In 1887, Daly left the army and moved to Lakeview, Oregon where he began a private medical practice.

Over the years, Daly played a very important role in the economic development of Lake County, establishing a number of successful businesses.

In his will, Daly wrote: It is my earnest desire to help, aid and assist worthy and ambitious young men and women of my beloved county of Lake, to acquire a good education, so that they may be better fitted and qualified to appreciate and help to preserve the laws and constitution of this free country, defend its flag, and by their conduct as good citizens reflect honor on Lake county and the state of Oregon.

[1]The fact that his will specifically directed that Daly scholarships be granted to women as well as men was very progressive for that era.

[1] Today, the education fund Daly established is the oldest continuously operating place-based college scholarship in the United States.

As of 1989, four of the town’s six attorneys, half of its doctors, five of its seven pharmacists, and all of the dentists in the community went to college with Daly scholarship.