Calhoun County, Arkansas
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

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Calhoun County was created on 6 December 1850 and was formed from Dallas, Ouachita and Union Counties . It was named Calhoun in honor of the South Carolina statesman and supporter of nullification, John C. Calhoun. The county seat is located at Hampton. Calhoun County is bordered by , Dallas County (north), Cleveland County (northeast), Bradley County (east), Union County (south), Ouachita County (west).

Other county boundry changes occured when Part added to Union and Bradley by Act of 19 November 1862.

The Official County Website is located at ? . See Extended History for More information.

  • Calhoun County, Arkansas History Books at Amazon.com
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Arkansas (1819 - 1999) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Search Arkansas Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

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County Court Records

See Also Arkansas Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Calhoun County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from ? and Land Records from ? and is located at Second & Main Streets, Hampton, 71744; (870) 798-2517, (870) 798-4818 .

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, chancery court, and juvenile court and usually acts as the ex-officio recorder of the county. The administrative duties of the clerk are to maintain a record of all proceedings of the circuit, chancery and juvenile courts and to prepare the dockets for these courts. They are also the ex-officio county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within the county

Calhoun County Clerk and has Marriage Records from ? and Probate Records from ? is located at Second & Main Streets, Hampton, 71744; (870) 798-2517, (870) 798-4818

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit,Although probate court is a court of equity and is presided over by the chancery judge, prior to 1937 it was a function of the county court, and under the amended procedure, the county clerk still operates ad the clerk of the probate court

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, as clerk to the probate court, the clerk files all instruments making them a matter of record in descendent estate cases, and swears in all witnesses in contested estates. The clerk, also in this capacity, maintains all records relative to adoptions and guardianship cases within the county.

Although probate court is a court of equity and is presided over by the chancery judge, prior to 1937 it was a function of the county court, and under the amended procedure, the county clerk still operates ad the clerk of the probate court

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Calhoun County, Arkansas Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers the State of Arkansas. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Arkansas

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Arkansas Vital Records, 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
    • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
    Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Calhoun County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
    • Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
  • Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
  • Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Arkansas

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Calhoun County, Arkansas are 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Calhoun County, Arkansas are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Calhoun County, Arkansas Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Arkansas and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Arkansas showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Arkansas showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at The Arkansas Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Maps. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Maps by clicking the link below:

  • Calhoun County, Arkansas Map Books at Amazon.com
  • Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.
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County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Arkansas

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tax records are available at the respective county courthouses and in the Arkansas History Commission. Nearly 600 tax books, original or microfilmed, for Arkansas counties are included in the collection at the Commission. Legislation was enacted in Arkansas which required that copies of early county tax records be sent to the state auditor in Little Rock. Where county records were lost, the state auditor's copies are especially valuable.

Personal property tax records have been published for a few counties. Tax lists, along with other sources, are being used to reconstruct the lost 1890 federal population census.

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Calhoun County, Arkansas Tax Books at Amazon.com
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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Arkansas Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Ouachita-Calhoun Genealogical Society , P. O. Box 2092 , Camden, AR 71711
  • Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; 501.682.6900
  • Arkansas Genealogical Society, 1411 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 908, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0908; Phone: 501-262-4513
  • Arkansas Historical Society, 422 South Sixth Street, Van Buren, AR 72201
  • Arkansas Family History Association, 609 Colynwood, Sherwood, Arkansas 72120; 501-835-7502
  • Arkansas Historical Association, 416 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 479-575-5884, 479-575-2775 FAX
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Arkansas Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Arkansas

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Calhoun County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Calhoun County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Some church records for Arkansas churches are available at the Arkansas History Commission. These include published church histories, church records, newspapers, and manuscript collections.

Local county genealogical and historical organizations have copied, cataloged, and published records of local cemeteries. Most of these are in the collection at the Arkansas History Commission; many are in the DAR Library. Most of those in the DAR collection have been microfilmed by the FHL.

Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Calhoun County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Calhoun County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

Calhoun County was formed on December 6, 1850, from parts of Dallas, Ouachita and Bradley counties. It is named for John C. Calhoun, an American statesman and political philosopher. Hampton is the county seat. The county is small, averaging less than 10 people per square mile. The economic base is timber, sand, and gravel. The landscape of the county is made up of rolling hills and is largely forested. Calhoun County shares with Cleveland County the Moro Creek Bottoms Natural Area, one of the few almost completely intact tracts of virgin hardwoods still existing in Arkansas. Calhoun County has the feeling of togetherness with the many ball fields and playgrounds. Most of the citizens take time for ball tournaments held at the Calhoun county park. Varied water recreation is available within easy reach of anywhere in the county, and hunting is also a popular sport. Calhoun County also shares with Cleveland County the Moro Creek Bottoms Natural Area that is one of the few intact tracts of virgin hardwoods still existing in Arkansas.

The area known today as Calhoun County had been primarily occupied by Choctaw Indians up until the early 1800's. The first pioneers began settling here in 1841. A group of settlers from Chambers County, Alabama formed a small community later known as Chambersville. Two of the earliest pioneers, W. S. Thornton and Asa R. Cone arrived by following the old "Checo Trace", an old overland route from the Mississippi River across southern Arkansas, which involved them cutting a path to bring their wagons through to the make the first settlement. By 1846 this community in Moro Township had its first store and a post office, both owned and operated by Doctor Bass (Doctor Bass was born 12 May 1812 in Wayne County, North Carolina and died 4 Oct 1853. He is buried at Chambersville Cemetery, Calhoun County, Arkansas).

Settlers began to first come to what is now Calhoun County due to access by water transportation on the Ouachita River and the rich sandy loam soil readily available for farming. Acres of available land that was easily cultivated drew immigrants from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. The county was made up of primarily farming families with cotton being the main cash crop. Many owned land for the fist time and took advantage of the Homestead Act and ability to buy public land.

Nathaniel Hunt from Tennessee was the first settler in the area that later became the town of Hampton around 1848. In August of 1849, Nathaniel secured 80 acres by land patent of Choctaw Indian Lands. This was the first of a total of 535 acres Hunt acquired from 1849-1896 in Calhoun County. Here it should be noted that Hunt eventually donated the land for the new county's seat of government.

The areas aforementioned were actually part of Dallas County. Settlers had to travel to the county seats to conduct civil business, purchase land, obtain licenses and bonds as required by law. Dallas and Ouachita Counties at the time were both extensive in size leaving the residents in the East portion of their counties having to travel long distances to conduct these affairs. With this in mind, a Ouachita County Representative, Thomas Woodward, agreed to divide Ouachita County and have the General Assembly form a new county for the convenience of its citizens. Calhoun County, Arkansas was formed on December 6, 1850 by the Arkansas General Assembly who carved it from portions of Dallas, Ouachita and Bradley Counties to give the area citizens a more centrally located seat of government. The county was named for John C. Calhoun, an early Vice President of the United States serving under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. The county is approximately 36 miles in length and 24 miles in width encompassing about 610 square miles.

The young county immediately went to work establishing it's county seat nominating its first county officers in February 1851. By May, 1851 the first session of court met in the home of James Riggs near Hampton. When he declined to make his land available for the county seat, it was Nathaniel M. Hunt who gave the necessary acreage. By October of that same year a log courthouse and jail had been constructed. [Early County Officials]

The first marriage in the county as that of William C. Stephens and Mary Stringfellow performed on January 8, 1851 by John C. Avant, an early Justice of the Peace. On January 27, 1853 the town of Hampton was incorporated. The county seat had been named in honor of Col. John R. Hampton, at that time a State Senator of Arkansas, and a brother of the Hon. Wade Hampton. Early councilmen were Dr. R. B. Archer, Nathaniel M. Hunt, Capt. G. W. McCowan, O.H.P. Black, A. I. Manor and Dr. I. M. Farrior.

Hampton grew into a prosperous southern town. Merchants bought their stock at New Orleans and had it shipped up the Ouachita River to Little Bay Landing that was twelve miles south of Hampton. The numerous landings along the river enabled steamboats to unload the goods brought from New Orleans and received the cotton and other products for the return trip. Calhoun County became a busy center of activity. By 1860, another village, seven miles east of Hampton grew known as Summerville. [Early Businesses and Professionals of Calhoun County]

Then, as it did to all parts of the South, Civil War came. Calhoun County's Civil War heritage was the four hundred plus men in sent into battle. It should be noted that about 40 men from the county enlisted in the Union Army. Although no military engagements occurred in the county, the halt of cotton trade suspended all business in the county. The Confederate troops burned the cotton bales here on occasion. This resulted in one fire in 1864 that spread destroying a warehouse, 3 stores and one home. Many of the merchants closed down shops to enlist. By the end of the war there wasn't a single business left in Hampton. Of particular sad note, many of the men who left died in battles and from disease and exposure. This loss was the county's bitterest casualty from the war. It serves as only a footnote that the immigration the county enjoyed before the war ended as well. It would not be until the 1880's and the appearance of a railroad that it began to increase again with settlers mainly coming from Alabama.

After the war and during reconstruction, the county began to rebuild slowly. By 1871 the city of Hampton was reincorporated. Other towns sprung up in the county. Locust Bayou was established in 1870 with Jeremiah Hollis as postmaster.[Early Communities & Towns] In 1883 the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway laid tracks in southern Arkansas and in the northwest corner of the the county. It was later absorbed by the Cotton Belt Railway. The immense natural resource of forests of southern yellow pine timber could now be harvested and brought to markets. Tracks were laid through Caswell Township and a railroad and saw mill town grew up overnight. It was named Thornton in honor of Col. J. R. Thornton of Camden. The county's first newspaper was published in 1886 in Thornton by Ranes & Graham, theThornton Tablet. By 1890 it was the largest town in the county and had five general stores, two large saw mills, physicians, drug stores, a butcher, and two hotels The two saw mills in Thornton, one in Little Bay and one at Eureka Station employed well over 300 men and it's payroll supported a prosperous county heading into the 20th century. The capacity in 1890 of the mills was near thirty-six million board feet annually. Although there was some talk of relocating the county seat to the booming town, plans were set aside due to it's inconvenient location from the majority of the citizens.

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