Conaway, Hamilton Bio Dearborn County, In

HAMILTON CONAWAY, farmer, Clay Township, and old and highly esteemed pioneer of Dearborn County, was born in Clay Township, December 25, 1812. His parents, Robert[born 5 Jan 1783] and Edith (WEATHERS) CONAWAY [b. 6 May 1785], were both natives of Virginia, the former a son of John and Rachel CONAWAY, who were natives of Ireland and Wales, from where they immigrated to the United States in a very early day, and settled in Virginia. [Researcher Ray Meurer has his parents named James and Rachel Oglesby]

Their children were John, Daniel, James, Simon, Eliza and Robert, the latter the father of our subject. He, when a young man, emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, where he and the above Edith WEATHERS, were united in marriage, and from thence came in a very early day to Dearborn County, INd., where they afterward resided until death. They were the parents of eight children, viz: Rhoda, Preston [b. 9 Ju 1811], Harriet [b. 1813], Hamilton, Parthena, Robert, James, and Simon B. Hamilton, our subject, was brought up as a farmer, but in later years turned his attention to the mercantile business at Guionsville, this county, which he pursued for a number of years, beginning as early as 1839, during which time, and also afterward, he held the office of justice of peace for about fourteen years.

About 1855 he began the practice of law, which he has continued more or less since. He also has engaged in flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers during a number of years of his younger life, beginning as early as 1832. He and Miss Harriet LEMON were united in marriage in Clay Township, this county about 1840. They had born to them two children, viz:

Eliza and Rober.

This wife died about 1856, and he subsequently married Elizabeth E. HARPER, by whom he had born to him four children, viz:

John S., Charles, Ralph P., and Alhama E.

Mr. CONAWAY is a man of excellent character, and is highly respected by all who know him. He owns 160 acres of fine land in Clay Township, Section 29, on which he resides; also owns 280 acres in Coffee County, Ks. [Edith died OCT 1840 in Clay Twp., Hamilton died 1 Jul 1847 and both are buried in the Conaway Graveyard,Clay Twp.,Dearborn Co.,IN]

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885

information in squre brackets appended by Charles Elledge