Calhoun County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Calhoun 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 U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Calhoun County Courthouse Main Street Hampton, AR 71744 Phone: 870.798.2517 Calhoun County Website County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1851, divorce, probate and court records from 1880.

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


 * Pre 1800 - French-Canadian hunters, trappers, and traders were probably the first Europeans to visit the area.
 * 1804 - William Dunbar and George Hunter were officially the first American citizens to visit what is now Calhoun County with their exploration of the Red, Black, and Ouachita rivers.
 * 1800-1840 - Settlers from other states began to arrive. Many families from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee chose this area. to settle.
 * 1861-1874 - With over 400 soldiers from the county involved in the Civil War, farming, commerce, and immigration almost came to a standstill.
 * 1880s - The county did not recover economically until the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad, passed through the northwestern corner of the county.
 * 1920s - The population reached a peak never to be surpassed.

Cemeteries
The following web site may have additional information on Arkansas County cemeteries.


 * African American Cemeteries Online

Church Records

 * 1875-1899 - at FamilySearch — index

African Americans

 * 1865-1867 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Hampton at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; letters, misc records

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1851-1936 Calhoun County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian records 1861-1936; Claims against estates 1851-1899; Minutes 1851-1911; Probate records 1851-1911.

Local Histories

 * History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co.1889.
 * PDF Online at The Rainwater Collection (Free)
 * Russell, Jesse Lewis. Behind these Ozark hills : history - reminiscences - traditions featuring the author's family, biographical sketches of outstanding descendants of pioneers. New York, New York : Hobson Book Press, 1947.
 * Online at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)

Civil War

 * - 2nd Battalion, Arkansas Calvalry (Confederate), Company A
 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)

'''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 — index and images

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 1851-1936 Calhoun County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian records 1861-1936; Claims against estates 1851-1899; Minutes 1851-1911; Probate records 1851-1911.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1851 - 1956 - Calhoun County Marriage Books A-L Index 1851-1956 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1851 - 1922 - Calhoun County Marriage Books A-I Index 1851-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Jacksonville Arkansas Family History Center 312 Hwy 319 East, Vilonia, AR 72173

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb. 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