James
Sevier Conway
1796 - 1855
James Sevier Conway was born in
Greene County, Tennessee and came to Arkansas in 1820 to make land surveys as a
young man of 23. In 1823, he settled at Walnut Hill, Lafayette County and began
to acquire a large cotton plantation.
President John Quincy Adams, in 1825
appointed him to survey the western boundary of Arkansas from the Red River to
the Arkansas River.
President Andrew Jackson in 1831
appointed him Commissioner for determining the south boundary.
In 1832 when the office of Arkansas
Surveyor was created, he was appointed to the post.