Step-by-Step Utah Research, 1850-1910

Utah Step-by-Step Research 1850--1905 Step-by-Step Research 1905--present Step-by-Step Research 1850--1905

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Using clues to lead to census record searches.
Your grandmother, Verda Livingston Woods, has pioneer heritage, and belongs to a large Livingston family organization. So you know quite a bit about her Livingston line. But now you want to learn about her grandparents on her mother's side. She tells you that her mother was Aurelia Andrea Allred, and her parents were called Ed and Lizzy. Verda was born in1908, and was the oldest child in the family. You assume that Aurelia would probably be found listed with her parents in the 1900 census. So you start by looking for an Edward and Lizzy or Elizabeth Allred in the 1900 census of Utah with a daughter, Aurelia Andrea, probably a teenager.





So here in Spring Canyon, Sanpete, Utah we find Edward F. and Elzabeth Allred, with a 12-year-old daughter named Aura. Edward was born in New Mexico, and in September of 1856. His parents were born in Tennessee and England. Elizabeth was born in Utah in October of 1861. Her parents were born in Denmark.They have been married 16 years. Their six children listed with their birth month and year.
 * Edna Allred, born April, 1882, in Utah
 * Sarah Allred, born July, 1885, in Utah
 * Aura Allred, born January, 1888, in Utah
 * Etheline Allred, born January, 1890, in Utah
 * Glen Allred, born April, 1891, in Utah
 * Fern Allred, born April, 1846, in Utah

Apparently, there is an additional child who is deceased.

Since they have been married only 16 years, we might find Edward listed with his parents in the 1880 census. (The 1890 census was destroyed.) Eventually, when we find Elizabeth's maiden name, we can also look for her. This is what we found. Edward's birth place is given as Arizona. New Mexico at this time was part of the Arizona territory. It would appear that his father is James T. S. Allred, his mother possibly Margaret.

Since Edward is 23 in this census, we should find him in the 1870 and 1860 census. And here is what we find:

Edward F. Allred in the 1870 census of Utah: Edward F. Allred in the 1860 census of Utah: In these census records, we learn little new about Edward F. Allred. He just keeps getting ten years younger, as we move back in time. But we are using his name as a keyword that leads us to the constantly changing record of his father's, James T.S. Allred's, family. The name of his wife changes from census to census. The names of children show up in lists quite different from each other, yet overlapping in time. James was obviously a polygamist, and it will take careful work to sort out which children belong to which wife!

Census Records

 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.

'''Death Certificates
Even though this article focuses on finding records prior to 1903, remember that many of the people you are studying in the late 1800's died after 1903, when death certificates began being filed statewide. Also, although the statewide records begin in 1903, individual counties kept records for earlier deaths. Here are the death certificates of both Edward F. Allred and James T.S. Allred. We find out that James' full name is James Tillman Sanford Allred. Notice the records ask for parents' names. This helps identify Edward's mother, Eliza Manwaring, born in Enland. It also gives us the name of James' parents, James Allred and Elizabeth Warren. We get the full name of Edward's wife, Elizabeth Overlade. We get full birth dates and more detailed birth places. Death certificates are very important, because of the large number of details they supply that aren't about the death itself.



Death Indexes
Several online databases for Utah death records are available.

'''Ordering Full Certificates

 * Click here for information on how to order death records online. This will require a free registration for a Utah government account.

U.S. Social Security Death Index
The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962. The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled. Women are listed under their married name at the time of their death. You can search these records online at. Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.

The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names. The deceased would have to be at least 75 years old today for their parents' names to be published in the index. You will not find everybody who is listed in the SSDI, as criteria for inclusion differs.

If you find your ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed, the date and place of birth, current residence and employer.

Obituaries

 * Try these Utah links:


 * — index
 * Online Utah Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Daughters of Utah Pioneers Obituary Scrapbook ($)
 * Native American Obituaries index.
 * Utah Obituaries, Utah Genealogy
 * ObitsArchive.com - Utah ($)
 * ObituariesHelp.org - Utah Newspaper Obituaries Listings
 * The Obituary Link Page - Utah Obituary Links
 * The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News - Obituaries
 * — index and images
 * Utah Newspapers, 1850-2003 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * — index and images
 * Utah Newspapers, 1850-2003 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)

Cemeteries

 * Try these Utah links:




 * Online Utah Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Utah Cemeteries and Burials Database
 * Utah Burials Search
 * Utah Gravestones
 * . Also at Findmypast, ($), index, and at MyHeritage, ($), index, and at Ancestry.com, ($), index
 * Utah Cemetery Records at Findagrave.com
 * Utah Cemetery Records at Interment.net
 * BillionGraves Utah Cemeteries
 * Names in Stone Cemetery Maps
 * USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project
 * Utah Cemetery Inventory ($)
 * Utah and Idaho cemetery records ($)
 * Utah Cemeteries ($)
 * , images and index
 * Linkpendium
 * I Dream of Genealogy Utah Cemeteries
 * Utah Cemetery Records, Utah Genealogy
 * Utah Cemetery Records, Utah Genealogy

Here is the FindAGrave record for Edward Francis Allred. Notice that the last section contains family data with links to FindAGrave records for other family members.

Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
'''Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level started in 1905. Prior to that the individual counties kept some records. The starting dates of those records vary from county to county, depending on when the county was formed.'''

Online Records
Births:
 * , index.
 * Utah, Salt Lake County Birth Records, 1890-1908, ($), index
 * Utah, Salt Lake County Birth Records, 1890-1915, ($), index
 * Index only. Also at Findmypast, ($), index
 * Utah, Birth Registers, 1892-1944 Index and images ($)

Marriages:
 * Index only.
 * Index only.
 * Utah, Marriage Records, 1887-1914] Index and images ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index Utah
 * Utah, Select County Marriages, 1887-1937] ($) index. Also at MyHeritage, ($), index
 * Utah, Select Marriages, 1887-1966] ($), index. Also at MyHeritage, ($), index
 * Utah, Marriages, 1887 - 1999, ($), index

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Utah Counties.

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Utah, see How to Find Utah Birth Records, How to Find Utah Marriage Records, and How to Find Utah Death Records.

Step 5: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch

 * 1915-1972 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images, incomplete.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 * Historian's Office record of members : known as the "Minnie Margetts" file
 * 1830-1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1835-1846 Seventy Quorum Membership, 1835–1846, index
 * 1836-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index & images; Records online only go to 1921 because of a 100-year restriction
 * 1860-1937 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1877-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1877-1995 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog, index
 * 1887-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.
 * 1887-1966 Utah, Select Marriages, 1887-1966 ($), index. Also at MyHeritage, ($), index
 * 1888-1946 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only. Also at MyHeritage, ($), index
 * 1892-1941 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only. Also at Findmypast, ($), index
 * 1914-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; indexes and images; Records online only go to 1940 because of a 80-year restriction
 * 1915-1972 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index.

Dutch Reformed

 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

- For help with church records kept in Utah, see Utah Church Records. To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 6:_Search_military_records:_World_War_I_and II draft_cards_online.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.
 * Utah WWI draft.png
 * Utah WWII drft.png



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Utah Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that your ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in that country. The next goal is to search immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records. Immigration refers to people coming into a country, such as the United States, and emigration refers to people leaving a country to go to another. Usually these records are passenger lists of the ships they sailed on. A typical record will show name, age, and country of origin, but records after 1892 often list the actual town of last residence and later, the town of birth. The later passenger lists can also list the next of kin still living in the old country and their residence, and the names of relatives and the place they are traveling to.

Immigration records
There are too many immigration records to list here. Click here to see a complete list of available immigration records online. Notice that they are listed by state, but under the letter "U" there is a long list of records that cover all of the United States. Unless family information tells you the port where family arrived, you will need to search all of the United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records for the time period when your ancestors arrived. Here are the immigration records specific to Utah:


 * Saints by Sea
 * Sons of the Utah Pioneers-Utah, Pioneer Companies ($)
 * Index.
 * Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868
 * Utah Pioneers, 1847-50 Index ($)
 * Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers - Card Index, 1847-1850 ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers - Card Index, 1847-1850 ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications ($)

This record appears to be for James Tillman Sanford Allred's mother, Elizabeth Warren, who married James Allred.



Naturalization (Citizenship) Records
Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen. Records can include the immigrant's declaration of intent to become a citizen, petition, and final citizenship papers. Also locate both the declaration of intent and the petition. Naturalization records after 1906 can give birth date and place, spouse's name, marriage date and place, and lists of children with their birth dates. Records before 1906 usually include less information although, some county clerks would add more information then necessary making it important to always search for the records even if the naturalization happened before 1906. For more information regarding the naturalization process go to: Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records wiki page.

Utah Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP RECORDS, Utah State Archives
 * Utah, Naturalization and Citizenship Records, 1858-1959 ($)
 * Box Elder County, Utah Certificates of Citizenship Record Books, 1868-1869 ($)
 * Utah Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1878-1895 ($)
 * Utah, Declarations of Intent for Naturalization, 1878-1895 ($)
 * Browse only.

Step 7: Search a variety of online Latter-day Saint records.
Utah historically was founded as a settlement for early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). There are many varieties of records kept by The Church and published online: vital records, membership records, missionary records, migration records, Mormon Battalion records, to name a few. There are too many to list here, but a comprehensive list of links can be found at Latter-day Saint Online Genealogy Records. Here are a few pieces we found on James Allred, father of James Tillman Sanford Allred.

Local histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories:
 * Hathi Trust Digital Library. Don't use the keywords Utah; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Utah" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Utah" and the county name.
 * Genealogy Book Links, Utah. Browse list; county histories are interspersed.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Utah and the name of the county.


 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find out about local histories the library has by checking the FamilySearch Catalog. In the "place" field, type the name of your county and select it from the drop down list, then click "Search". A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, and History - Indexes.


 * Also, in Step 12, you will be contacting a county history society. Societies often have a good selection of printed histories about the area. Some may be search history for you for a fee.

Biographies
These collections of Utah biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or you can use the "Find" function on your computer.


 * GEDCOM Index Utah
 * Mormons and Their Neighbors
 * Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Pioneer index-History Card
 * Pony Express Riders Biographies
 * Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers - Card Index, 1847-1850 ($)
 * Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications ($)
 * Daughters of Utah Pioneers and Their Mothers
 * Sons of the Utah Pioneers: Biography Files (A-G), index, (H-P), index, (R-Z), index
 * Worth their salt, too : more notable but often unnoted women of Utah, e-book
 * Utah since statehood; historical and biographical, e-book
 * Utah, the inland empire : the story of the pioneers : resources and industries of the state : attractions of Salt Lake City : leading men of the community, e-book
 * Portrait, genealogical and biographical record of the State of Utah : containing biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, e-book
 * More Than Petticoats
 * Zion's Hope:Pioneer Midwives and Women Doctors of Utah
 * More Than Petticoats
 * Zion's Hope:Pioneer Midwives and Women Doctors of Utah

Step 10: Write to a county for wills and probate indexes.
For more information, see U.S. Probate Records Class Handout.

County probate records

 * Utah probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration. In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet. Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.


 * Currently, these records are microfilmed and digitized:


 * Utah, Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1985, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * , images and index
 * UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION OF ARCHIVES &amp; RECORDS SERVICE Name Indexes
 * UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION OF ARCHIVES &amp; RECORDS SERVICE Name Indexes


 * Eventually more of these records may become available online.


 * In the meantime, this online directory by Genealogy Inc. will enable you to arrange to have them searched for a fee: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the Courthouse and Government Records to find the address and phone number of the County Clerk of Court. Ask them about the years covered by their probate records and their procedure and fees for ordering copies probate packets. When you write, always ask for the full probate packet, not just the will or administration.
 * Here is a document from an administration of a state. It demonstrates the importance of finding the whole probate packet.  Even though James P. Allred left no will naming his heirs, the administrator of the estate had a duty to locate and list all the heirs.

Step 11: Search land records online.

 * These records will give the name of the owner, the date they obtained the land, the county, and the exact location of the land. They can contain clues to family members who shared ownership of the land, sold or gave land to a child, or witnessed the sale. Sometimes they show the previous or new residence of the parties to the deed. They can be useful in tracking an ancestor who lived in more than one county in Utah. With the additional county name where the family lived, the probate and vital records of that county can then be searched.


 * Images only.
 * Bureau of Land Management Land Patents

Here are the indexed entries for Edward Francis Allred. This is an index, and writing for the full record is possible. However, at this point, we have found much more detailed information on him than would be contained in land records. So sending for copies of the record could be considered optional. Land records are a bit of a long shot. If you have very little other information, the consider sending for them.

Step 12: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society. I

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