Julia Ellen Thomas was born on January 8, 1848 in Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Jenkins Thomas and Lucretia H. Howe. Julia married in Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia on December 14, 1870 to Dr. William Buchanan Conway, the son of Battaile Fitzhugh Taliaferro Conway and his second wife, Cornelia Sapphira Buchanan, whose father was a first cousin of President James Buchanan. Dr. William Buchana Conway and his wife Julia Ellen Thomas Conway had a residence on the northwest side of Main Street, just a short distance northeast from its intersection with Roanoke street. An alley separated it from the residence occupied by Dr. Frank Henderson. This building served also as a bank and a drugstore. The drugstore was founded in 1872 in partnership with Capt T. A. Roberts. The bank was founded in partnership with Mr. William E. Hubbert in 1885 or shortly thereafter. It was later sold and became the Bank of Blacksburg, which did business in the same building at least until the late 1930's, or twelve years. Julia inherited from her father a tanyard in the town of Blacksburg that was in operation for a number of years. It was probably sold around 1891 when she and her husband moved to Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. Dr. William Buchanan Conway was a member of the city council for ten or twelve years. To William Buchanan and his wife Julia Ellen were born 4 children: Daisy, Alfred Taliaferro, Arch Moncure and Mary Greer. Julia Ellen died on October 4, 1916 at 5 p.m. from rheumatic gout. She is buried along side of her husband Dr. William Buchanan Conway (died July 6, 1920) in Westview Cemetery (Blacksburg City Cemetery), Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia.