SAMUEL C. CONWELL, attorney, Havana; was born in Sussex Co., Del., Aug. 27, 1819, and is the son of George and Hannah (Gum) Conwell; when about 11 years of age, the subject of this sketch removed to Shelbyville, Ind. He received his early education in the common schools in Indiana, and had for a classmate Gov. Thomas Hendricks. Mr. Conwell says the students generally gave more thought to having a good time and enjoying the present, with little regard to the future; also, that their teacher, on account of the waywardness of the youth, or from some other cause, took to the woods and hanged himself. This tragedy closed the school and graduated the students. In about 1835, Mr. Conwell went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he served for a time as clerk in a store, and, in 1840, removed to Illinois, locating at Walker's Grove, this county. In 1848, he commenced the study of law with William Walker, at Havana, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1851; his license was signed by Samuel H. Treat and Lyman 'Trumbull. He is the oldest in the practice of his profession of any attorney in Mason Co., and served as the second School Commissioner of the county. In December, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of James Walker, of Walker's Grove. Her father settled there in 1837; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind. Eight children by this union, five of whom are living:  Amelia L., wife of James F. Kelsey; Henrietta, wife of F. Pollitz; Charles A., now practicing law at Rawlins, Wyoming Ter.; Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Campbell, and Fannie.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer