As a child, he worked as a mail carrier between Little Rock and Van Buren, and as a bartender for the Anthony House.

[3] He enlisted into the United States Army in June 1846, and served under Archibald Yell and Albert Pike,[4] being ranked captain.

[7] During the American Civil War, Danley was a member of the Arkansas Military Board, alongside Henry Massey Rector.

[9] He was an editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, having bought the newspaper from William E. Woodruff in March 1853,[10] and member of the Democratic Party, which was pro-slavery.

[11][12][13] In 1849, he defeated Elias Nelson Conway in the election for Arkansas State Auditor, serving until resigning in 1855.