Drew County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States Arkansas  Drew County

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

County Courthouse
Drew County Courthouse 210 S Main Street Monticello, AR 71655 Phone: 870.460.6260 County Clerk has marriage and probate records. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, military and court records; County Assessor has land records.

Parent County

 * 1846--Drew County was created 26 November 1846 from Arkansas and Bradley Counties.County seat: Monticello 

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arkansas County Boundary Maps" (1813-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in Arkansas counties see: Arkansas Counties with Burned Courthouses

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog'

Neighboring Counties
Ashley • Bradley • Chicot • Cleveland • Desha • Lincoln

African Americans

 * 1866 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Monticello at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; roll, reports
 * 1865-1867 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Monticello (Southeastern District of Arkansas) at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Register of contracts, letters, court papers

Cemeteries

 * Drew County Cemeteries Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Drew County Cemeteries Find A Grave
 * Drew County Headstone Photos Drew County ARGenWeb

Church Records

 * Drew County Church Records Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Prairie Grove Southern Baptist Church Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Old Florence Church Minutes USGenWeb Archives
 * Prairie Hall M.A. Church South
 * Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist Church USGenWeb Archives

Land and Property

 * Drew County Pioneer Settlers Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Drew County Federal Land Records USGenWeb Archives
 * Drew County Assessor's Public Records Searchable Database

Local Histories

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

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Arkansas County - The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History &amp; Culture


 * Native Americans lived in southeastern Arkansas, including Drew County, for many years before European exploration.
 * 1600s (late) - French missionaries and explorers encountered the Quapaw in southeastern Arkansas.
 * 1824 - In a treaty, the Quapaw agreed to sell their land and move.
 * 1837 - As early as 1837, American settlers had gathered in a village called Rough and Ready, located within a mile of the present-day county seat, Monticello.
 * 1846 November 26 - Drew County was formed.
 * 1910-2010 - The population of Drew County hit its peak in 1910 with 22,000. It had dropped to 15,000 by 1970 and had a slow recovery to 18,500 in 2010.

Maps

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

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company I
 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Colquitt's) (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Consolidated Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 6th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Companies A, B and L
 * - 8th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 26th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Companies A, B and E


 * Edward Gerdes Arkansas Civil War Rosters
 * Drew County Civil War Amnesty List Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Drew County WW 2 Army &amp; Air Force Casualties Access Genealogy
 * Men from this county served in the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate).

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 1846-1926 Drew County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Estates 1905-1906; Inventories 1870-1893; Letters of administration 1847-1858; Minutes 1852-1864; Probate records 1865-1905; Wills 1846-1926; Wills, intestate estates 1847-1858.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1847-1952 - Drew County Marriage Books A-Z, AA-GG Index 1847-1952 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1847-1905 - Drew County Marriage Books D-J Index 1847-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1847-1861 - Drew County Marriages 1847-1861 Drew County ARGenWeb
 * Drew County Early Marriage Officials Drew County ARGenWeb

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * List of Arkansas Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Monticello Arkansas Family History Center
 * Monticello, Arkansas