DELAY FARMS - Key Persons
John Quinn received a homestead patent for the SE quarter of 14-54-3W in August 1901. He sold the land in 1910 to James. Peter. and William T. Massie who, in turn, sold to Antonio Dell'Aia in August 1920 (Deed Record 3:429, 21:404. 39:55). Dell'Aia, an Italian immigrant, sent for his ļ¬ancee, Caterina Elisabetta Simioni, in 1922 and they married in Spokane. They later changed the spelling of their name to Delay. Delay increased his holdings by buying up tax-delinquent land. paying for it with the sale of cordwood.
It was a cold Dec. 24 in 1948 that Ray and Fairy Delay first remember about their life on Delay Farms in Careywood, just north of Athol. The snow that year was deep - almost topping the 5-foot fence - and Fairy was pregnant and about to give birth. They laugh when they remember how it took three tries to get out of their road and onto U.S. Highway 95 so she could get to the hospital in Coeur d'Alene in time.
They had just moved to this large parcel of land. It was called Delay Farms, and Ray was born here in the farmhouse in July 1924. In 1906, Ray's father, Tony Delay, had arrived from Italy at Ellis Island. He was soon wooed westward by stories of the big trees, the booming timber industry and the promise of a good job. As with many Italians who came here and were known for their rail-setting ability, finding work with Northern Pacific was no problem.