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

Men and women in the Armed Forces from Ashley County

One of the county-wide “yearbooks” published after the end of World War II was titled “Men and women in the Armed Forces from Ashley County.” These books contain a roster of the known participants from the county who served in the war, along with brief biographical sketches and photographs of the soldiers, when available. However, as the authors of these publications acknowledge, not everyone was always included in these records.
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History of Scott County, Arkansas

The History of Scott County, Arkansas by Henry Grady McCutchen serves as an attempt of an impartial and connected account of the leading facts of Scott County history. The history cannot be told, however, by combing the county records. Scott County has been unlucky with record keeping. It’s Courthouse having burned to the ground twice, the first time in 1882 before Henry McCutchen had a chance to reference them. Not to be disheartened Mr. McCutchen utilized State and Federal resources to put together a concise history of the county. It can be read or downloaded as a PDF.
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History of Greene county, Arkansas

The History of Greene county, Arkansas written by Vivian Mayo Hansbrough in 1946 is a great second hand accounting of Greene County, Arkansas history. Her sources were those residents who lived there, old newspapers, other manuscripts, and two notebooks of manuscript from Professor C. E. Richardson. It is written as a narrative of the county’s history and you will find relics of information about Green County ancestors sprinkled throughout. Read, search, or download the book.
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Overturf Cemetery, Grannis, Arkansas

Two and one half miles South of Grannis, turn East on Polk 2, South just past the intersection of Polk 2 and Polk 237NE, SE, Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 31 WestParcel # 9311 In the late 1880’s, a negro family, traveling Line Road, was forced to camp on the Cossatot River near the station house, due to the illness of their son. The youngster died, and when a gravesite was requested by the parents, they were directed to a spot on top of the hill about 400 yards south of Jim Overturf’s school. It was atop this same…

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Old Potter Cemetery, Potter Junction, Arkansas

About one hundred yards West of Potter Junction on Highway 375. Potter Junction is about five and one-half miles South of Mena on Highway 71.Section 28, Township 2 South, Range 31 WestNot listed on the Polk County, Arkansas Tax Rolls This cemetery is located on the right side of the road between the rock church and the rock school house which are not being used as of October 23, 1983. The church was, at one time, a Presbyterian Church pastored by Rev. J. P. Lester. Rev. J. P. Lester is buried in this small cemetery. This cemetery is located on…

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Old Dallas Cemetery, Old Dallas, Arkansas

Seven miles East of Mena on Highway 375 East, Left on Polk 44, cemetery on right.SW, NW, Section 33, Township 2 South, Range 30 WestParcel # 5070 The Polk County Courthouse records show that the first owner of forty acres of land, which the Old Dallas Cemetery is a part, was Walter Scott, in November 1849. Old Dallas was a county seat in November 1844. Polk County was formed from territory taken from Sevier County. Forty-two years later, in 1896, the county seat was moved three miles north to the railroad and named Mena to honor the wife of a…

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Norris Cemetery, Yocana, Arkansas

Ten miles East on Highway 88 from the intersection of Highway 71 and 88 East, on land owned by Nick Bowen (2/1/1984)Section 13, Township 2 South, Range 29 WestParcel # ? The land for this cemetery was donated by Dr. J. A. Norris about 1862. it is located in a field on the south side of the road. Although there is no tombstone or marker for his grave, it is believed that a civil war soldier by the name of Shelton was the first person buried in this cemetery. Norris Cemetery is also called Yucanna (Yocana) according to most of…

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Nichols Cemetery, Hatfield, Arkansas

About five miles West of Hatfield on State Highway 246 on the right between Polk 38 and Polk 151.SE, NW, Section 8, Township 3 South, Range 32 WestParcel # 10366 This history of Nichols Cemetery was given to Ruby Martin by Thelma Nichols Owners (Mrs. Raymond Owens), the great grand-daughter of Jim Nichols. Sam and Jim Nichols came to Arkansas with their father in 1840 from Alabama. They settled in the area which, years later, became the West Valley Community. Sam lived on the land on which the cemetery is now located. Jim lived across the Mountain Fork River. When…

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Mountain Fork Cemetery, Mountain Fork, Arkansas

Eleven miles West of Mena on Highway 8 WestN/2 of Section 29, Township 1 South, Range 32 WestNot on the Polk County, Arkansas Tax Roll Internments Fields, Jesse L – 1-25-1940 to 4-17-1949Fields, Samuel E – 1893-1977 – PFC US Army WW #1Freeman, Hugh – 10-17-1900 to 2-24-1981Gray, Missouri Kathryn – 9-4-1866 to 9-21-1921Keller, Jacob H, 11-26-1856 to 11-28-1922Keller, Sarah A, 3-2-1860 to 4-17-1920Peters, Baby – No Date Child of James & BeulahReed, Battie L – 9-29-1902 to 12-4-1969Reed, Billy Don – 1950-1950Reed, Vina Emma – 10-15-1870 to 8-22-1946Reed, Wendell H – 1-7-1937 to 5-10-1943Reed, William C – 1871-1935Robinson, Elsie…

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Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Rocky, Arkansas

Six miles West of Mena on Highway 8SW,SW, Section 17, Township 2 South, Range 31 WestParcel # 6018 Internments Addison, Christopher Luther – 1912-1917 – Tec 5 US Army WW2Addison, Nora E. – 11/29/1893-5/6/1975Addison, Warren B. – 11/7/1892-6/3/1978Bain, John H. – 8/15/1905-12/31/1977Bain, Matilda A. – 10/2/1904-?Boggs, Luther – 1/20/1898-8/15/1983Crawford, Alice Marie – born and died – 7/2/1949Crawford, Loyd Austin – 3/8/1947-3/12/1947Crawford, Pool A. – 1909-1980 – Pfc US Army WW2Crane, Dorothy E. – 1918-?Crane, John Victor – 1899-1975Harrison, David S. – 12/5/1892-10/3/1957 – Pvt 161 Inf Ark WW 1Harrison, Myrle – 1934-1936Lance, Benjamin Harry – 1889-1979 – Pvt US Army…

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