Johnson County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Johnson 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 Benjamin Johnson, who was appointed one of the territorial judges in 1820 and held the office until the state was admitted in 1836. It is located in the northwest of the state.

County Courthouse
Johnson County Courthouse 215 W Main Street P.O. Box 57 Clarksville, AR 72830 Phone: 501.754.3967 Johnson County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1855 and probate records from 1844. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court and land records Extension office has burial records

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 Johnson County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
 * 1700-1730s - .Early white settlers started arriving, first by keel boat and later by steamboat; many were likely illegal squatters, who were a constant source of annoyance and complaint to the Cherokee.
 * 1833 November 16 - Johnson County was created.
 * 1920-2010 - The population of Johnson County hit a peak of just over 21,000 in 1920. It then took a dive to just 12,400 in 1960 but has rebounded to 25,500 in 2010.

Biographies

 * All of the family biographies from Johnson County, Arkansas included in The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891 are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1875-1899 - at FamilySearch — index

Genealogies

 * All of the family biographies from Johnson County, Arkansas included in The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891 are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.

Guardianship

 * Guardian bonds and letters 1856-1913 vol A-C at FamilySearch (Free, browse images)

Local Histories

 * Langford, Ella Molloy. History of Johnson County, Arkansas : the first hundred years. Clarksville, Arkansas : Johnson County Historical Society (Georgia), 1976, 1981.
 * Online at Internet archive (Free)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Johnson County at Wikipedia.
 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925) by MapofUS.org

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital version at Google Books. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Arkansas, Johnson County on page 191.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.]

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company C
 * - 16th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company A, B and C
 * - 26th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company H
 * - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union), Companies D, E, and I


 * Men from this county served in the 10th Regiment, Arkansas Militia and the 62nd Regiment, Arkansas Militia.

'''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

Periodicals

 * Johnson County Historical Society Journal published by Johnson County Historical Society.

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 1845-1949 Johnson County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and executor bonds and letters 1870-1949; Administration bonds and letters 1847-1886; Guardian bonds and letters 1856-1913; Wills 1845-1926.

Birth

 * 1861 - Johnson County Birth Index 1861. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1855 - 1957 - Johnson County Marriage Books N-Z, 1-2 Index 1855-1957 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1855 - 1924 - Johnson County Marriage Books N-W Index 1855-1924 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Voter Records

 * 1868-1910 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Clarksville Arkansas Family History Center S .5 mile Country Club Rd AR 72830-9015 USA

Societies

 * Johnson County Historical Society operates the Heritage Center and Museum at 131 West Main Street, Clarksville and publishes Johnson County Historical Society Journal.
 * "Among the research materials available at the center are clipping files with data on county families and communities from county newspapers; ... databases of burials in Johnson, Crawford, and Franklin counties...."

Websites

 * USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * ARGenWeb for Johnson County. 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