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.
- Louisiana Territory
- Arkansas Territory
- Secession in Arkansas
- Arkansas Reconstruction
- The Poland Committee
- Leaders of Arkansas Territory
Today I posted additional pages on Arkansas history which cover the exploration, and early settlers of Arkansas before it was a state.
- Ferdinand de Soto in Arkansas
- Marquette and Joliet in Arkansas
- La Salle, Hennepin and Tonti in Arkansas
- The Bubble of John Law
- Proprietary Change of Louisiana Territory
- French and Spanish Settlers in Arkansas
- Early English Settlers in Arkansas
- The New Madrid Earthquake
I have begun the process of creating pages on Arkansas history, and have posted the first two:
Arkansas County History and Genealogy
- Arkansas County Arkansas Genealogy
- Benton County, Arkansas Genealogy
- Carroll County Arkansas Genealogy
- Faulkner County Arkansas Genealogy
- Jefferson County, Arkansas Genealogy and History
- Washington County, Arkansas Genealogy and History
New Cemeteries
- Barlow Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Bethel Cemetery – Glenwood, Pike, Arkansas
- Caney Valley Cemetery – Pike County, Arkansas
- Chalybeat Springs Cemetery – Emerson, Columbia, Arkansas
- Coker Cemetery – Rosboro, Pike, Arkansas
- Ebenezer Cemetery – Glenwood, Pike, Arkansas
- Ebenezer Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Frazier Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Glenwood Cemetery – Glenwood, Pike, Arkansas
- Grizard Cemetery – White County Arkansas
- Hephzibah Cemetery – Emerson, Columbia, Arkansas
- I. O. O. F. Cemetery – West Helena, Phillips, Arkansas
- Miller Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery – Murfreesboro, Pike, Arkansas
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery – Waldo, Columbia, Arkansas
- Oak Grove Cemetery – Conway, Faulkner, Arkansas
- Old Ebenezer Cemetery – Glenwood, Pike, Arkansas
- Palmer Chapel Cemetery – Rosboro, Pike, Arkansas
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery – Nevada County, Arkansas
- Powers Chapel Cemetery – Pike County, Arkansas
- Salem Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Salem Cemetery – Salem, Pike, Arkansas
- Sharmon Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Smyrna Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Spotville Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
- Sweet Home Cemetery – Nathan, Pike, Arkansas
- Valley Grove Cemetery – Kirby, Pike, Arkansas
- Ware Cemetery – Emerson, Columbia, Arkansas
- Western Cemetery – Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas
New Arkansas Genealogy
Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas
Index to Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. III, 1926-1945
Index to Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. II, 1904-1926
Index to Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. I, Ledger 2, 1881-1904
The following is the second index to Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. I, 1881-1904. This one is Mr. Pence’s second ledger after he went into the funeral home business and covers 1889-1904. It has more detail than the first one (see Ledger 1 index). Purchase Bookfrom Amazon AANDERSON, LeeABRAMS, ClaytonACKLIN, ChrisACKLIN, Mr. childACKLIN, RhodenACKLIN, TommieADAIR, Loyd childADAMS, C.ADAMS, ClydeADAMS, EmitADAMS, FloyADAMS, JarvisADAMS, LilaADAMS, W. H. childAKINS, AmandaAKINS, Ema, Mrs. childAKINS, J. W. childAKINS, J. W.,AKRIDGE, DockAKRIDGE, Mary E., Mrs.ALENDER, J. M.ALEXANDER, Des RoyALEXANDER, Jim childALEXANDER, LewisALEXANDER, NarcissaALISON, JamesALLEGA, Annie E.ALLEN, AndersonALLEN, BerniceALLEN, W. A. childALLEN, W. A. childALLEN, W.…
Index to Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. I, Ledger 1, 1881-1904
This is one of the two indexes from Pence Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, Vol. I (1881-1904). This index, covering the years 1881 to 1888, is the first one kept by Mr. Pence. It essentially lists the deceased with their date of death or burial, providing little other information. In contrast, his second index, which spans from 1889 to 1904, offers much more detailed accounts of the deaths. My favorite entry in Mr. Pence’s first ledger is simply, “Irishman with big feet.” Purchase Bookfrom Amazon Abraham, Mrs.Adams, CharlieAdams, Charlie, Mrs.Adams, J. L. C., Mrs.Adams, JarvisAdams, Mr.Adams, T. T.Adams, W. P.Adams, W.…
Background of Arkansas Land Records
The Missouri Territory, established in 1812, which encompassed present-day Arkansas, agreed to honor private land granted previously by Spain and Mexico, and also awarded two grants to prior French claims. A substantial portion of these Spanish and Mexican grants were situated in current Arkansas and Desha counties. Land claim issues arose frequently due to non-compliance with regulations and fraudulent activities such as forgeries of governor’s signatures on land grants. The term ‘arpents’, a French measurement unit used in some Spanish grants, is roughly equivalent to four-fifths of an acre. Most early land grants to heads of households were for about…
Biography of Isaac Asbury Clarke
Professor Isaac Asbury Clarke, who for years was principal of Clarke’s Academy of Berryville and was one of the most widely known and ablest educators of the state, was born in Overton County, Tennessee, March 22, 1837. He acquired his early education in Rhea’s Academy at Berryville, which he attended for several years, and he later became a student in the University of Missouri at Columbia in the year 1860. He left school the following year, however, to enlist in the Confederate army, with which he served until the close of the war. He was on duty with the First…
Biography of Ray Anderson
Ray Anderson, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Green Forest, was born on a farm near the city in which he still makes his home, his natal day being October 26, 1891. He is a son of Columbus and Alice (Johnson) Anderson, the former born in Carroll County, Arkansas, while the latter is a native of Illinois. The grandfather, Abner J. M. Anderson, was a native of North Carolina and removed to Arkansas in the ’30s, settling in Carroll County, where his remaining days were devoted to the occupation of farming and stock raising. He was in the…