San Juan County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to San Juan 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 1880, when the county was formed

Utah Online Genealogy Records

Quick start:
 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Church

Description
The County was named for the San Juan River. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
San Juan County Courthouse 117 South Main Street; PO Box 338 Monticello, Utah 84535 Phone: 448-587-3223

County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1888, divorce and court records from 1891.

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

Parent Counties
was created February 17, 1880 from:Iron Kane and Piute

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: Emery | Garfield | Grand | Kane | Wayne | Arizona counties: Apache | Coconino | Navajo | Colorado counties: Dolores | Mesa | Montrose| Montezuma| San Miguel | New Mexico counties: San Juan County

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

 * 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).


 * Blanding City Cemetery, Blanding Indian Graveyard, Bluff City FHL Book: 979.259 V3t

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): San Juan Stake, Utah

Places: Blanding· Bluff · La Sal· Monticello ·

List of San Juan County Stakes and Wards to about 1948


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List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Monticello - Portrait of our past: a history of Monticello Utah Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints FHL US/CAN book 979.25 K2
 * 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

The County Court and county records are located in the county seat :

Court minutes of San Juan County, Utah 1892-1899

District Court minutes 1896-1921, FHL US/CAN film 483511 Item 3

County Court minutes 1892-1899 FHL US/CAN film 483511 Item 4

Directories
See Utah Directories

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 - at FamilySearch — index

Funeral Homes
San Juan Mortuary 370 South Main St. Blanding, UT 84511 Phone: 435-678-2612 Fax: 435-678-7848

Gazetteers
See Utah Gazetteers
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Genealogy

 * Genealogies for San Juan County at Genealogy 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

 * McPherson, Robert S. A history of San Juan County : in the palm of time, Utah Centennial County History Series
 * A History of San Juan County online at Marriott Library Digital Collections.
 * Lonesome Trails of San Juan the Ranching legacy of J. A. (Al) Scorup FHL US/CAN book 979.25 H2v

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for San Juan County, Utah.


 * Before 1300 the Anasazi Indians were inhabiting the land that would some day become San Juan. The cliff dwellings and petroglyphs of the Anasazi still interest many. When pioneers came to the area they not only found a wild country, but Piutes and Navajos. The Spanish explorers had left the country naming the river that flowed though the area, San Juan in memory of Saint John. The State Legislature named the county after the the San Juan River.


 * The County is located in the southeastern corner of the State having 7,725 square miles more land than any other county in Utah. It also has many state and national parks including Edge of the Cedars Museum and the Goosenecks of the San Juan River. The National parks include part of Canyonlands, Glen Canyon, Hovenweep and Manti-La-Sal Forest. The Natural Bridges and Rainbow Bridge National Monuments are within San Juan County, as well as Cedar Mesa and Comb Wash.


 * San Juan County had a great deal of growth in the 1940's and 1950's because of the uranium mines in the County and oil which accounted for 94 percent of all property tax in those years. Today the only operating Uranium Processing plant operates in Blanding, San Juan County. Today in all the towns, a major economic resource is tourism because of the many parks within the County both National and State, the other economic resources are livestock and agriculture.

History Timeline

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


 * 1878 - 1895.  Aneth had a variety of titles, including Riverview (1878-85), Holyoak (1886 to around 1895), Guillette, and finally Aneth, a Hebrew word meaning "The Answer," given by Howard Antes, a Methodist missionary who lived there beginning in 1895.
 * 1879. The first white man to build a cabin in the Monticello area was likely cattleman Patrick O'Donnell.
 * 1880. Under the direction of John Taylor, Silas S. Smith led about 230 Latter-day Saints on expedition to start a farming community in southeastern Utah. After forging about 200 miles (320 kilometers) of their own trail over difficult terrain, the settlers arrived on the site of Bluff in April 1880. (The trail followed went over and down the "Hole In the Rock", which now opens into one of the tributaries of Lake Powell.)
 * 1880. February 17 San Juan County was created.
 * 1887. Monticello is the county seatand was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The families of George A. Adams, Frederick I. Jones, Parley R. Butt and Charles E. Walton went from Bluff to establish a new settlement. They first set up camp at Verdure near the South Fork of Montezuma Creekon March 11, six miles (10 km) south of what is now Monticello. By the first part of July, the men had begun to plant crops, survey an irrigation ditch, and layout a town site.
 * 1895. Monticello, named in honor of Thomas Jefferson's estate, became the county seat.
 * 1914. First known as Grayson (after Nellie Grayson Lyman, wife of settler Joseph Lyman), the town changed its name when a wealthy easterner, Thomas W. Bicknell, offered a thousand-volume library to any town that would adopt his name. Grayson competed with Thurber, Utah (renamed Bicknell) for the prize. Grayson was renamed Blanding after the maiden name of Bicknell's wife, and each of the towns received 500 books.
 * 1915. The San Juan Record, the county newspaper, was established in Monticello by Oscar Walter McConkie.
 * 1997. On October 4, President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that the Church would begin to build a new series of "miniature temples." The first of such temples was built in Monticello.
 * 1998. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated theMonticello Utah Temple, the first in a series of mini temples and the 53rd temple for the Church.

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
Maps of Hole-in- the Rock, Utah FHL US/CAN film 1019732

Google Highway map of San Juan County 2012
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Native Races
The Navajo Mountain Community a Social Organzation and Kinship Terminology by Mary Shapardson and Blodwen Hammond, Publication University of California Press,c 1970 Family History Library (FHL) US/CAN book 970.3 N227

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.
 * 1906-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * San Juan Record, covering 1919-1953 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
 * County and State Probate Records

Wills

Probate records 1888-1912 Record of wills 1922-1966 FHL US/CAN film 483510

Estate Packets


 * Probate register of estates 1888-1966 FHL US/CAN film 483509
 * San Juan County Probate Case Files, No. 1-164, 1888-1933 are included in the FamilySearch Historical Records collection

Additonal resources for probate records:

For Inheritance Tax see Taxation.

Taxation
Inhertance tax 1907

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 1880

 *  was formed on 17 February 1880.

parent counties

Birth 1880 - 1897

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

Birth 1898 - present

 * 1898 - 1905 - Inventory to Series #84239 at Utah state archives. Not online, not indexed.
 * 1898 - 1917 - (gaps 1904-1912) at FamilySearch Library: . There are a few births for December 1897. Some entries include names of children in the records. 3 volumes of births were filmed.
 * 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
 * 1897 - 1941 -


 * Southeastern Utah District Health Department San Juan County, 117 S Main, PO BOX 127, Monticello, UT 84535. Phone (435) 587-2021 and 196 E Center St, PO Box E, Blanding, UT 84511. Phone (435) 678-2723.

Marriage

 * 1805-1992 - Utah, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1887-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1888-1931 -San Juan County Utah Marriage Licenses (1888 to 1931)at UTGenWeb - free


 * 1888-1930 - Western States Marriage Index.


 * 1888-1966 - Marriage license records, 1888-1966 FHL US/CAN film 483508


 * 1897-1917 - Register of births and deaths, 1897-1917 FHL US/CAN film 483511 Item 1-2

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.

Death

 * 1898-1917 - San Juan Register of Deaths. . The catalog record is titled Register of births and deaths, 1897-1917 and it appears there are only 2 volumes of vital records on this film, but it appears that 2 volumes of deaths were filmed. They cover the years 1898-1905, 1910-1917.


 * 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.


 * USGenWeb Archives San Juan County, Utah provides the Draft Cards - Birth information of 1917 -1918

Websites

 * San Juan County, UT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Utah Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Links to indexes or images of records:


 * Search FamilySearch.org Utah Collections for for this county.

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) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana).

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

Courthouse
www.sanjuancounty.org Clerk/Auditor: P. O. Box 338 Monticello, UT 84535 Phone: (435)587-3223 Fax: (435)587-2425

County seat: Monticello

FamilySearch Centers

 * Blanding Utah Family History Center
 * Bluff Utah Family History Center
 * La Sal Utah Family History Center
 * Monticello Utah Family History Center
 * Monument Valley Utah 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.


 * San Juan County Library; (Admin Library System) 25 West 300 South, Blanding, UT 84511-3829. Phone: 435-678-2335.
 * 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

Towns and Communities
The earliest pioneer settlers to the San Juan area were part of a group which came to be called the "San Juan or Hole-In-The-Rock Mission." The Mission was sent by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (aka Mormons) to win the favor of the indians and to establish good relations thus they needed to find a route in that wild country. Before they could come Captain Silas Sanford Smith was asked to lead twenty-four scouts, cattle and other loose animals besides their pack-horses. Two families Harriman and Davis familys were to prepare to help the other pioneers that would take part in the "Hole-In -The-Rock Mission" A list of many of those early settlers is available online.