Conway Township-- then known as Iena-- was formed by the state legislature in 1838. There was an unsettled question to whom the honor of being the first settlers in this township belonged to. The priority was claimed by both the Parsons family and by Robert Colborn.

In May of 1831 the brothers Frederick B. and Cecil D. Parsons-- the former accompanied by his wife-- left Franklin County, Mass., and journeyed by stage to Troy, New York. From there a passage was secured on board a canal-boat to Buffalo, thence by lake steamer to Detroit. Once here they continued by stage to Ann Arbor and then traveled to Webster, in Washtenaw County, where they joined their sister, Mrs. Israel Arams, who, with her husband, had settled here in 1826.

They continued their residence there until early in the summer of 1836 when they were joined by other family members, including father, mother, brothers and wives, sisters and husbands, and a father-in-law of a brother.

As they wished to purchase quite a large tract of government land, situated where all could settle in the same neighborhood, and as no such opportunity presented itself in Washtenaw County, in June of 1836 Frederick, Cecil, and Julius Parsons, Waterman Fay, Timothy Wait, and Lorenzo Strong started out on foot for the purpose of locating land in Livingston County.

Arriving at Livingston Centre (Howell), they learned that desirable lands-- not yet entered-- were lying in township 4 north, of range 3 east, and that Charles Bush, who was then with Calvin Handy in township 3 north, of range 3 east, would act as their guide while exploring the woods.

They finally arrived at Mr. Handy’s house, found Mr. Bush, and engaged his services for the next day. Mr. Handy had but just occupied his new dwelling-- a small log house-- and in consequence household articles were in some confusion. But Mrs. Handy, like other wives of the pioneers, was equal to the emergency.

As a result of this first visit to the territory know known as Conway, the Messrs. Parsons and their friends concluded to purchase the lands situated upon sections 11, 13, and 14. Upon the 20^th of June, 1836, their purchases, consisting of 840 acres, were entered upon the book in the land office at Detroit.

Later, during the same summer, the six men again started out for the purpose of opening a road through from Livingston Centre to their new possessions, also to erect a house wherein some of them proposed to pass the winter. They brought with them an ox team and wagon, provisions for a few days, and boards necessary for use in building were obtained from Washtenaw County.

Three days after leaving Howell they reached their destination, the northwest quarter of section 14, on land owned by Julius Parsons. Here, within six days, they completed what is claimed to have been the first dwelling erected in the township. This house was 18 by 24 feet in dimensions, covered with oak shingles, which were shaved upon the spot, and the floor laid with boards brought from Washtenaw. This house soon after became noted as the place of birth of the first child born in the township-- the son of J.F. Parsons, on January of 1837. Within its walls were held the first religious meeting, and here the people assembled to hold their first township meeting in April 2, 1838. The house was resided in by Levi Parsons, the patriarch of the family.

Finishing the house and having exhausted their stock of provisions, the Conway pioneers returned immediately to Washtenaw.

During the fall of 1836 Julius Parsons, his father Levi, and their families, along with Timothy Wait, Lorenzo Strong, and Waterman Fay came from that county fully prepared to take up their residence in the woods. Land was cleared upon the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14 and wheat was sown the same season.

Messrs. Wait and Strong were carpenters by trade and each built for himself small framed houses which were completed in the spring of 1837.

Robert Colborn, from Wayne County, purchased 90 acres on the northwest part of the northwest fractional quarter of section 5 on July 5, 1836. On November of that year he and his family moved in and took up their residence on the county line. The route which they followed to their new home was along what was then known as the Grand River Road up into Shiawassee County, from whence they bore south, cutting out their own road, until they reached the place of their settlement.

Late in the fall of 1836 Frederick Parsons, the oldest son of Levi, came on and built a comfortable log dwelling upon his land, it being the northwest quarter of section 14. In March following he moved here, bringing his family and household effects upon sleighs.

Ledyard S. Adams, from Genesse County, New York, purchased the north half of section 36 on May 10, 1836, but did not settle there until April 1, 1837.

Martin Randall, from Livingston County, New York, who accompanied Ralph Fowler here, settled upon the west half of the southwest quarter of section 27 in the spring of 1837.

John Coughran from Genesse County, New York, the first supervisor of Iena, settled upon the southeast quarter of section 25 on May 31, 1837 and soon after began to fell trees and make improvements.

Cecil D. Parsons joined his brothers and friends in the new settlement August 21, 1837, and soon after began to fell the trees and make improvements. This house was completed and occupied December 11^th of the same year.

Timothy Wait and Lorenzo Strong, after but a short residence here, moved to Lapeer County. Later on Julius Parsons also went to that same county. Levi Parsons, meanwhile, returned to the east.

That change in name from Iena to Conway resulted from the Parsons family, whose home in Franklin County, Mass., was Conway.