HENRY CONWAY

The following bio was taken from page 154 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Henry and Elizabeth Conway came from Fayette County, Tennessee in 1854 to the Buena Vista area near Timpson, Shelby County. Their children – Caroline, Busha, Thomas, and Levon H. – are known to have arrived with them. Also with them were Alfred Conway, his wife, Nenrutta, and their children, and John Conway and his wife, Martha and their family. I, Zelma Conway Sherman, have not been able to establish their relationship to the Henry Conway family.

Caroline Conway married a Mr. Richards; Busha never married; and Levon H. married Almarene Rhodes. Sometime between 1850 and 1854, Thomas Conway became enchanted with Sarah Frances Hoyle, daughter of John A. and Malinda Hoyle, and they were married in Rusk County, January 19, 1854. Sarah Frances was born in Alabama March 3, 1839 and died January 24, 1892 and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery. Thomas Conway was born August 13, 1830 in Tennessee and died November 8, 1903 and is buried at Rehobeth, Panola County, Texas. Thomas and Frances Conway lived in the Chapman area and reared a large family: John Thomas (November 11, 1854-November 29, 1915), who married first Lula Malissa Brooks (1867-1952) daughter of J. R. K. Brooks and his second wife, Caroline Cassandra Blackstone. They were married April 10, 1883. John Thomas and Lula Conway lived in the Liberty Community and they are buried in the Liberty Cemetery.

Other children of Thomas and Sarah Frances Conway are: Mary Frances (1856-1922), who married, first George M. Young, and second Ben C. Chamness Sr. (1843-1923), Elizabeth (1857-?), who married A. P. Brooks (1860-1916); Caroline (1859-?), who married James George (1858-?); Martha (1863-?), who married John Robert Wyatt (died 1898); Susan (1864-1928), who married W. P. Williams (1855-1902); Nancy (1867-1891), who married Elbert Williams; Julia (1875-?), who married B. C. Chamness, Jr, (1866-?); and Cornelia (1876-?), who married Charles Bishop.

John Thomas Conway and Lula Malissa had ten children. Two of their sons, Arch and Virgil, served in World War I. Their children are: Delia (1885-1964), who married A. P. Matthews (1881-1958); Walter (1887-1907); Thomas John (1890-1939), who married Ola Armstrong (1892-living); Arch William (1893-1964), who married Martha Weaver (1900-living); Grady (1894-1894); Virgil (1895-1969), who married Frances Hinkle (1899-1980); Carrie Uretha (1898-1979), who married Joe Armstrong (1887-1948); Albert Preston (1903-1962), who married Dora Ruff (1908-1954); Floyd R. (1906-1970), who married Annie O. Anderson (1911-living); and Roy K. (1906-living), who married Ethel Nezat (living).

Thomas (Tom) and Ola married in Rusk County, November 24, 1917, and built a home on the Conway land at Liberty where Marrell Conway was born May 28, 1919. Before his marriage, Tom had wandered from Rusk County, hunting and trapping, into Orange County. In October 1919 he leased a freight car and loaded their household items, chickens and cows, and came with the freight car from Beckville to Orange. His friend, George Jimerson, came with him. Ola stayed with her Armstrong family until he was settled and then she joined him. I, Zelma, was born May 10, 1921, and Thomas W. was born October 29, 1930. Although my brothers and I have never lived in Rusk County, my mother always returned each summer to visit. We have many happy memories of our grandparents and relatives of Rusk County.

Submitted by Zelma Conway Sherman