James Sevier Conway
Encyclopedia
James Sevier Conway was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas
, the first elected governor of the state.
James Sevier Conway was born in Greene County, Tennessee and was educated by private tutors and attended public schools. In 1820 he moved to Arkansas where he worked as a surveyor. He formed a surveying business with two of his brothers. Conway's company took over the land that would later become the city of Little Rock, Arkansas
and he is known as the founder of that city. Conway purchased a large cotton plantation named Walnut Hill
in what is now Lafayette County (then part of Hempstead County). It was here he met Mary Jane Bradley, who had also migrated with her family from Tennessee. They were married December 21, 1825.
In 1832 Conway became the surveyor-general of the Arkansas Territory and served in that position until 1836.
Conway became the first elected Governor of Arkansas when it became a state in 1836. His administration focused on developing schools and roads. He established a state military to patrol the western frontier and worked to have a federal arsenal built in Little Rock
. He worked to get funding for a state penitentiary. He pushed for the establishment of a state library and university but was unsuccessful.
Conway left office in 1840 and returned to his plantation. He continued to be active in public affairs.
James S. Conway died from the complications of pneumonia
on March 3, 1855. He is buried at the Conway Cemetery Historic State Park
, at the site of the old Walnut Hill plantation, near Bradley, Arkansas
.
James Sevier Conway was the brother of Arkansas Governor Elias Nelson Conway
, brother of Congressman Henry Wharton Conway
, first cousin of Senator Ambrose Hundley Sevier
and Governor Henry Massey Rector
. He was third cousin of Confederate General and Virginia Governor James Lawson Kemper. The city of Conway, Arkansas
is named after him.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, the first elected governor of the state.
James Sevier Conway was born in Greene County, Tennessee and was educated by private tutors and attended public schools. In 1820 he moved to Arkansas where he worked as a surveyor. He formed a surveying business with two of his brothers. Conway's company took over the land that would later become the city of Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
and he is known as the founder of that city. Conway purchased a large cotton plantation named Walnut Hill
Walnut Hill
Walnut Hill is the name of several locations in the United States:* Walnut Hill, Florida, a community in northern Escambia County, Florida* Walnut Hill, Illinois, a village* Walnut Hill, Medford, Massachusetts, a neighborhood...
in what is now Lafayette County (then part of Hempstead County). It was here he met Mary Jane Bradley, who had also migrated with her family from Tennessee. They were married December 21, 1825.
In 1832 Conway became the surveyor-general of the Arkansas Territory and served in that position until 1836.
Conway became the first elected Governor of Arkansas when it became a state in 1836. His administration focused on developing schools and roads. He established a state military to patrol the western frontier and worked to have a federal arsenal built in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. He worked to get funding for a state penitentiary. He pushed for the establishment of a state library and university but was unsuccessful.
Conway left office in 1840 and returned to his plantation. He continued to be active in public affairs.
James S. Conway died from the complications of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on March 3, 1855. He is buried at the Conway Cemetery Historic State Park
Conway Cemetery Historic State Park
Conway Cemetery State Park is an historic location in Lafayette County, Arkansas, in the United States. It is administered by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism....
, at the site of the old Walnut Hill plantation, near Bradley, Arkansas
Bradley, Arkansas
Bradley is a city in Lafayette County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bradley is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
.
James Sevier Conway was the brother of Arkansas Governor Elias Nelson Conway
Elias Nelson Conway
Elias Nelson Conway was the fifth Governor of Arkansas.Elias Nelson Conway was brother to James Sevier Conway, the first governor of Arkansas. He and his family moved to Missouri. Conway attended Bonne Femme Academy in Boone County, Missouri.In 1833 Conway moved to Little Rock, Arkansas...
, brother of Congressman Henry Wharton Conway
Henry Wharton Conway
Henry Wharton Conway was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Arkansas Territory....
, first cousin of Senator Ambrose Hundley Sevier
Ambrose Hundley Sevier
Ambrose Hundley Sevier was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from Arkansas.Ambrose Hundley Sevier was born near Greeneville, Tennessee in Greene County, Tennessee. Sevier moved to Missouri in 1820 and to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1821.In Arkansas he became clerk of the Territorial...
and Governor Henry Massey Rector
Henry Massey Rector
Henry Massey Rector was the sixth Governor of the state of Arkansas.Henry Massey Rector was born near Louisville, Kentucky. Rector was educated by his mother and attended one year of school at Louisville. He moved to Arkansas in 1835. Rector served as U.S...
. He was third cousin of Confederate General and Virginia Governor James Lawson Kemper. The city of Conway, Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
is named after him.
External links
- Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc.
- James Sevier Conway Family
- The Conway-Sevier-Johnson Family
- Conway Cemetery State Park
- Find-A-Grave profile for James Sevier Conway
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: James Sevier Conway