Desha County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States Arkansas  Desha County

Guide to Desha County Arkansas genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage records from 1865 and probate records; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court and land records.

History
Desha County is Arkansas's 40th county, formed on December 12, 1838, and named for Captain Benjamin Desha who fought in the War of 1812.

Parent County

 * 1838--Desha County was created 12 December 1838 from Arkansas and Chicot Counties.

County seat: Arkansas City

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Desha County boundary changes at N2Genealogy.

Populated Places
Arkansas City Dumas McGehee Mitchellville Reed Tillar Watson

Neighboring Counties

 * Arkansas
 * Bolivar County, Mississippi
 * Chicot
 * Drew
 * Lincoln
 * Phillips

African Americans

 * 1867-1872 - Desha County Marriage Index 1867-1872 in at FamilySearch - free.

Cemeteries
Desha County Cemetery Transcriptions (partial list) -  Desha County ARGenWeb

Census
1840 Federal Census Index  -  USGenWeb Project Archives

1850 Federal Census Index -  USGenWeb Project Archives

Church Records
Dumas Churches -  churchangel.com

McGehee Churches - churchangel.com

Land and Property
Desha County Federal Land Records -  USGenWeb Archives Project

Local Histories
Riverboat History - Desha County ARGenWeb

Goodspeed's Historry -  Desha County ARGenWeb

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Arkansas County - The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History &amp; Culture

Maps
1895 Desha County Map -  livgenmil.com

Township Map -  Desha County USGenWeb

War of 1812
Military Land Grants War of 1812 (partial list) -  USGenWeb Project Archives

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate),
 * - 5th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Militia (Confederate), Napoleon Cavalry
 * - 8th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
 * - Carlton's Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)

Civil War Amnesty List -  Desha County ARGenWeb

World War II
Rohwer Relocation Center -  Desha County ARGenWeb

World War II Enlistees A-F - USGenWeb Project Archives

World War II enlistees G-L -  USGenWeb Project Archives

World War II Enlistees M-R -  USGenWeb Project Archives

Newspapers
Desha County Newspapers -  Desha County ARGenWeb

Marriage

 * 1856-1952 - Desha County Marriage Books A-Z, A1-I1 Index 1856-1952 in at FamilySearch - free.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Desha County, Arkansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Desha County, Arkansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)