Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary writes about Conway Cemetery Historic State Park.
Arkansas sports 52 state parks, staggered within its borders, all of which have their own personal characteristics deeming them worthy of a visit. Many of these facilities are well known, and for good reason.
Some are located within close proximity of well-traveled routes and popular areas. And then there are those where people will go out of their way to visit and experience incredible views from atop the mountains where they are situated. And let's not forget about the parks that are situated on the banks of reservoirs and waterways that naturally draw folks with passions for outdoor activities.
There are a few parks, however, that are not privy to such perks. Some happen to be secluded far from the masses, and there are those that offer very little to those who long to embark upon their favorite outdoor activities.
But that doesn't necessarily deem these particular state parks of any less importance or any less worthy of a visit. In fact, many of our smaller, more out-of-the-way facilities are extremely rich in history.
A portion of the Civil War battle sites throughout Arkansas have been designated as state parks, as have other locations where specific activities transpired that had a bearing on the state's very existence. Although miniature in stature compared to our larger facilities, these are great destinations for practically anybody with a lick of inquisitiveness and an interest in Arkansas' past.
Conway Cemetery Historic State Park is such a location. Located in the extreme southwest corner of Arkansas, the facility is not one that folks usually just happen upon during a Sunday drive. And covering only 11.5 acres, I would suspect it is one of the smallest state parks throughout the entire state.
Having visited all of the state parks throughout Arkansas, there are many which I have visited time and time again. Well, not this one, as I usually focus on areas where I can cover several destinations within a day. And as earlier suggested, Conway Cemetery is nestled all by itself, several miles from any other location where those who read my articles might usually find worthy of a lengthy drive from our neck of the woods.
But spring is just around the corner. And why might that matter? Well, the spring season is one of those magical times of the year when a drive in any direction can prove invigorating. It's a time when excursions along stretches of highway that usually have little to offer can be filled with opportunities galore to see a plethora of wildflowers making their showing alongside the road.
So why not take full advantage of these excursions, and get more bang for your buck? That's right, spring is the perfect season to embark upon drives to these out-of-the-way destinations and enjoy the scenery along the way. That in mind, we opted to make a detour through the southwestern corner of the state during a recent drive home from Texas.
A couple of years had lapsed since my friend, Todd Frazior, and I had stopped by Conway Cemetery Historic State Park while on our way to take photos for a client in Louisiana. I had enjoyed the previous visit, and it was due time to visit this destination again.
I'll be the first to agree that there is very little to see upon arrival. In fact, the park consists of nothing more than a small cemetery nestled under the shade of several large trees in the midst of a pasture.
Granted, the tombstones are extravagant in comparison to others that were manufactured during the same era. And the wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery is impressive as well. But let's dig a little deeper and see exactly what makes this particular cemetery so special that it was designated as a state park.
Well, it all began back in 1823 when a fella by the name of James Sevier Conway began a plantation on the banks of the nearby Red River. He married Mary Jane Bradley three years later. He and his wife built a plantation house in 1928, complete with a boat landing and a commissary at Port Conway on the Red River. Conway was named Postmaster upon the completion of the project.
Conway's prominence in early Arkansas history goes far beyond his plantation house, however, as President Andrew Jackson appointed him as the surveyor of the Territory of Arkansas in 1832. He surveyed the boundary line between Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation, which is presently the state line stretching south from Fort Smith to the Red River. Conway also assisted in the survey of the Arkansas and Louisiana boundary.
Conway had plenty of irons in the fire, but his achievements were far from over. In fact, he became the Democratic nominee for governor in 1836. James Sevier Conway won the election, becoming the first governor in the history of the state of Arkansas, a position he would serve during the next four years.
Conway focused on several issues during his governorship. He advocated good roads and quality education. He approved legislation to establish a banking system. And although his efforts were unsuccessful, he tried to set up a state university and a library. He was also responsible for our first state penitentiary and urged the federal government to locate an arsenal at Little Rock.
He chose not to run for another term as a result of dwindling health. But in spite of his illness, he still remained active in civic affairs.
Although the former governor had remained busy during his tenure, he still managed to build a plantation house within sight of where the cemetery is today, which he named Walnut Hill.
One would suspect that Conway and his wife were devastated when their daughter died of complications from pneumonia in 1845. In fact, he chose a quiet spot near their home for the family cemetery, so he could be close to her. And if things couldn't get worse, he and his wife lost and buried their son in the cemetery only two weeks later.
James Sevier Conway passed away in 1855 and was laid to rest in the cemetery, as well. And over time, the family cemetery continued to grow. In fact, more than 40 members of the Conway and Bradley families were eventually buried at this 10-acre plot of land.
The plantation was eventually sold. The family, however, retained the cemetery. The cemetery was added to the National Record of Historic Places in 1977 and became a part of the Arkansas State Parks System in 1984. And in 1986, the Conway Cemetery State Park was dedicated in honor of Arkansas' first governor.
Although this particular state park is small in comparison to some, I can say with all confidence that it is equally as rich in and important to the state's history as any within the boundaries of Arkansas. And it is a destination which I will gladly return to again in the future.
Conway Cemetery Historic State Park is located in Lafayette County. To get to the destination, from Lewisville, take Highway 29 south for 18 miles to Bradley, then Highway 160 west for 2 miles to the community of Walnut Hill. Turn left onto County Road 9 and travel a half mile to the park entrance.
Local on 03/20/2019