From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

McColley was born in 1836. He was a soldier during the Civil War, serving in Company C of the 44th United States Colored Infantry Regiment, which was organized at Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 7, 1864.

The 44th was attached to the District of Chattanooga, the Department of the Cumberland, till November 1864, then to the District of the Etowah in the Department of the Cumberland till December 1864, then to the 1st Colored Brigade in the District of the Etowah, Department of the Cumberland until  March 1865, becoming the 1st Colored Brigade in the Department of the Cumberland until July 1865; the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division in the District of East Tennessee until July 1865; then the Department of the Cumberland and the Department  of Georgia until April 1866.

McColley did post and garrison duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee untill November 1864, then saw action at Dalton, Georgia on  October 13, 1864 and at the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee on December 15-16.

He also participated in the pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28, post and garrison duty at Chattanooga in the District of East Tennessee and in the Department of Georgia untill April 1866. He was then mustered out April 30, 1866.

Sometime after the war he settled in Lawrenceburg where he lived until his death May 28, 1919; he is buried in Woodlawn Hills Cemetery.