At age 31 Samuel G. Colley came to Beloit with his wife on June 25, 1838 from Bedford, New Hampshire and settled in Turtle Township. He was an original member of the New England Emigrating Company and a man of many activities. Before leaving his early home, he had been a member of the Bedford Grenadiers and later captain of the regular militia; he was chosen among a group of other young men to drill before Lafayette in western New York on the latter’s second visit to America.

After the dissolution of the Emigrating Company, Colley changed his rights to farms in Turtle to actual purchase in 140, the deed to the property being signed by President Martin VanBuren. In 1849 he was one of the gold seeking pilgrims who braved overland dangers to reach the California gold coast. Mrs. Colley was married with a wedding ring made from one of the gold nuggets he secured there. She exchanged her original wedding ring for the new one as she had been married prior to arrival in Beloit. In 1858 Colley was commissioned Colonel of the Seventh Regiment of Militia of Wisconsin, the commission being signed by Wisconsin governor A.W. Randall.

In 1861 he lived in Denver City, Colorado Territory and was appointed Indian Agent of the Arkansas agency in the territory of Colorado. His commission hangs in the Bartlett Historical Museum signed by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1864 Colley was appointed postmaster of Point of Rocks, Colorado Territory, his commission signed by postmaster general Montgomery Blair. Colley, familiarly known as “Uncle Sam,” represented his district three terms in the state legislature and served two years as sheriff of Rock County. He built the first two-story house on the east side of Beloit and died here on October 21, 1890. It is said that Colley in disposing of his house on Milwaukee Road had to contend with his wife’s request that the purchase price of the home had to include a new dress. This request was reconciled by the purchaser agreeing to the demand providing Colley returned the amount spent for the new dress. Both are buried in Oakwood Cemetery – Samuel on October 23, 1890 and Lydia January 30, 1873.