Biographical Sketch of Hon. George W. Colley, Pulaski County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
 Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
 Publishing Company.

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Hon. George W. Colley, ex-merchant, farmer and stock-dealer of Waynes-
ville, MO., was born in Caldwell County, KY., June 9, 1829.  His 
father, Cyrus Colley, was of Irish descent, and was born in York
County, S.C., in 1800, and when he was a small boy was taken by his
parents to Caldwell County, KY., where he grew to manhood and was
married to Miss Elizabeth Howard.  He was a carpenter by trade, but
during the latter part of his life followed the occupation of farming.
In 1832 he immigrated to the State of Missouri and located six miles
west of Waynesville, where he became the owner of 300 acres of land
in "Colley Hollow", which was named in his honor, he being the first
white man to settle there.  He became a prominent citizen of Pulaski
County, holding the office of county judge a number of terms, and 
was also appointed commissioner by the county court to sell the lots
of Waynesville, having assisted in laying out the town.  He was one
of the first settlers of what is now Pulaski County, and his nearest
neighbor, who was Isaac N. Davis, lived three miles distant.  His 
next neighbor was William Gillespie, who resided at a distance of
five miles.  His nearest milling point was twenty-five miles distant.
His wife, who is yet living and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah
Christeson, was born in Caldwell County, KY., in 1805, and became the
mother of ten children, eight of whom are living.  George W. Colley
is their eldest son and third child, and was about four years of age
when he was brought to Pulaski County, MO.  He grew to manhood on the
old homestead, and received a fair common school education, and at the
age of twenty years began clerking in a general store at Waynesville,
which belonged to his uncle, Silas Howard.  After following the same
occupation in Springfield for some time, in the fall of 1850, he re-
turned to Pulaski County and took charge of a store about one-fourth
of a miles from his home, and in the spring of the following year 
established a store at Waynesville, his partners being his uncle,
Silas Howard, and J.A. Rayle.  At the end of one year Mr. Colley
purchased his partners' interest, and William Stewart became a member
of the firm.  Mr. Colley continued this business the greater portion
of the time up to 1883, with different partners, and at that date
sold out, and has since devoted his time to farming and stock dealing.
He is the owner of the old homestead, and is one of the largest land
holders of the county, his acreage amounting to 1,000.  In 1858 he 
was united in marriage to Miss Elwiza N. Mitchell, a daughter of Samuel
and Elizabeth (Nash) Mitchell.  She was born in Pulaski County in 1839,
and is the mother of five children:  Frank L., mail agent on the 
Missouri Pacific Railway; James M. and Charles H., who keep a livery
and feed stable; Ida V., wife of H.E. Rollins, who is circuit court
clerk of Pulaski County, and Alfie.  Mr. Colley has been a life-long
Democrat in politics, and has served his party as deputy sheriff two
years, assessor and county treasurer, but resigned the latter office 
the same year he was elected (1856).  In September, 1864, he enlisted
in Company A, Forty-eighth Missouri Infantry, as sergeant, and served 
until he received his discharge at St. Louis, June 29, 1865.  In 1865
he was appointed sheriff and collector of Pulaski County, and the
following year was re-elected to the same office.  Two years later he
was elected to the State Legislature and served one term, and at the
end of that time became county treasurer, serving in this capacity
until 1876.  In 1885 he was appointed deputy collector of internal
revenue of the First District of Missouri, but resigned the position
at the end of two years.  He is a member of the Masonic order, Lodge
No. 375 of Waynesville, being a Master Mason, and his family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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