william daily was born in 1812 in coshocton, ohio. later that year his father moved to a farm in franklin county and daily spent his childhood there. he attended the country school, and later attended school in brookville. at fifteen years of age he took charge of a school in an adjoining county. daily was baptized as a baby and grew up in the methodist episcopal church, and was preaching by age 16. he joined the conference in 1831, was ordained deacon in 1833, and elder in 1835. daily was stationed in bloomington, indiana in 1835-1836 where he had duties as a local pastor and was a student at indiana university. he graduated from the university in 1836.