Elias Nelson Conway

Elias Nelson Conway ( born May 17, 1812 Greene County, Tennessee; † February 28, 1892 in Little Rock, Arkansas ) was an American politician and 1852-1860 Governor of Arkansas.

Early years and political rise

Elias Conway came from a well-known political family in Arkansas. His older brother James Sevier Conway was 1836-1840, the first Governor of the State of Arkansas. Another brother called Henry had been a deputy in the U.S. Congress and was shot in 1827 by Robert Crittenden in a duel. Elias Conway was also still cousin of Ambrose Hundley Sevier U.S. Senator and later Governor Henry Rector, who succeeded him. Elias and his family moved from Tennessee to Missouri, where he attended the Bonne Femme Academy. In 1833 he moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. There he studied land surveying. Between 1835-1849 was Elias Conway Auditor of Arkansas. In 1844 he declined to run for the office of governor of Arkansas as of yet. In 1852 he applied but then as the candidate of the Democratic Party for this office.

Governor of Arkansas

After Conway won election occurred on November 15, 1852 at his office. After a re-election in 1856 he was able to officiate a total of eight years. During this time he managed to pay down the debt and to generate a surplus. He campaigned for improvements in health care and promoted the railway expansion with government subsidies. The roads were expanded and improved conditions in the prisons. At that time, a law firm in Arkansas Court was established and set up a government office for geological studies.

Another Journey

After the end of his tenure, Conway withdrew from politics and largely also by the public. He lived almost as a recluse until his death in 1892. He was the last politically active member of his family. Elias Conway was buried in Little Rock.