[1] He became notorious for malfeasance in office as federal agent for the Upper Arkansas River valley tribes.
By the winter of 1839, Colley was a justice of the peace, and as such performed the first marriage held in the incipient village of Beloit.
[6] In 1853, he was again elected to the Assembly, this time as a member of the new Republican Party to succeed Whig William D. Murray, winning with a majority of 224 votes over former Democratic Assemblyman John Hackett.
Although Colley had declared "a little powder and lead the best food" for the restive local tribes, he denounced the Sand Creek massacre, assailing Colonel Chivington's actions in no uncertain terms.
[8] At least one modern study of the background to these events concluded that Colley, while not understanding the Indians, may have been a good administrator and not merely the exemplar of corruption as which he is usually depicted.
During his term as sheriff, Clarissa prevented some of the prisoners in the county jail from escaping, and was presented with a pistol to commemorate her bravery.