Darby O'Malley was born in the Parish of Lanesburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, in 1852. He came to Chicago, Illinois, in 1873, where he worked for Armour and Company for eight years. During the first five years he worked in nearly every position in their packing plant. He was promoted to shipping clerk in the downtown store.

Darby came to Valley City on April 8, 1881, when the total population was 250 persons. Nearly everyone was holding down a homestead, preemption or tree claim, at that time. It was a popular custom to spend the week in town and do the necessary improvements over the weekend.

In the summer of 1881, Mr. O'Malley built the Dakota Hotel. He enlarged it the following summer, and operated it until 1890.

He married Anne Fitzstephens at Oriska, North Dakota, on August 20, 1881. She died January 11, 1921.

Mr. O'Malley acquired a farm in Getchell Prairie Township and lived on it from 1890 to 1896, when he was appointed Postmaster, a position he held for four years. After leaving the post office, Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley toured Europe for three months. He owned several large tracts of land in North Dakota and Canada. He served as Mayor for the years 1902-1904.

On July 4, 1924, he married Margaret McNulty at Portland, Oregon. He had one daughter, Ruth, and a step-daughter, Mary McNulty. He died October 17, 1936. He is remembered as the driving force behind the Barnes County Red Cross during World War I, and as a former postmaster, banker, mayor and civic leader.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 189