Ventura County Biographies

J.  A. Conaway

Submitted by Sandy Neder

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

  
    J. A. Conaway, residing near Fillmore, is one of California's pioneers. He 
was born in West Virginia, April 4, 1830. His father, Eli Conaway, was a native 
of Virginia, and his great-grandfather was born in Ireland, and came to America 
before the Revolution. His mother, Mary (Baker) Conaway, was a native of 
Virginia, of Welsh ancestry. They had a family of nine children, of whom Mr. 
Conaway was the sixth. He was educated in Virginia, and finished his education 
in Iowa. He left home in 1849, and remained in Wisconsin two years; he then went 
to Missouri, and he worked in Ashley, Pike County, that State, part of the time 
as an overseer on a plantation; the rest of the time he was in a shop running an 
engine and sawing lumber. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California, with an 
ox team, having a prosperous and safe journey. He settled on a ranch in Amador 
County, and engaged in raising stock. He then removed to San Joaquin County, and 
settled upon a Government ranch, where he perfected the title and made it his 
home for twelve years; he improved the place by building upon it and planting a 
vineyard and orchard. For his present place he bought a Government claim, and 
also paid the railroad for it. The railroad soon after wanted the right of way, 
and he received his money back. Mr. Conaway took the place when it was wild and 
uncultivated, and has since built a fine house, and planted fruit of all 
descriptions, and the whole place shows the work of a first-class farmer; every 
tree and shrub has been planted by his own hands. He is engaged in general 
farming, and his orchard contains fruit of nearly every variety.
    Mr. Conaway has held public office in the county for years; he was one of 
the first Supervisors of the county, and Assessor seven years. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Church at San Buenaventura. Mr. Conaway is a 
Democrat and a temperance man.
    He was married in 1859, to Miss Lizzie Jane Blanney, a native of England. 
They have had thirteen children; only ten are now living, five boys and five 
girls, all born in California, viz.: May, Kate, Austin E., Alice P., Jennie B., 
Charles W., Lulu V. and Lelia V., twins, Ethan W. and Albion N. (twins), and T. 
Benton.
 
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS 
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 316