies. The whole family liked Mr. Adelman and I felt bad about his eventual loss."

A member of the Camden Lodge, Ancient Order of Hibernians, he was given a testimonial dinner on January 16, 1939 with Andrew J. McMahon, Ferdinand F. Larkin, and John T. Hanson, at Kenney's Cafe, 531 Market street in Camden. Known as Pop Daly, he was a much-loved and respected member of his community. 

Granddaughter Maryanne Mingle relates "He was an extremely generous and thoughtful kind man. During the depression he bought food for many families, put coal in their cellars, got lots of people out of jail (putting our house at 207 Vine Street, given by him to my mother, Rose Daly Kohm, as a wedding gift) for bail."

John Daly passed away in 1942. His son James F. Daly took over operation of the bar, known from the 1943 on as Daly's Tavern, and then passed it on to a nephew, Joseph E. Kohm. Another son, John Patrick Daly, operated a bar on Mt. Ephraim Avenue in Collingswood NJ. This bar, known in later years as Daly Brothers Tavern, only recently left the family, and is still open for business as of this writing in October 2004. 

John Daly and his son James F. Daly were both members of the Aquinas Club, a social club that many young men from North Camden belonged to in the years prior to World War I.

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John Daly Conducted Business in Camden for Last Four Decades
VETERAN INNKEEPER REACHES 74^TH YEAR

Camden's oldest saloonkeeper, John Daly, of 201 Vine Street, yesterday celebrated his 74th birthday anniversary. Born in King's County, Ireland, February 18, 1862, Mr. Daly was one of a family of 14 children. At the age of 23 he came to this country and three years later enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served until 1891.

He bought his release and obtained a position with the U. S. Quartermaster's Department. He served in that capacity for three years.

Returning to Camden with his wife and two children September 5, 1894, Daly opened his first saloon at Ninth and Lawrence streets. About 14 months later he located at Seventh and Birch streets where he remained for 10 years before moving to his present location location. Last year marked his fortieth year in the business.

In 1916 Mr. Daly's wife died. He has five children, Mary, James, Rose, John and Catherine. The daughters Mary and Rose are now Mrs. Thomas Kennedy, of Hartford, Connecticut, and Mrs. Ernest J. Kohm, of 207 Vine Street, respectively. Mrs. Kennedy has four children and Mrs. Kohm, three. The son John is married and has two children. He resides at 3046 Mickle Street. James and Catherine are single and live at home.

1500 EXPECTED TO FETE JOHN DALY AT BANQUET

More than 1500 persons are expected to attend a testimonial and birth day dinner to be held February 17, in honor of Freeholder John Daly, of the First ward, in Convention Halll.

Clarence E. Moullette, chairman of the banquet committee, announced yesterday, that 1500 tickets printed for the affair, 1425 have been distributed. He urged persons planning to attend the banquet not to depend on the purchase of tickets at the door of Convention Hall, but to buy them now as the supply is fast be coming depleted.

Tickets, Moullette said, may be ordered from him by calling City Hall, or from Harry Janice, chairman of the ticket committee, who has a supply at 325 State Street.