Sevier County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to Sevier County, Utah ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage and death records, cemeteries, census, church records, probate records, and obituaries—resources to find parents and family history since 1865, when the county was formed.

Utah Online Genealogy Records

Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Church

Description
The County was named for the Sevier River, which winding path forms its western boundary. The County is located in the center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Sevier County Courthouse 250 North Main P O Box 517 Richfield, Ut 84701 Phone: 435-893-0401

County Clerk has birth and death records 1898-1905, marriage records, naturalization records 1850-1898. State court has divorce, probate and court records, military discharge records from 1942.

Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Parent Counties
was created January 16, 1865 from: Sanpete

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Utah County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Utah County Boundary Maps" (1849-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.


 * Boundary changes timeline for from "UT: Index of Counties," Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Beaver | Emery | Millard | Piute | Sanpete | Wayne

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Bible Records
The term "Bible records" refers to the practice of keeping family dates and events in a family Bible. This was a common practice in many European countries and carried over to America. Many of these family Bible records are still in existence and preserved by the descendants of the immigrants. In some cases these family Bibles have found their way into libraries and other repositories.

For an explanation of how to find Bible records and for helpful links see Utah Bible Records. See also United States Bible Records.

Business Records and Commerce
See United States Business Records See also Utah Business Records

Cemeteries
Sevier County cemeteries at the Utah State Historical site


 * To 1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Published transcripts of cemetery records are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog at the (space, then select the town) or the  (select Cemeteries).


 * Glenwood Cemetery 1960 transcription digitized by FamilySearch (free). Notes each plot and what the tombstone (if any) says.
 * Richfield has one cemetery located at about 850 North Main.

Census

 * See Utah Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.

Churches and Religious Groups
The information given in church records depends upon the practices of each religious group. Most include the names of members, often with ages and birth places. Several give birth, christening, or blessing dates for infants. See Utah Church Records for details about various denominations.


 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed for at the  (space, then select a town) or  (select Church topics) in the FamilySearch Library Catalog.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

 * 1877-1918 - at FamilySearch — index

(Section In process. Want to help?) Stake(s): Sevier Stake, Utah · North Sevier Stake, Utah · South Sevier Stake, Utah

Places: Annabella· Elsinore· Glenwood· Joseph· Koosharem· Monroe· Redmond· Richfield· Salina· Sevier· Sigurd

List of Sevier County stakes and wards to about 1948

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * }
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Utah Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce, Guardianship,  Land,  Naturalization, Probate

Sevier County Courthouse 250 N Main St Richfield, Utah 84701 Phone:435-893-0400 Fax: (435-896-8888)

Directories
See Utah Directories

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 - at FamilySearch — index

Funeral Homes
Magleby-Buchanan Mortuary 50 South 100 West Richfield, UT 84701 Phone: 435-896-5484 Toll Free Phone: 866-MAGLEBY Fax: 435-896-8526 150 North State St. Salina, UT 84654 Phone:435-529-3840

Spring Turner Funeral Home 260 North 400 West Richfield, UT 84701 Phone: 435-896-6333 Fax: 435-896-1727 150 East Main St. Salina, UT 84654 Phone: 435-529-3821 Fax: 435-529-7604

Gazetteers
See Utah Gazetteers

Local biographical histories can be found at "Utah Geneology Trails":

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Utah Court Records.

History

 * Bishop, M. Guy. A history of Sevier County, Utah Centennial County History Series. Also available at Marriott Library Digital Collections.

History Timeline

 * Boundary changes timeline for from "UT: Index of Counties," Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for.


 * 1776. The first non-Native Americans to see the Sevier River were most likely the Catholic fathers Silvestre Vélez de Escalanteand Francisco Atanasio Domínguez as they passed through on their expedition to California.
 * 1863. Glenwood was established by Mormon Pioneers. It was named for an early pioneer, Robert Wilson Glenn. The settlement's original name was Glencoe or Glen Cove, but was changed in November 1864 when Orson Hyde (a Church leader) visited the settlement and recommended Glenwood.
 * 1864. The first permanent settlers (about 30 families) moved into the area at the direction of leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They found abundant salt deposits nearby so they named the area "Salina".
 * 1864. Richfield was colonized by Latter-day Saint settlers on 15 June 1864. Much of the area was populated by newly immigrated converts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Scandinavian countries, and because of the growth in this small community they officially created Sevier County in early 1865.
 * 1865. Sevier County was created 16 January 1865 from Sanpete County.
 * 1865. Work began on a fort to provide protection for both the Setters and their stock. The fort was completed and contained several homes, a blacksmith shop, along with a corral and stockyard for the animals.
 * 1866. A stone fort was constructed in Glenwood in April.
 * 1867. In April, the Settlers of Alma were evacuated. Most of the evacuees made temporary homes in Sanpete County, until they could return home.
 * 1868. The Black Hawk War of 1867 between settlers and local Indians left Glenwood deserted for one year, but was later resettled in 1868 after peace resumed.
 * 1871. The first two families to settle Anabella were those of Harry Dalton, a member of the Mormon Battalion, and Joseph Powell. The first name given to the settlement was Omni Point, and Richfield was called Omni. The town name was later changed to Annabella, after two of the first two children born in the area: Ann S. Roberts and Isabella Dalton.
 * 1871. The town of Joseph was settled and named for Joseph A. Young, a local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 * 1871. The settlers returned to Salina from Manti, organized a militia, and constructed a fort and buildings for a school and a church. At that time they discovered coal deposits in "almost inexhaustible quantities" in the canyon east of the settlement.
 * 1872. The town of Alma applied for a Post Office under the city name of Monroe, in honor of U.S. President James Monroe.
 * 1874. The community was first settled in the spring of 1874 by James C. Jensen, Jens Iver Jensen, and others. The area was settled by Danish converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and named after Kronborg Castle, known as Elsinore in Hamlet. The town was given its official name at the suggestion of Church Stake President Joseph A. Young. Previously, the town was named Little Denmark because many of the early settlers were immigrants of that country.
 * 1875. Aurora was founded by Ezra White (or Ezra Curtis, according to some accounts) and three other families along the banks of the Sevier River. Originally named Willow Bend, the name was changed to Aurora due to the presence of the Northern Lights. The city was moved west two to three miles along the Rocky Ford Canal to avoid the spring flooding that accompanied life along the Sevier. While growth occurred more rapidly in the accompanying communities of Salina and Richfield, Aurora grew largely due to the settling of children of many of the large families in the city. Most current residents are able to track their lineage to one of the four founding families of the city.
 * 1875. Redmond was first settled.
 * 1882. The Michelsen Familyimmigrated from Denmark and moved to Monroe where they had seven children as well as their oldest daughter who was born in Denmark.
 * 1890. One of the town's leading citizens, George Staples (1834–1890) was gored to death by a Jersey bull on his farm outside town on October 30. Staples was the English immigrant who adopted Sioux and who is widely credited with opening the way for peaceful settlement of southern Utah by negotiations with Native American tribes in the area.
 * 1891. The coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroadopened the valley for expanded agricultural commerce and mining.
 * 1900. The Michelsen Family was called on a mission to help build an irrigation canal and establish the community of Stirling, Alberta.
 * 1945. During WWII, Salina contained a POW camp, housing 250 German prisoners. On July 8, Private Clarence Bertucci climbed one of the guard towers and took aim at the tents where the prisoners were sleeping. He fired 250 rounds and managed to hit thirty tents in his fifteen-second rampage. By the time a corporal managed to disarm Bertucci, six prisoners were dead and an additional twenty-two were wounded (three would later die of their injuries).

Land and Property
Land records (especially deeds) often give the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or other clues for further research. They often have other clues for further research, such as witnesses or the other parties who may be relatives or in-laws. See Utah Land and Property for more.


 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Maps
Google highway map of Sevier County 2012

Military

 * To 1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1914-1918 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1914-1918 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1917-1918 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1917-1918 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1929-1954 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Utah Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)


 * 1848-2001 -, a FamilySearch digital collection, contains certificates of naturalization, 1878-1896 and 1896-1933; declaration of intentions 1874-1896 and a1904-1906; petition and record 1907-1942.
 * 1865-1880, 1896-1929, 1931-1965 - a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes naturalization records 1865-1880, 1896-1929, 1931-1965
 * 1906-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Richfield Reaper, covering 1906-1940 is included.
 * Existing copies of newspapers
 * Existing copies of newspapers

Obituaries

 * 1850 – 2005 at FamilySearch — index


 * Newspapers of


 * Local Funeral Homes, Societies, Libraries, or in family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties
 * Newspapers of major cities: Deseret News and/or The Salt Lake Tribune both in Salt Lake City

Officials and Employees

 * Henry Mining District, Sevier County, Utah, 1883-1896Ancestry.com ($) This index provides the name of the miner, the name of the mine, the date the mine was recorded, and the page number the original record is located upon.

Probate Records
Probate cases include court actions regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. Records may locate relatives, provide death dates, and identify property. See Utah Probate Records for more information.

Online Probate Records
 * 1800 – 1985 Utah Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1851 – 1961 at FamilySearch — images
 * State and County Probate Records

Vital Records
See also How to order Utah Vital Records or download an application for Utah Birth Certificate, Marriage or Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

Birth before 1865

 *  was formed on 16 January 1865.

parent counties

Birth 1865 - 1897

 * [[Sevier County, Utah#Churches and Religious Groups
 * See also other records that give birth information, such as Death records, Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries
 * See also [[Sevier County, Utah#Neighboring_Counties
 * See also [[Sevier County, Utah#Neighboring_Counties

Birth 1898 - present

 * 1898 - 1905 - Series #84238 at Utah State Archives. Not online, no online index.
 * Copies available through FamilySearch Library: . There are no names of children in the records.
 * Idea: use censuses and church records to learn those missing children's names.


 * 1903 - 1914 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1906 - 1910 - 1906-1910 online images
 * 1892 - 1941 -


 * Central Utah Public Health Department, Sevier County, 70 Westview Drive, Richfield, UT 84701. Phone (435) 896-5451.

Marriage

 * 1805-1992 - Utah, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1887-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1887-1917 - Western States Marriage Index. Includes Sevier County 1887-1917.

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Utah Vital Records for excellent information.


 * Sevier County Archives public libraries.

Death

 * 1904-1964 - at FamilySearch — index and images . Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birth date, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.


 * Pre-1904 - Utah State Burial Data Base This site includes information on many Utah residents, who died before 1904.


 * On USGenWeb Archives Sevier County, Utah you will find 44 bios of Sevier County residents.

Websites

 * Sevier County UTGenWeb
 * Sevier County, UT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Utah Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Utah Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Links to indexes or images of records:


 * FamilySearch.org. Collections are growing at record rates. If the county is not listed, check later.
 * Utah State Archives records, 1848–2001
 * Also see Utah to search items that include.

Links to collections:


 * FamilySearch Library Catalog
 * (Select topics)
 * (Space, then select town)

Sites that gather links to the Internet


 * Linkpendium
 * CyndisList

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in repositories (such as libraries and archives) at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Check websites and catalogs of archives and libraries for items for this county. Examples: items in  (Utah)).

See these headings for details: Courthouse·FamilySearch Centers·Libraries·Societies

Courthouse
County seat: Richfield

FamilySearch Centers

 * Monroe UT Seminary - Release Time


 * Monroe Utah Family History Center 260 E Center St, Monroe UT 84754United States Location Map


 * Richfield Utah Family History Center 175 West Center St, Richfield UT 84701-2548 United States Location Map


 * Salina Utah Family History Center 98 W 400 N, Salina, UT 84654 United States Location Map

Libraries
Local public libraries usually have histories, genealogies, indexes of cemeteries, copies of local newspapers, or other records for the area they serve. Many libraries in Utah have an area dedicated to local collections and manuscripts.


 * Monroe City Library ; 55 South Main Street, P.O.Box 120, Monroe, UT 84754. Phone: 435-527-4019
 * Collections
 * Richmond Public Library;38 West Main Street, Richmond, UT 84333-1409 Phone: 435-258-5525
 * Collections
 * Salina Public Library;90 West Main Street, Salina, UT 84654. Phone: 435-529-7753
 * Collections

See also Utah Public Library Directory, which provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps. Does not mention holdings.

Societies
See also a List of Utah Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies