Tooele County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to Tooele 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 "tu-wanda", the Goshute word for "bear", or from "tule", a Spanish word of Aztec origins meaning "bulrush". The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Tooele County Courthouse 47 South Main Street Tooele, Ut 84074 Phone: 435-843-3140

County Clerk has birth and death records 1897-1905 and marriage records from 1887. Clerk District Court has divorce, probate and court records. County Recorder has land records.

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

Parent Counties
was created March 3, 1852 as an original county from Utah Territory lands.

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: Box Elder | Davis | Juab | Salt Lake | Utah | Weber | Nevada counties: Elko | White Pine

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.

Biography

 * Tooele County Archives Select Biographies. public libraries.

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).

Compendium Resources for Tooele Cemeteries


 * Tooele County Archives select 'Cemeteries. public libraries.
 * Tooele county cemeteries at the Utah State Historical site
 * US Vol. 21 page 188 - Mercur Cemetery
 * USGenWeb Archives Tooele County, Utah gives names of individuals buried in the Old Pioneer Cemetery from 1849 - 1867 and later removed to the New Cemetery.
 * USGenWeb Archives Tooele County, Utah provides information on the Woodmen of the World burials
 * a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes a 1855-1990 cemetery/burial card index of the Grantsville City Cemetery. Information on these alphabatical-by-surname cards reflects access to sexton records. Also available isGrantsville, Tooele County, Utah Cemetery, 1846-1999 Ancestry.com ($) Cemetery information was cross-referenced with records at the Grantsville City records office.

Census

 * See Utah Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1852, 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.

USGenWeb Archives of Tooele County, Utahprovides the 1850 census records

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): Tooele Stake, Utah

Places: Grantsville· Lake Point· Ophir· Stockton· Tooele· Vernon·


 * List of Tooele County stakes and wards to about 1948.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * }
 * FamilySearch Places

County Records

 * 1855-1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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


 * public libraries.

Directories
See Utah Directories


 * Tooele County Records select directories. public libraries.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 - at FamilySearch — index


 * Tooele Records select Emigration and Immigration. public libraries.

Funeral Homes
Tate Mortuary 110 South Main Tooele, UT 84074 Phone: 435-882-0676 Fax: 435-882-7814

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

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
Interesting facts This county was originally spelled "Tuilla" and is still pronounced that way by locals.


 * Blanthorn, Ouida. A history of Tooele County, Utah Centennial County History Series


 * Wendover Air Force Base, now closed, was the training base of the Enola Gay crew which dropped the first atomic weapon in 1945.

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 Tooele County.


 * 1849. Latter-day Saints established the first white settlement in the area.
 * 1850 January. Tooele County formed as one of six original counties in Deseret, later called Utah Territory
 * 1850's–1860's. Troubles between white settlers and Goshute Indians.
 * 1852. March 3 - Tooele County was created as an original county.
 * 1852. By this year, Grantsville, Batesville, and Pine Canyon (later called Lincoln) were settled by Latter-day Saints.
 * 1855. Richville named as county seat.
 * 1861. Territory of Nevada created, establishing the permanent western border of Tooele County.
 * 1861. County seat moved to Tooele City.
 * 1864. Gold, silver, lead, and zinc were discovered in Tooele County, spurring an influx of non-church members to the area.
 * Before 1874. The county courthouse was built.
 * 1874–1879. The Republic of Tooele was established by non-members politicians. Only taxpayers were allowed to vote, and there were complaints of fraud. The recorder's office was even jeopardized!
 * 1876. Territorial legislature passed a bill requiring voter registration and women's suffrage. Tooele County and it's political problems earlier were likely the spur to this law.

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.


 * a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes Deed Index, Deeds (1856+), Mining records of Toole county.

Maps

 * Google highway map of Tooele County 2012
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for emigrant settlers included:


 * California Trail 1846 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * Mormon Trail 1846 to 1869 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Mormon Trail to Southern California 1847 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Los Angeles, California
 * Central Overland Trail 1859-1869 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Carson City, Nevada (and usually on to northern California)

Military

 * To 1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes an index to military records (1919-1990) and military records (1919-1955)

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.


 * 1855-1956 - a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes declarations 1896+ and petitions 1908-1929


 * 1906-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Tooele County Chronicle and Tooele Transcript-Bulletin, covering 1947-1948 and 1894-1924 respectively are 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
 * a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes the index to wills 1887-1955
 * Utah, State Archives a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes probate court minutes, 1859-1888.

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 1852

 *  was formed on 3 March 1852.

parent counties

Birth 1852 - 1897

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

Birth 1898 - present

 * 1898 - 1905 - Series #83862 at Utah State Archives. Not online, no online index. There are no names of children in the records.
 * FamilySearch Library copy:.
 * 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 -


 * Tooele County Health Department, 151 North Main Street, Tooele, UT 84074, Phone (435) 277-2301.

Marriage

 * 1805-1992 - Utah, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1855-1929 - Western States Marriage Index. Includes Tooele County 1855-1929.


 * 1887-1937 - a collection digitized by FamilySearch (free), includes marriage records 1887-1937


 * 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.

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.


 * Tooele Genweb site has further information on Births, Marriages, Deaths record sources.

Websites

 * Tooele County UTGenWeb
 * Tooele 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.
 * Tooele County Records
 * 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) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana).

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

Courthouse
www.co.tooele.ut.us/ County Clerk, 47 South Main Tooele, UT 84074 Telephone: (435) 843-3140 Fax: (435) 882-7317

County seat: Tooele

FamilySearch Centers

 * Grantsville Utah Family History Center
 * Tooele Valley Utah Family History Center
 * Wendover 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.


 * Tooele City Library; 128 West Vine Street, Tooele, UT 84074-2059. Phone: 435-882-2182.
 * Collections
 * [http://www.grantsvilleut.gov/Library/ Grantsville City Library ; 42 Bowery Street, Grantsville, UT 84029. Phone: 435-884-1670
 * 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