James S. Conway
| James Sevier Conway | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st Governor of Arkansas | |
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In office September 13, 1836 – November 4, 1840 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Archibald Yell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 4, 1796 Greene County, Tennessee |
| Died | March 3, 1855 (aged 58) Lafayette County, Arkansas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Jane Bradley |
| Profession | Surveyor, planter |
James Sevier Conway (December 9, 1796 – March 3, 1855) was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas and the first elected governor of the state.
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.
Conway 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).
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.
While living in Lafayette County, Arkansas, Conway met Mary Jane Bradley, who had also migrated with her family from Tennessee. They were married December 21, 1825. They had ten children, five of whom died in infancy or early childhood.
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.
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