Van Buren County Historical Society

Twice a year we produce a Newsletter. We are always happy to have information from members. Queries are included in each newsletter and may be added to the Van Buren County Genealogy page queries where they are collected and indexed regularly making them available to genealogy search engines on the Internet.

Usually we publish a Journal each year. Send in your family genealogy, family letters of historical interest, Bible records or cemetery records for inclusion in the Journal. We welcome articles of historical and genealogical interest for both our Journal and newsletter. HILLIS, SPARKMAN, SHOCKLEY, and PAINE genealogies are a few of the many that have been published in our Journals.

The late Tony BAYLESS once did an article on Fall Creek Falls and secured a photograph from the makers of Salem cigarettes. The photograph had been staged on site in Fall Creek Falls Park at the swinging bridge. That photograph which is in the Van Buren County Historical Journal, Volume V, was used in magazines published throughout the world.

Our Van Buren County Marriage Records reveal that the first couple married in Van Buren County was James SPARKMAN and Eliza McELROY on May 26, 1840.

The Van Buren County Veterans Book by Landon Medley and Tony Bayless is an excellent genealogy source and many pictures are included. It is a fine and fitting tribute to our veterans from the Revolution through Viet Nam.

The information compiled by the late Frances PASSONS FRANCIS of Texas for her Charles Caffery Martin Family book is being built upon by descendants. Benny MARTIN, the country music singer, is a descendant named in the book. And yes, he is the same Benny Martin that Sparta claims with the signs at the city limits that declare, SPARTA, hometown of Benny MARTIN.