John Conway, one of the most prominent and representative men of Hood county, was born at Montreal, in the province of Quebec, Canada, March 22, 1845, and is of Irish descent. His parents, David and Bridget (McRory) Conway, had a large family of children, most of whom died in early life, our subject and his sister Mary Ann being the only ones that arrived at maturity. The latter became the wife of Michael Keefe, and died in Montreal, August 20, 1876, leaving three children,--David, Mary E. and Joseph; but the last named is now deceased.

When Mr. Conway was four years of age his father died, and one year later death deprived him of the tender care of his mother, after which he made his home with his aunt, and received a good education in the public schools of St. Bridget, Quebec. He grew to manhood on a farm, but was always rather delicate physically. Owing to ill health he took a trip to the Rocky mountains, in 1869. He was in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and assisted in constructing telegraph lines in Utah, Idaho, Montana, and other western territories. In 1873 he came to Texas and for about a year and a half followed the same line of work, during which time he superintended the construction of the telegraph lines from Marshall to Sherman and from Longview to Fort Worth.

In 1874 Mr. Conway bought one hundred and twenty-six acres of land in Hood county, about seven miles north of Granbury, where he now resides, and began its improvement and cultivation. He has continued the business of farming and stockraising ever since his settlement in the county with the exception of one summer, when he built the telegraph line from Whitesboro to Fort Worth. In his undertakings he has prospered, and from time to time purchased additional land until he now owns one thousand acres situated on Long Creek, about one thousand and twenty of which is under cultivation. His pleasant and attractive country home is preceded over by his niece, Miss Mary E. Keefe, and is the abode of genuine, open-handed hospitality, all of the surroundings bearing evidence of the thrift and enterprise of the owner.

Mr.Conway is a quiet, unobtrusive man, of wide and varied reading, and has always taken an interest in the affairs of men and always taken an interest in the affairs of men and always keeps himself well informed on the public questions of the times. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and a recognized leader in the counsels of his party. In 1886 he was elected county commissioner, to which position he was three times re-elected, acceptably filling the office for eight consecutive years, and for about five years of that time served as justice of the peace, both by election and appointment. In the various positions he has been called upon to fill, he has proved himself true to every trust reposed in him, and as a private citizen his straightforward business methods and sterling integrity have won for him the confidence and respect of the entire continuity. Enterprising and public-spirited he gives his support to every measure for the public good. In his religious opinions, as in all things else, he is broad and liberal, but adheres strictly to the faith of the Roman Catholic church, in which he was reared.

History of Texas, 1896, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co.