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Joel H. Conway, hotel proprietor and farmer, Murfreesboro, Ark. Mr. Conway
owes his nativity to this county, his birth occurring in 1849, and is the
third in a family of four children born to the marriage of Thomas J. and
Lorena (Lucky) Conway, the father a native of Tennessee, born in 1819, and
the mother of Alabama. Thomas J. Conway worked on his father's farm until
eighteen years of age, after which he came to Arkansas, and settled in
Hempstead County. He there began the study of medicene with his brother, and
later went to Sevier County, where he married Miss. Lucky. He came to Pike
County in 1846, began the practice of medicine, and contiuned here until
his death in February, 1859. He was the leading physician of his time, and
had almost all the practice in the county. The mother died April 11, 1852.
Joel H. Conway's time was divided in early youth between assisting on the
farm and in attending the common schools, where he obtained a good practical
education. In 1862 he went to Washington, Ark., for a short time,
but returned to Pike County, where he engaged in the duties of the farm
until 1867. One year later, with an older brother, George D., he raised a
crop on the farm left by their father, and after this followed agricultura
pursuits for three years. He subsequently made his home with a married
sister, remaining with her for one year, and them came to Murfreesboro,
where he engaged in business. In 1873 he returned to the farm, and in July
of that year married Miss Roxana Mauney, a native of Murfreesboro, and the
daughter of Dr. George R. Mauney, one of the old settlers, and a prominent
physician. In January 1877, Mr. Conway returned to Murfreesboro and in March
of that year started a general store in partnership with O.B. Owens. He
continued at this for seven years and in 1884 made a trip to New Mexico, but
not liking that country as a place to locate, returned. He purchased a drove
of cattle and took them to Indian Territory. In December 1886, he bought his
present property, and has since conducted the Conway House, the only hotel
in Murfreesboro. Mr. Conway owns 250 acres of land, seventy acres of which
are under cultivation, and it is situated two miles south of town, and
yields a half bale of cotton to the acre. Mr. Conway was appointed
postmaster in 1879, and again in 1885. He was elected justice of the peace
in 1878, and again in 1880, and in 1882 was made mayor of Murfreesboro. He
has always been active in school matters, and in fact all enterprises for
the good of the county. To his marriage were born eight children: Thomas
(deceased), George D. (deceased), Ida (deceased), William (deceased) and one
who died unnamed. Those living are Ella, Grover and Hugh. Mr. Conway is a
Democrat in politics, and conscientious in his principles. He is one of the
representative men of Murfreesboro.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
page 322.
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