Arkansas Genealogy

Arkansas Genealogy is designed to serve as a comprehensive genealogical and historical resource for your personal use. Initially intended to be a guide for finding Arkansas-related genealogy and historical information on the web, we have now expanded to include specific data directly on this site for your convenience.

The first European settlement in Arkansas was established by the French in 1686 at Arkansas Post. This site later served as the residence for both French and Spanish governors, a crucial trading post during early American occupation, and the first territorial capital from 1810 to 1820. In 1720, John Law received a land grant on the Arkansas River. The territory changed hands, passing to Spain in 1762, back to France in 1780, and finally to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Apart from its role in early western frontier trade and the complex land disputes left by French and Spanish colonists, the pre-American period holds little historical significance compared to later years.

From 1804 to 1812, present-day Arkansas was part of the Louisiana district, which later became the Louisiana Territory. From 1812 to 1819, it was part of the Missouri Territory. The earliest county organizations in Arkansas date back to this period. Arkansas was designated a territory of the first and second class by acts of Congress on March 2, 1819, and April 21, 1820, respectively. On June 15, 1836, it was admitted to the Union as a slave state.

Featured History of Arkansas

Today we take up on the history of Arkansas as a part of the Territory of Louisiana, to when it became known as the Territory of Arkansas, and finally statehood. Brief mention is also made of secession and reconstruction in Arkansas and the government makeup of the time.

Today I posted additional pages on Arkansas history which cover the exploration, and early settlers of Arkansas before it was a state.

I have begun the process of creating pages on Arkansas history, and have posted the first two:

Arkansas County History and Genealogy

New Cemeteries

New Arkansas Genealogy

Mount Moriah Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Arkansas

Mount Moriah Cemetery is located 2 1/2 miles north of Murfreesboro at Mt. Moriah on Hwy. 19, left side of Hwy. This is a complete listing of all the graves that I found. Last enumerated in September of 2001.
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Obituary of Billy Wayne Harris (1940-2022)

An obituary of Billy Wayne Harris. Billy Wayne Harris, age 81, of Murfreesboro, Arkansas died on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at his home. He was born August 1, 1940 in Murfreesboro, Arkansas the son of the late Watson Clifton Harris and Dora Maire Ponder Harris.
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Bethel Cemetery, Glenwood, Arkansas

Bethel Cemetery can be found in Glenwood, Arkansas. From Baker’s store, go east on Highway 70 for approximately 1 mile to Bethel Road. Turn Right onto Bethel Road and go 1.1 miles to cemetery. Cemetery is on the left. This enumeration was done in 1999 and at the time the cemetery was still active.
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Caney Valley Cemetery, Pike County, Arkansas

Caney Valley Cemetery can be found by traveling from Amity approximately 4.5 miles on highway 84E to Ebenezer Road. Turn right onto Ebenezer Road and go approximately 1 mile. Church is on the left side of the road with Caney Valley Church on the right. This listing was enumerated in 1999, since this is an active cemetery, there have been additional burials.
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Coker Cemetery, Rosboro, Arkansas

Located off of Highway 8W in what used to be Rosboro, Arkansas. Rosboro is between Amity and Glenwood, Arkansas. From Amity go west on highway 8 for three miles. Turn right on dirt road. Go approximately one-half mile and the cemetery will be on the left side of the road. Plainly marked and easy to get to. Transcription taken in June 1999.
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Biography of Sandy Faulkner of Pulaski County

Sandy Faulkner, the legendary “Arkansaw Traveler,” was an early settler, hunter, and fiddler in Arkansas, known for his jovial and adventurous spirit. Born into a wealthy Kentucky family, he settled in Chicot County and later near Little Rock. Faulkner inherited and spent several moderate fortunes, living a roving life filled with hunting and socializing. His encounter with a fellow fiddler in the woods inspired the famous “Arkansaw Traveler” tune, which he joyfully shared with villagers. After the Civil War, Faulkner lived in Little Rock in modest circumstances until his death in 1875. He left behind a legacy of wit, music,…
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Biography of Col. A. R. Witt of Faulkner County

Col. A. R. Witt, a prominent citizen of Faulkner County and leading druggist in Conway, Arkansas, was born in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in 1830. He moved to Alabama in 1836 and later to Van Buren County, Arkansas, in 1842. Educated at Arkansas College in Fayetteville, Witt was elected State land commissioner in 1857. He organized Company A, Tenth Arkansas Infantry, during the Civil War, eventually becoming a colonel. Post-war, he farmed and served in various political roles, including State senator and chancery clerk. In 1877, he moved to Conway, establishing a successful drug business and serving as postmaster. A Democrat…
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Biography of H. Bailey Wilson of Faulkner County

H. Bailey Wilson, born on January 16, 1823, in Spartanburg District, South Carolina, was a prominent farmer and early contributor to the development of his county. He was the sixth child of James and Prudy (Harris) Wilson. After receiving his education in Georgia, he married Louisa E. Strickland of Chattooga County in 1842. They had seven children, with only William M. and Marian A. surviving. Wilson settled in the area in 1859, owning 520 acres of land with sixty acres under cultivation. A respected community member, he was involved in the Agricultural Wheel and was a Democrat. His contributions to…
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Biography of J. R. Williams of Faulkner County

J. R. Williams, born in Faulkner County in 1853, was a partner in the general merchandise firm Witt & Williams in Conway, Arkansas. The business, established in 1879, underwent several name changes before Williams joined in 1888. The store, facing the public square, was one of the largest in the county. Williams, the youngest of six children, started farming in 1872 and moved to Conway in 1881 to establish a general collecting agency. A prominent business figure, he served in local politics and was active in temperance and community affairs. He married Louisa Hartje in 1872, and they had seven…
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Biography of Dr. H. B. Wear of Faulkner County

Dr. H. B. Wear, born in 1829 in Blount County, Tennessee, was a prominent physician in East Fork Township, Arkansas. The sixth of twelve children, he studied medicine in Nashville and Atlanta, beginning his practice in Cherokee County, Alabama, in 1857. He moved to East Fork Township in 1858 and served as a surgeon captain in the Seventeenth Arkansas Infantry during the Civil War. Wear married Nancy Ann Townsend in 1857 and, after her death in 1885, married Minerva Sinclair in 1886. He owned 320 acres of land and was a respected Democrat and Mason in Faulkner County.
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