Cross County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Cross 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 Confederate Colonel David C. Cross. It is located in the northeast of the state.

County Courthouse
Cross County Courthouse 705 Union Ave E #8; Wynne, AR 72396 Phone: 870.238.5735 Cross County Website County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1863, tax and county court records from 1865; Clerk Circuit Court has court and land records from 1865; Chancery Circuit Clerk has divorce records from 1866; County Historical Society has newspapers from 1935, cemetery records and family histories.

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


 * 1803 - The sparse population of the area consisted of French hunters, Cherokee, and a few English frontiersmen.
 * 1830s - The Cherokee were removed via the Trail of Tear and settlers from Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri moved in.
 * 1862 November 15 - The Arkansas General Assembly created Cross County.
 * 1882 - The first railroad was completed across Cross County.
 * 1900-1927 - The growth of Vanndale and Wynne along the railroad balanced the decline of river cities such as Wittsburg. This transfer of population was increased by flooding in the river valley when the St. Francis River broke through its levees in 1912 and 1913, and especially in the Flood of 1927.

Bible Records

 * Cross County Bible Records USGenWeb Archives

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

Funeral Homes

 * Cross County Cremations and Funeral Services in Wynne
 * Kernodle Funeral Home in Wynne
 * Thompson-Wilson Funeral Homes in Wynne
 * Woodard Funeral Services in Wynne

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1857-1943 Cross County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)- How to Use this Collection
 * Includes Administration and guardian bonds and letters 1863-1921; Administration settlements 1866-1911; Dockets 1874-1922; Probate case files 1898-1930; Probate record index 1866-1878; Probate records 1857-1887; Wills 1863-1943.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. 1890. Chicago, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * History of Cross County, Arkansas, 1955. 1955. By Robert W. Chowning. Wynne, Arkansas : Wynne Progress. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library ;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * 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

Civil War

 * 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 ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1783–1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * 1817-1979 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1863-1943 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1898-1930 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 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.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
 * 1863 - 1952 - Cross County Marriage Books A-Z, A1-G1 Index 1863-1952 in at FamilySearch - free. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1865 - 1922 - Cross County Marriage Books A-O Index 1865-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index and images ($)

Death

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

Divorce

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

Voter Records

 * 1868-1910 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * Blytheville Arkansas Family History Center
 * Jonesboro Arkansas Family History Center
 * Mountain View Arkansas Family History Center
 * Quitman Arkansas Family History Center


 * Greene County Historical & Genalogical Society - an affiliate library

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
 * 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