Benton County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Benton County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for United States Senator Thomas Hart Benton. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse 215 E. Central, Suite 217 Bentonville, AR 72712-0699 Telephone: 479.238.0120 Benton County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1861 and probate records from 1859; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court, and land records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Benton County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * Late 1700's to early 1800's - The Osage Indians in Missouri made forays into the area for seasonal hunting.
 * 1808 - 1825 - The U.S. government obtained major land cessions from the Osage.
 * 1828 - The Arkansas Cherokee no longer occupied the area and opened it to settlement.
 * Late 1820's - Settlers increasingly moved into the area.
 * 1836 - September 30 - Benton County was formally established as a separate county.
 * Many early county settlers came from Tennessee and other states of the upper South.
 * During the Civil War, many Benton County residents were caught between strongly Confederate Arkansans to the south and Union-supporting Missourians to the north.
 * During the Civil War years, much of Benton County suffered destruction and severe food shortages.
 * 1870's - The county’s population grew, but the number of African American citizens decreased rapidly

Biographies

 * Family Biographies from The History of Benton County, Arkansas (1889) published by Goodspeed are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Census Records

 * 1840 Federal Census Index and transcriptions, Benton County ARGenWeb
 * 1850 Federal Census Index and transcriptions, Benton County ARGenWeb

Church Records

 * 1875-1899 - at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1843-1915 Benton County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)- How to Use this Collection


 * Includes Administration bonds 1858-1888; Chancery Court records 1843-1882; Dockets 1869-1897; Gurdian bonds 1858-1887; Minutes 1857-1874; Probate records 1884-1908.

Local Histories

 * History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. 1889. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Google Books, Ancestry ($);.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Benton County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Historic maps of Benton County, Arkansas 1875 to 1922, free access on My Genealogy Hound.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital version at Google Books. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Arkansas, Benton County on page 191.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include"an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.]

Civil War



 * Confederate Soldiers Buried in Benton County Arkansas


 * - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company D
 * - 34th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company F
 * - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company F

Men from Benton County served in the 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Union) and the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union), Companies E and M

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection


 * 1890-1963 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection


 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection


 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection

Civil War Battle

The following Civil War battle was fought in Benton County.


 * March 6-8, 1862 = Pea Ridge, also known as Elkhorn Tavern.
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Arkansas.

Newspapers

 * Arkansas Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites. Includes newspapers for Benton County.
 * Benton County DailyRecord

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 - Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1837 - 1921 - Benton County Arkansas list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills - free
 * 1817 – 1979 - at FamilySearch — images- How to Use this Collection
 * Probate Records 1843-1915 Benton County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)- How to Use this Collection


 * Includes:
 * 1858 - 1888 - Administration bonds
 * 1843 - 1882 - Chancery Court records
 * 1869 - 1897 - Dockets
 * 1857 - 1887 - Guardian bonds
 * 1857 - 1874 - Minutes
 * 1884 - 1908 - Probate records

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
 * 1861 - 1952 - Benton County Marriage Books A-Z and Marriage License Bonds Index 1861-1952 in at FamilySearch - free. - How to Use this Collection


 * 1877 - 1924 - Benton County Marriage Books A-J Index 1877-1924 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index and images ($)

Death

 * Benton County, Arkansas Obituary Collection From GenealogyBuff.com ~ Free. From Various Funeral Homes in the Rogers, Bentonville, Siloam Springs,Lowell, Gentry, Gravette, Little Flock, and Pea Ridge areas.
 * 1850 - 1850 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule Transcription
 * 1860 - 1860 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule Transcription

Divorce

 * 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)

Voter Records

 * 1868-1910 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * Springdale Arkansas Jones Family Center Family History Center
 * Rogers Arkansas Family History Center

Libraries

 * Bella Vista Public Library 11 Dickens Place Bella Vista AR 72714
 * Bentonville Public Library 405 S Main Street Bentonville AR 72712
 * Rogers Public Library 711 S Dixieland Road Rogers AR 72758

Societies

 * Benton County Historical Society
 * Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * RootsWeb resources. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records