Worked on the farm for his father for fifteen years after he had reached his majority. In 1851 his father, Jacob Deily, "set him up in business" as merchant in a general store in the beautifully cut stone building now owned by George B. F. Deily on Race Street at the Canal Bridge. His predecessors were James Lackey and Joseph Laubach. The Deily store was a popular trading place and its shrewd proprietor rapidly accumulated wealth. The freshet of 1862 filled the first floor of the building with water to within but a few inches of the ceiling, and destroyed the whole stock. Mr. Deily disposed of his stock and converted the store room into the parlor of his home, and devoted all his time to overseeing his farms lying east of Catasauqua. At the time of his death he owned five large farms.