daily was an agent of the preacher's aid society in 1837, then was transferred to the missouri conference in 1838 and stationed in st. louis. shortly thereafter he became a professor at st. charles college. daily returned to indiana in 1840 after a lung hemorrhage. in 1843 he took charge of a congregation in madison, indiana. while there he met permelia a. northcraft and they married. he was a chaplain in the united states congress in the winter of 1844-1845, then stationed at rising sun and evansville. during this time he was made agent for indiana asbury (now depaw) university, then a presiding elder of the bloomington and madison districts. daily was a member of the general conference in 1852.