From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1390-1391
 
JOHN W. DELANEY.  Among the well known citizens of Richmond township of a past 
generation, who played a conspicuous part in the agricultural affairs of 
Walworth county, built up a comfortable home and surrounded themselves with 
large landed and personal property, none attained a higher degree of success 
than the late John W. DELANEY.  With few opportunities except what his own 
efforts were capable of mastering and with many discouragements to overcome, 
he made an exceptional success of life's work in a material way and in his old 
age had the gratification of knowing that the community in which he had been 
residing for a number of decades had been benefited by his presence and his 
council.  He was a man of energy, concentration of purpose, managing his 
affairs with rare foresight and executive ability, and to these qualities, 
were added scrupulous honesty, integrity and an open candor, that won and 
retained the admiration and universal esteem of all who knew him.
 
Mr. DELANEY was born in Ireland in 1836 and there spent his early boyhood and 
attended the primary schools, being ten years of age in 1846, when he 
accompanied his parents, James and Julia DELANEY, to New York, where they 
remained until 1856 when they came on west, locating in Walworth county, 
Wisconsin, and here the death of the father occurred in 1863, the mother 
living to a ripe old age, dying in 1907.
 
John W. DELANEY grew to manhood in Walworth county, and early in life took up 
farming for a vocation and this he continued the rest of his life, becoming 
very successful, in fact one of the large landowners and well-to-do 
agriculturists of the county, owning nine hundred and twenty acres of well 
improved and valuable land in Richmond township, where for many years he 
carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale.
 
Politically, Mr. DELANEY was a Democrat and was active and influential in 
local public affairs.  He was chairman of the town board for several years.  
Religiously, he was a faithful member of the Catholic church.  He attended the 
Democratic national conventions held in St. Louis and Denver.
 
Mr. DELANEY was married on October 14, 1867, to Anna STEWART, who was born in 
Delaware July 5, 1850, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (ADAMS) STEWART, 
both born in Ireland, where they spent their early years, emigrating to 
America and settling for a time in Maryland, finally coming to Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, in 1852, and here they established a good home and spent 
the rest of their lives. Of their three children, two are still living.
 
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John W. DELANEY, named as follows: 
James, Mary Agnes (deceased), William J., Lizzie, Julie, Fred, Annie, Winfield 
J., Etta, Edward, Raymond S. and Frank, who is deceased.  The death of John W. 
DELANEY occurred on March 16, 1911.
 
Mr. DELANEY will long be greatly missed from the business, political and 
social life of the county, for he was active and influential in all the 
relations of life and highly esteemed by all.
 
Submitted by Carol