DeSoto Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to DeSoto Parish, Louisiana ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

Description
The County was named for the settler, Marcel DeSoto. The County has Mansfield as its seat and the County was created 1843. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
DeSoto Parish Courthouse Parish Courthouse Mansfield, LA 71052 Phone: 318.872.3110 Parish Clerk has marriage and land records from 1843, divorce, probate and court records.

Quick Facts

 * Named for Hernando deSoto (small "d"), the Spaniard who explored the future southeastern United States, discovered and named the Mississippi River.
 * The first Parish courthouse was a log house.

Parent Parish

 * 1 April 1843: DeSoto Parish was created from Natchitoches and Caddo Parishes. Parish seat: Mansfield

Boundary Changes

 * Eastern part of the parish was set off 2 March 1871 to form Red River Parish

For animated maps illustrating Louisiana Parish boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Louisiana Parish Boundary Maps" (1805-1990) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Neighboring Parishes or Counties

 * Caddo
 * Natchitoches
 * Panola County, Texas
 * Red River
 * Sabine
 * Shelby County, Texas

African American

 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Bible Recortds

 * DeSoto Parish Bible Records (LAGenWeb)

Biographies

 * Index to DeSoto Parish Biographies (LAGenWeb)
 * Index to DeSoto Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * DeSoto Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on DeSoto Parish cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Louisiana cemetery records by Parish.
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county
 * Click here to check out Trish Cannon website for cemetery lists.

Census

 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)
 * DeSoto Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * DeSoto Parish Census Transcriptions (LAGenWeb)

Church

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana, by city (Church Angel)
 * DeSoto Parish Church Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Court

 * 1843-1909 - Index of Succession Records (Including Tutorship), DeSoto Parish, Louisiana (LAGenWeb)
 * DeSoto Parish Court Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * DeSoto Parish Civil Court Records (LAGenWeb)

Local Histories

 * Louisiana Museums
 * DeSoto Parish History (LAGenWeb)
 * DeSoto Parish History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Family Maps of DeSoto Parish, Louisiana (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * USGW Digital Map Collection (USGenWeb Archives)

Military

 * Louisiana Military History Online
 * DeSoto Parish Military Links (LAGenWeb)
 * DeSoto Parish Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883 - DeSoto Parish Pensioners on the Rolls as of January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 - at FamilySearch — images

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battles were fought in DeSoto Parish:


 * April 8, 1864 = Mansfield, also known as Sabine Cross-Roads or Pleasant Grove
 * April 9, 1864 = Pleasant Hill


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Louisiana.

World War I

 * 1917-1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Louisiana Newspaper listing (Newslink)

Obituaries

 * DeSoto Parish Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * index to DeSoto Parish Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * DeSoto Parish Obituaries (LAGenWeb)

Probate
Louisiana Probate Records

Online Probate Records
 * 1756-1984 - Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1843-1909 - Index of Succession Records, DeSoto Parish (LAGenWeb)
 * DeSoto Parish Wills and Probate Documents (Genealogy Trails)

Schools

 * DeSoto Parish School Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Schools of DeSoto Parish LA (LAGenWeb)

Taxation

 * 1861 Tax List - Slave Owners of nine or more slaves in 1861. (USGenWeb Archives)

Vital Records

 * Louisiana Records and Statistics Information ~ where and how to order information.
 * DeSoto Parish Vital Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Marriage

 * To 1850 - Early Desoto Parish Marriages (LAGenWeb)
 * 1837-1957 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1843-1905 - Some Marriages of DeSoto Parish LA (list is not complete) (LAGenWeb)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * DeSoto Parish Deaths (LAGenWeb)

Societies and Libraries

 * Desoto Historical Society PO Box 447 Mansfield, LA 71052-0447
 * Desoto Historical Society PO Box 300 Stonewall, LA 71078-0300 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Society Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association Website

Websites

 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * DeSoto Parish (USGenWeb Archives)
 * FamilySearch Catalog for DeSoto Parish.
 * The DeSoto Parish (LAGenWeb)
 * DeSoto Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * DeSoto Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)