Elias Nelson Conway

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Elias Nelson Conway

In office
1852 – 1860
Preceded by John S. Roane
Succeeded by Henry M. Rector

Born May 17, 1812(1812-05-17)
Died February 28, 1892 (aged 79)
Political party Democratic

Elias Nelson Conway (May 17, 1812February 28, 1892) was a Democratic 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. He studied surveying and served as the state auditor from 1835 to 1849. In 1844 Conway was offered, but declined, the nomination for Governor in 1844. In 1852 the nomination was offered again and Conway accepted. His election campaign was successful and became Governor of Arkansas.

The Conway administration focused on physical improvement of the state. He formed the Chancery Courts and eased the state's financial problems. When Conway left office in 1860 and the state treasury held a surplus.

Conway retired from public life, becoming a bit of a recluse. Conway is buried at the historic Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Conway was first cousin to Senator Ambrose Hundley Sevier and Governor Henry Massey Rector.

As a surveyor, Conway ordered David Dale Owen to survey west of Little Rock. The Natural Steps, Natural Steps, Arkansas, were first written about and drawn by David Dale Owen (Principal Geologist)in his Second Report of a Geological Reconnaissance of the Middle and Southern Counties of Arkansas (1859) ordered by Elias Nelson Conway, Governor of Arkansas.

Drawn in 1859 by David Dale Owen of the Natural Steps
Drawn in 1859 by David Dale Owen of the Natural Steps

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Preceded by :
John Selden Roane
Governor of Arkansas
1852-1860
Succeeded by:
Henry Massey Rector
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