Series 5319
District Court (Second District) Minute books
Dates: 1851-1896.
3.90 cubic feet and 8 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
This series contains minutes documenting the daily business handled by the court, including civil, criminal, citizenship, and administrative matters. The books document daily proceedings, but are not transcripts of court cases. Administrative matters noted in the minutes include such tasks as jury selection, judicial appointments, approval of expense claims. The record of any particular civil or criminal cases is typically spread over multiple court dates and may be interspersed with other cases. Criminal cases handled by the court include those for murder, bigamy, polygamy, cohabitation, violations of liquor and tobacco tariff laws, trespassing, and illegal fencing. Many of the civil cases include settling various land disputes. The minutes also document numerous naturalizations.
The earliest books in this series were created by the court based in Parowan and designated as the Third Judicial Court. In 1851 Iron County was the only county in the southern part of Utah Territory. In 1856 the court was redesignated as the Second Judicial Court and moved to St. George and then to Beaver.
Gaps in Series
Minute Book 7 covering from 1887-1888 is missing.
Research Note
More detailed information for the Territorial Second District Court may be found in case files, transcripts and information and indictment records. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Research Note
More detailed information for the Territorial Second District Court may be found in case files, transcripts and information and indictment records. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Some volumes are indexed. The indices are separate volumes in series 24247, GENERAL INDEXES, these books are alphabetical name indexes. They index the court minutes (Books A, B, A-1, 1-6, 7-9), and in some cases, case number, judgments and judgment dockets. Alphabetical name indexes for Minute Book and Naturalization A, B and C.
Related Records
Execution book from the District Court (Second District), Series 27473, contains further reference to the case information cited in this record book.
| REEL | BOX | DESCRIPTION |
| n/a | 1 | Minute Book A;1851 Nov 05 - 1855 Nov 25 |
| 1 | n/a | Minute Book and Naturalization record A;1852 May 03 - 1855 Oct 18 |
| 1 | n/a | Minute Book and Naturalization record B;1854 Oct 17 - 1856 Jan 15 |
| 1 | n/a | Minute Book and Naturalization record C;1855 Nov 13 - 1865 Jan 06 |
| 3 | 2 | Minute Book No. 2 (Minute Book A-1 pp. 13-359);1865 Oct 16 - 1874 Jul 13 |
| 3A | 3 | Minute Book No. 1;1874 Sep 07 - 1877 Sep 08 |
| 3 | 2 | Minute Book No. 2 (pp. 360-667);1877 Sep 10 - 1879 Mar 17 |
| 4 | 2 | Minute Book No. 2 (pp. 667-789);1879 Mar 17 - 1879 Nov 29 |
| 2 | 4 | Minute Book B, minutes (pp. 7-49);1869 Nov 08 - 1874 Oct 05 |
| 2 | 4 | Minute Book B, Minutes of Proceedings in Bankruptcy (pp. 51-66);1876 Apr 19 - 1878 Oct 07 |
| 2 | 4 | Minute Book B, proceedings by case (pp. 67-576);1874 Sep 17 - 1881 Sep 14 |
| 4 | 5 | Minute Book No. 3;1879 Dec 01 - 1880 Nov 02 |
| 4 | 5 | Minute Book No. 4;1880 Dec 06 - 1881 May 17 |
| 4 | 6 | Minute Book No. 5;1881 Jun 14 - 1883 Apr 17 |
| 5 | 7 | Minute Book No. 6;1883 May 07 - 1886 May 28 |
| 5 | 8 | Minute Book No. 8 (pp. 41-619);1888 Aug 27 - 1892 Jun 28 |
| 6 | 8 | Minute Book No. 8 (pp. 619-702);1892 Jun 28 - 1893 Mar 07 |
| 6 | 9 | Minute Book No. 9;1893 Mar 13 - 1896 Jan 16 |