James Sevier Conway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd and 8th Postmaster of Walnut Hill, Arkansas | |
| In office July 3, 1845 – August 9, 1846 | |
| Nominated by | James K. Polk |
| Preceded by | Fleetwood Herndon |
| Succeeded by | Francis E. Goodwin |
| In office November 15, 1854 – December 19, 1854 | |
| Nominated by | Franklin Pierce |
| Preceded by | A. C. J. Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Ann I. Sevier |
| 6th Postmaster of Conway, Arkansas | |
| In office February 18, 1843 – July 2, 1845 | |
| Nominated by | John Tyler |
| Preceded by | Gideon Ruyle |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 1st Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office September 13, 1836 – November 4, 1840 | |
| Preceded by | William S. Fulton (as Governor ofArkansas Territory) |
| Succeeded by | Archibald Yell |
| 1st Postmaster of Conway, Arkansas Territory | |
| In office May 24, 1828 – November 7, 1832 | |
| Nominated by | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Quigg |
| Delegate to1836 Arkansas Constitutional Convention | |
| In office January 4, 1836 – January 30, 1836 | |
| Constituency | Hot Spring County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1796-12-04)December 4, 1796 Greene County, Tennessee |
| Died | March 3, 1855(1855-03-03) (aged 58) Lafayette County, Arkansas |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Resting place | Conway Cemetery State Park 33°06′06.8″N93°40′59.0″W / 33.101889°N 93.683056°W /33.101889; -93.683056 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 10 |
| Parent | Thomas & Ann Conway |
| Relatives | Conway-Johnson family |
James Sevier Conway (December 9, 1796 – March 3, 1855) was an American politician who served as the firstgovernor of Arkansas from 1836 to 1840.
James Sevier Conway was born on December 4, 1796, inGreene County, Tennessee, to Thomas and Ann (née Rector) Conway. Conway's father was born inPittsylvania County, Virginia, in 1771.[1] His paternal ancestors originated inConwy,Wales.[2] Among Conway’s siblings were politiciansElias N Conway,William B Conway andHenry W Conway. One of his cousins wasHenry M Rector, the sixth governor of Arkansas.[3] Thomas employed private tutors to teach his seven sons and three daughters. In 1818, the family moved toSt. Louis, where Conway learned the art of land surveying from his uncle William Rector, surveyor-general inIllinois,Missouri, andArkansas.[1] In 1820, Conway resigned aCole County, Missouri, circuit clerk's position to serve as deputy-surveyor in the newly establishedArkansas Territory,[4] where he purchased a tract of land inHempstead (present-dayLafayette) County. While living there, Conway met Mary Jane Bradley, who had migrated with her family fromWilson County, Tennessee. They were married December 21, 1825, and had ten children, five of whom died in infancy or early childhood.[1]
In 1832, Conway became the surveyor-general in Arkansas Territory and served in that position until 1836. He was the elected to the new office of governor whenArkansas became a state in 1836. His administration focused on developing schools and roads. He ordered the militia to patrol the western frontier and worked to have thefederal arsenal built at Little Rock. He worked to get funding for a state penitentiary. He pressed theGeneral Assembly for establishment of a state library and university but was unsuccessful.[1] Conway left office in 1840 and returned to Lafayette County where he served three nonconsecutive terms as postmaster.[5]
Conway died from the complications ofpneumonia on March 3, 1855. His remains were interred in the Conway Cemetery (present-dayConway Cemetery State Park), nearBradley, Arkansas. He helped establish Lafayette Academy in Greene County, Tennessee.[1] Present-dayConway, Arkansas, is named after him.[6]
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| Party political offices | ||
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| First | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Arkansas 1836 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byasGovernor ofArkansas Territory | Governor of Arkansas 1836 – 1840 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
