Garfield County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to Garfield 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 1852, when the county was formed.

Utah Online Genealogy Records

Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Church

Description
The County was named for James A. Garfield, late President of the United States, who had been assassinated in 1881. The County is located in the south center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Garfield County Courthouse 55 South Main Street P O Box 77 Panguitch, Ut 84759-0077

County Clerk has marriage records from 1890. County Recorder has land records from 1882 and divorce records from 1896-1905.

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

Parent Counties
was created 9 March 1882 from: Iron | Kane | Washington

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.

See UT: Index of Counties... from Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, for a timeline of boundary changes for.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Beaver | Iron | Kane | Piute | San Juan | 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:

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

 * 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  level (select Cemeteries).

Garfield County Cemeteries at the Utah State Historical site

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.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 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.
 * FamilySearch Places

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

 * 1877-1918 - at FamilySearch — index

(Section In process. Want to help?) Stake(s): Garfield Stake, Utah · Panguitch Stake, Utah

Places: Antimony· Boulder· Cannonville· Escalante· Hatch· Henrieville· Panguitch· Tropic· Widtsoe·

List of Garfield County stakes and wards to about 1948


 * }

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

Directories
See Utah Directories

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 - at FamilySearch — index

Funeral Homes

 * Garfield County Funeral Homes

Gazetteers
See Utah Gazetteers

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

 * Newell, Linda King and Vivian Linford Talbot. A history of Garfield County, Utah Centennial County History Series

Reuben C. "Ruby" Syrett built a lodge and cabins at this location in 1916, when the promotion of Bryce Canyon for tourism was just beginning. Syrett's business grew along with the park's popularity, particularly once it was made a National Park in 1928. Ruby's Inn became an important junction; its travelers' services developed into a small community. Syrett donated land to the state for construction of a road (now Utah State Route 63), strategically placing Ruby's Inn right at the entrance to the park.

Bryce Canyon City is a company town, consisting solely of the property of Ruby's Inn and the Syrett family, its third-generation owners.

$Woolsey, Nethella G., 1964, "The Escalante Story", Springville Press,Utah.

History Timeline
See UT: Index of Counties... from Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, for a timeline of boundary changes for.

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

Garfield County.


 * 1864. City of Panguitch settled by Mormon pioneers.  Timber and livestock production.  Tourism plays major role.  Located near Bryce Canyon National Park.
 * 1875. City of Escalante settled. Named for Franciscan missionary and first European explorer in the area.  Southern Utah militia passed through area during Black Hawk Indian War.  Members of John Wesley Powell expedition investigated area.
 * 1882. Garfield County created.  Named for James A. Garfield, twentieth President of the United States.

History Books and Articles

 * Golden nuggets of pioneer days : a history of Garfield County. Ancestry.com ($)

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 Garfield 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 citizenship 1896-1923; declaration of intentions 1896-1906.
 * 1906-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Garfield County News 1923-1950 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

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
 * Utah, Probate Records, 1851-1961 FamilySearch Historical Collections are growing at record rates. If the county is not listed, check later.

Vital Records
Vital records of birth, marriage, death, and divorce are created by civil (state, county, or city) officials. See Utah Vital Records for details and history of the 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
Birth before 1882

Garfield County, Utah#Parent_Counties|parent counties]]

Birth 1882 - 1897


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

Birth 1898 - present


 * 1898-1905 - Series #84073 at Utah State Archives. Not online, no online index. Names of children ARE in the records.
 * Copies available through FamilySearch Library:.


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


 * Southwest Utah Public Health Department Garfield County, PO Box 374, 601 E. Center, Panguitch, UT 84759. Phone (435) 676-8800.

Marriage

 * 1805-1992 - Utah, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1878-1912 - Western States Marriage Index. Includes Garfield County 1878-1912.
 * 1887-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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.


 * Archives, Libraries, etc.

Death
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, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.


 * 1904-1964 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Pre 1904 Utah State Burial Index for death before 1904

Websites

 * Garfield County UTenWeb
 * Garfield County, UT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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

The following links are to items.

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 Courthouse·FamilySearch Centers·Libraries·Societies sections.

Courthouse
http://garfield.utah.gov/

Garfield County Justice Court Garfield County Courthouse Garfield County Fair Building 115 East 800 North PO Box 77 Panguitch, UT 84759 Phone: 435-676-8826 Fax: 435-676-8239 Note: new location as of Monday, May 16th

County seat: Panguitch

FamilySearch Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Boulder Utah Family History Center180 E 300 N, Boulder, UT 84716United States Location Map


 * Escalante Utah Ward Family History Center80 S Center St, Escalante, UT 84726 United States Location Map


 * Gunnison Utah Correctional Facility Family History Center - Boulder 255 E 300 N,Gunnison, UT 84634 United States Location Map


 * Panguitch Utah Family History Center290 E Center St,Panguitch UT 84759 United States Location Map


 * Tropic Utah Family History Center 41 N 100 W, Tropic, UT 84776United StatesLocation Map


 * Utah Correctional Facility - South Point Family History Center

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.


 * Garfield Public Library; 86 West Factory Street, Garland, UT 84312. Phone 435-257-3117.
 * Collections:
 * Panguitch City Library; 25 South 200 East, P.O. Box 75, Panguitch, UT 84759. Phone:435-676-2431.
 * 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