Columbia County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Columbia 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 Christopher Columbus. The County Seat is Magnolia and was founded December 17, 1852. It is located in the south southern of the state.

County Courthouse
Columbia County Courthouse 1 Court Sq, #1; Magnolia, AR 71753 Phone: 870.235.3774 Columbia County website County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1853, divorce and court records from 1860 and probate records. The County Library has cemetery 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 Columbia County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1836 - Early white settlers began arriving in significant numbers to the area only after Arkansas achieved statehood.
 * 1852 December 17 - Columbia County was created from portions of Lafayette, Hempstead, Ouachita, and Union counties.
 * 1880 and before - Relative isolation and transportation difficulties have long been a problem for Columbia County. Columbia is the only one of Arkansas’s seventy-five counties not situated on a river.
 * 1880s - The railroad led to the creation of the communities of McNeill (later McNeil) and later Waldo.
 * 1937 - The discovery of producing oil and gas fields led to positive changes almost overnight that continued into the 1950s.
 * 1943 - Columbia County voters banned the sale of beer and wine.. The county remains “dry” to this day.

Church Records
Methodist

'''Barges Chapel Methodist Church


 * 1820-1872 - Barges Chapel Methodist Church Baptism Index 1820-1872. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1896, 1915 - Barges Chapel Methodist Church Marriage Index 1896, 1915. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

African Americans

 * 1866-1867 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Magnolia at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Letters

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1849-1931 Columbia County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1853-1925; Dockets 1866-1891; Executor and guardian bonds and letters 1856-1924; Probate record index 1854-1926; Probate records 1853-1886; Wills 1849-1931.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at : Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Columbia County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Company E
 * - 19th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Dockery's) (Confederate)
 * - 33rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Companies A and G

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1890-1963 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — images only

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1849-1931 Columbia County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1853-1925; Dockets 1866-1891; Executor and guardian bonds and letters 1856-1924; Probate record index 1854-1926; Probate records 1853-1886; Wills 1849-1931.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1853 - 1951 - Columbia County Marriage Books A-Z, AA-LL Index 1853-1951 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1853 - 1926 - Columbia County Marriage Books D2-Q Index 1853-1926 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Magnolia Arkansas Family History Center 2504 Pearce St., Magnolia, AR 71753-4368 United States

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. 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