Izard County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Izard 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 the second Governor of the Territory, George Izard. The County Seat is Melbourne and was founded October 17, 1825,. It is located in the north of the state.

County Courthouse
Izard County Courthouse PO Box 327; Melbourne, AR 72556 Phone: 870.368.4328 Izard County Website County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1889.

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 Izard County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
 * Osage hunted in the area prior to an 1808 treaty, and Shawnee also lived in the White River valley until 1833.
 * 1802 - John Lafferty, a native of Ireland, traveled up the White River.
 * 1810 - Lafferty and his family established the county’s first settlement at Lafferty Creek.
 * 1825 October 27 - Izard County established.
 * 1800s (early) - Keelboats began bringing settlers up the White River.
 * 1860 - The 1860 census shows only five foreign-born residents in Izard County: four from Ireland and one from Germany. Those not born in the county came primarily from Tennessee, the Carolinas, and a few from Kentucky and Mississippi.
 * 1870s (mid) - After the Civil War, many people starved in Izard County, resorting to eating grass and bark.
 * 1910-1960 - The population of Izard County hit a high (14,500) in 1910 and a low (6,700) in 1960. In 2010 the population was 13,700.

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1889-1949 Izard County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1889-1949; Guardian bonds and letters 1889-1946; Probate records 1889-1930; Wills 1889-1942.

Land and Property Records

 * Izard County Federal Land Records USGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * Izard County, Arkansas. Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2014.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free)
 * Izard County, Arkansas.Vol 2 Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2014.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free)
 * Shannon, Karr. A history of Izard County, Arkansas. Little Rock, Arkansas : Democrat Print. and Lithographing Co., c1947.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free) and at Ancestry.com ($)
 * History of Izard County at Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * 1895 Izard County Map

Civil War

 * - 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Powers') (Confederate)
 * - 27th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company C (new), Companies G, H and I
 * - 38th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union), Company A

'''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

World War II

 * Izard County WW 2 Army &amp; Air Force Casualties Access Genealogy
 * Arkansas Peace Society of 1861 Ancestrally Challenged

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 1889-1949 Izard County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1889-1949; Guardian bonds and letters 1889-1946; Probate records 1889-1930; Wills 1889-1942.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Birth

 * Izard County Births Izard County ARGenWeb

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1889 - 1956 - Izard County Marriage Books [1]-12 Index 1889-1956 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1889 - 1925 - Izard County Marriage Index 1889-1925 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * Izard County Marriages Various Years Izard County ARGenWeb

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Societies

 * Izard County Historical &amp; Genealogical Society Izard County ARGenWeb

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