Fulton County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Fulton 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 William Fulton. It is located in the northeast of the state.

County Courthouse
Fulton County Courthouse PO Box 278 123 S. Main Salem, AR 72576-0278 Phone: 870.895.3310 Fulton County Website County Clerk has marriage records form 1887, divorce, land, probate and court records from 1891.

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


 * 1830s - The first legally recognized white resident of Fulton County, William P. Morris, used his land grant to acquire 160 acres in the present Salem area.
 * 1842 December 21 - Fulton County was created, by the state legislature, carving out part of Izard County and present-day Baxter County.
 * 1869-1865 - The American Civil War made a huge impact on Fulton County. Settlers who lived in the rocky uplands of the county did not own slaves, but the settlers living along the fertile valleys of the rivers and creeks did.
 * 1865-1868 - Fulton County residents lived in a guerrilla warfare state for the next three years. Bands of thieves known as “bushwhackers” and “jayhawkers” roamed the area, raiding local farms, and terrorizing the citizens; they also burned the county courthouse, destroying land and census records.
 * 1940s - Industrialization in other parts of the United States attracted Fulton County youth to leave home in search of economic opportunities.

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

Court Records

 * 1870-1886 (*); Arkansas. County Court (Fulton County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1973, 1877-1885 (*); Arkansas. Circuit Court (Fulton County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1973 (*); Arkansas. Chancery Court (Fulton County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images

African Americans

 * 1866-1888 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Union at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; letters

Funeral Homes

 * Barker Funeral Home in Salem
 * Clary Funeral Home in Mammoth Spring
 * Doty Family Funeral Service in Salem

Local Histories

 * Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 1889. Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; . Fulton County history begins on Page 259.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

 * - 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Powers') (Confederate)
 * - 27th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company B (new)

'''Online Records


 * 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
 * 1870-1894 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1874-1940 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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 $
 * 1887 - 1952 - Fulton County Marriage Books [A]-T Index 1887-1952 in at FamilySearch - free. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1887 - 1925 - Fulton County Marriage Index 1887-1925 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
 * 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

 * Harrison Arkansas Family History Center
 * Mountain Home Arkansas Family History Center
 * Mountain View Arkansas Family History Center
 * West Plains Missouri Family History Center


 * Jim G Ferguson Searcy County Library - 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
 * 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