Prairie County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Prairie 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 Grand Prairie. The County Seat is Des Arc, DeValls Bluff and was founded November 25, 1846. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Prairie County Courthouse P.O. Box 278; Des Arc, AR 72040-0278 Phone: 870.256.3741 Prairie County Website County Clerk in Devalls, Bluff, Arkansas has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1885, naturalization records 1907-1912 and military discharge records from 1917

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 Prairie County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

African Americans

 * 1865-1868 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Devall's Bluff at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Labor contracts, persons hired, letters

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1851-1951 Prairie County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and executor bonds and letters 1851-1866; Administration and executor dockets 1852-1895; Administration and executor settlements 1854-1867; Administration and guardian bonds and letters 1885-1951; Administration bonds 1865-1894; Administration, executor and guardian dockets 1885-1925; Executors bonds and letters 1886-1949; Guardian bonds 1866-1894; Guardian dockets 1853-1896; Letters of administration 1866-1894; Letters of guardianship 1866-1891; Letters of testamentary 1865-1933; Probate records 1854-1907; Wills 1852-1932.

Land and Property Records

 * Federal Land Records in Prairie County ARGenweb

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Map of Prairie County - 1895 Prairie Co.ARGenweb

Civil War

 * - Louis' Company, Arkansas Militia (Confederate),
 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company B
 * - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company C
 * - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Volunteers (Confederate), Company B
 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Companies AandE
 * - 18th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company C
 * - 36th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company C

'''Online Records
 * Confederate Patriots' Index Marilyn Sickel Prairie Co. ARGenweb
 * 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

Newspapers

 * Batesville Guard

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 1851-1951 Prairie County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and executor bonds and letters 1851-1866; Administration and executor dockets 1852-1895; Administration and executor settlements 1854-1867; Administration and guardian bonds and letters 1885-1951; Administration bonds 1865-1894; Administration, executor and guardian dockets 1885-1925; Executors bonds and letters 1886-1949; Guardian bonds 1866-1894; Guardian dockets 1853-1896; Letters of administration 1866-1894; Letters of guardianship 1866-1891; Letters of testamentary 1865-1933; Probate records 1854-1907; Wills 1852-1932.
 * Wills and Probate Prairie County ARGenweb

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1854 - 1962 - Prairie County Marriage Books A-O Index 1854-1962 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1854 - 1924 - Prairie County Marriage Books A-K Index 1854-1924 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Marriages  ARGenweb

Death

 * 1914 - 1947 - Index to Prairie County Death Certificates beginning Feb 1, 1914 to 1947 - Marilyn Sickel Prairie County ARGenweb

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Libraries

 * White River Regional Library
 * Lyon College
 * UACCB

Museums

 * Old Independence Regional Museum

Societies

 * Independence County Historical 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