Johnson County, Arkansas Genealogy

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

Description
Johnson County was created on 25 December 1833 and was named for Benjamin Johnson, who was appointed one of the territorial judges in 1820 and held the office until the state was admitted in 1836. Its county seat is Clarksville. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Johnson County Courthouse 215 W Main Street P.O. Box 57 Clarksville, AR 72830 Phone: 501-754-3967 Johnson County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1855 and probate records from 1844. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court and land records. Extension office has burial 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 Johnson County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
 * 1700-1730s - .Early white settlers started arriving, first by keel boat and later by steamboat; many were likely illegal squatters, who were a constant source of annoyance and complaint to the Cherokee.
 * 1833 November 16 - Johnson County was created.
 * 1920-2010 - The population of Johnson County hit a peak of just over 21,000 in 1920. It then took a dive to just 12,400 in 1960 but has rebounded to 25,500 in 2010.

Biographies

 * Biographies at My Genealogy Hound

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Court Records

 * 1841-1956 (*); Circuit, Chancery and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1871 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1876 (*); Justice of the Peace Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Funeral Homes

 * Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarkville
 * Roller-Cox Funeral Homes in Clarkville

Genealogies

 * All of the family biographies from Johnson County, Arkansas included in The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891 are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.

Guardianship

 * Guardian bonds and letters 1856-1913 vol A-C at FamilySearch (Free, browse images)

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Chicago : Southern Publishing Co., 1891. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library,  HathiTrust, Internet Archive. Johnson County, Ch XVII, pp. 272-321.
 * History of Johnson County, Arkansas: The First Hundred Years. By Ella Molloy Langford. Clarksville, Arkansas: Sallis, Threadgill & Sallis, printers, 1921. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Johnson County at Wikipedia.
 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925) by MapofUS.org
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives

Revolutionary War

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

Mexican-American War

 * Frances T. Ingmire. Johnson County, Arkansas, roster of Mexican War veterans. FS Library 976.733 M28ij

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company C
 * - 16th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company A, B and C
 * - 26th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company H
 * - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union), Companies D, E, and I


 * Men from this county served in the 10th Regiment, Arkansas Militia and the 62nd Regiment, Arkansas Militia.

'''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

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Periodicals

 * Johnson County Historical Society Journal published by Johnson County Historical Society.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1783-1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1817-1979 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1841-1956 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1845-1949 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1861 - Johnson County Birth Index 1861. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1855-1924 Johnson County Marriage Books N-W Index 1855-1924 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1855-1957 Johnson County Marriage Books N-Z, 1-2 Index 1855-1957 in  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)

Death

 * 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
 * 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)

Divorce

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

Voter Records

 * 1700-Onward Arkansas Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1868-1910 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

FamilySearch Centers

 * Clarksville Arkansas FamilySearch Center

Societies
Johnson County Historical Society The Heritage Center and Museum 133 W Main St Clarksville, AR Phone: 479-754-3334 Email: [mailto:JCHS1833@gmail.com JCHS1833@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Johnson County ARGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * Cyndi's List
 * - 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