Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Conwell, Jehu June 25, 1820 - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 1, 2024, 8:30 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 541
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Jehu Conwell, a successful farmer and member of a family 
identified with the history of Luzerne township since its 
earliest Anglo Saxon occupation, is a son of Yates S Conwell 
and Anna Craft Conwell and was born in Luzerne township, 
Fayette county, Penna, June 25, 1820.
    One of the early pioneers of Fayette county was his 
grandfather, Jehu Conwell, born in Sussex county, Delaware, 
in 1749.  Jehu Conwell with brother, Captain William 
Conwell, migrated to Luzerne township in 1767 and purchased 
700 acres of land from James Bredin.  Jehu endured many 
hardships and in 1772 returned to Delaware and was married 
by Gilbert Parker, J P, to Miss Elizabeth Stokely, daughter 
of Yates Stokely.  He brought his young wife to his Luzerne 
home where they endured many hardships and privations.  He 
was instrumental in 1774 in building a fort below 
Merrittstown to resist Indian attacks; enlisted with his 
brother, Captain William Conwell, in the Continental army in 
Independence year and fought throughout the war.  
    Jehu's home was headquarters for westward bound 
emigrants from Delaware. He was generous and liberal in his 
views, conscientious in all his deeds and was honored and 
respected by his neighbors and all who knew him.  He built a 
log grist mill, erected a distillery, and died in 1834.  He 
left four sons: Shepard Conwell, Yates T Conwell, John 
Conwell and George Conwell.
    Yates T Conwell, the founder of Heistersburg, was a 
farmer and was commissioned an ensign August 1, 1814, in the 
Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia.  He died Christmas, 
1865.  His wife was a daughter of David Craft of Redstone 
township.  They had five sons and two daughters.  
    Jehu Conwell, son of Yates T Conwell, was reared on a 
farm, attended Luzerne's subscription schools and Madison 
College.  He married Miss Elizabeth Fulton, daughter of 
Thomas Fulton of Redstone township.  To their union have 
been born ten children: Thomas Conwell, dead; Emily Conwell, 
wife of Winfield Gilmore; Elizabeth Conwell; Margaret 
Conwell, dead; Annie Conwell, dead; Estelle Conwell, wife of 
Johnson Van Kirk; William Conwell, Annette Conwell, dead; 
Nathaniel Conwell and Mary Conwell.
    Jehu Conwell has been engaged since leaving school in 
farming and stock raising.  Politically he was a whig and on 
the disbanding of that political organization became a 
republican.  His nearest approach to being a democrat was in 
celebrating for many years Jackson's victory at New Orleans. 
     Mr Conwell owns two hundred acres of fertile and 
productive land, and resides in the old stone mansion built 
by William Ewing about 1790.  Mr Conwell has been justice of 
the peace for fifteen years, is a member of the Presbyterian 
church, and is one of Luzerne's prosperous farmers.  

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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