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
Men and women in the Armed Forces from Ashley County
History of Scott County, Arkansas
History of Greene county, Arkansas
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…