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.

In 1836 he was elected Governor of Arkansas and after serving his one term of four years, he retired to Walnut Hill.