Utah History of Defunct Counties - presented by Genealogy Trails

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Defunct Counties of Utah

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CEDAR COUNTY

The Cedar County Probate Court was established with the creation of the county by the territorial legislature in 1856 ("An Act in Relation to Counties," Laws of Utah, 5th Annual Session, 1855-1856, sec. 8, p. 7). The court had jurisdiction not only in estate and guardianship cases, but original jurisdiction in civil, criminal, and chancery cases. The Cedar County Probate Court was abolished with the dissolution of the county in 1862.
Part of a continuing conflict between the federal government and the Utah Mormon population concerned the jurisdiction of the county probate court. Probate courts under federal law traditionally dealt with matters of estates. The probate court had jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of estates of deceased persons, and the guardianship of minors, idiots, and insane persons. In addition, the territorial legislature provided that the probate court have original jurisdiction in civil, criminal, and chancery cases, jurisdiction normally reserved solely for the district courts. The court also was given jurisdiction in divorce cases. Evidence of servitude or slavery had to be filed with the probate court. In 1858, the territorial legislature began requiring all federal appointees to take an oath before a county probate judge.

The Cedar County Probate Court was presided over by a probate judge elected for a one year term by joint vote of the legislative assembly. He was commissioned by the governor and required to file an oath and bond. In the case of a vacancy, the governor could appoint a judge until the next legislature elected one. The probate judge appointed a clerk to keep a record of the proceedings.

PROBATE JUDGES (dates approximate)
Allen Weeks, 1857-1859
Zerrubbabel Snow, 1859-1862

PROBATE COURT CLERKS (dates approximate)
James H. Glines, 1856-1858
James A. Leishman, 1858-1859
Zerrubbabel Snow, 1859
Walten O. Sawyer, 1859-1862

(Note: Cedar County was dissolved by the legislature in January 1862 with its territory divided between Tooele and Utah counties.)

Submitted by Sleeping Fawn

©2009 Genealogy Trails

Defunct Counties of Utah
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CEDAR COUNTY The Cedar County Probate Court was established with the creation of the county by the territorial legislature in 1856 ("An Act in Relation to Counties," Laws of Utah, 5th Annual Session, 1855-1856, sec. 8, p. 7). The court had jurisdiction not only in estate and guardianship cases, but original jurisdiction in civil, criminal, and chancery cases. The Cedar County Probate Court was abolished with the dissolution of the county in 1862. Part of a continuing conflict between the federal government and the Utah Mormon population concerned the jurisdiction of the county probate court. Probate courts under federal law traditionally dealt with matters of estates. The probate court had jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of estates of deceased persons, and the guardianship of minors, idiots, and insane persons. In addition, the territorial legislature provided that the probate court have original jurisdiction in civil, criminal, and chancery cases, jurisdiction normally reserved solely for the district courts. The court also was given jurisdiction in divorce cases. Evidence of servitude or slavery had to be filed with the probate court. In 1858, the territorial legislature began requiring all federal appointees to take an oath before a county probate judge. The Cedar County Probate Court was presided over by a probate judge elected for a one year term by joint vote of the legislative assembly. He was commissioned by the governor and required to file an oath and bond. In the case of a vacancy, the governor could appoint a judge until the next legislature elected one. The probate judge appointed a clerk to keep a record of the proceedings. PROBATE JUDGES (dates approximate) Allen Weeks, 1857-1859 Zerrubbabel Snow, 1859-1862 PROBATE COURT CLERKS (dates approximate) James H. Glines, 1856-1858 James A. Leishman, 1858-1859 Zerrubbabel Snow, 1859 Walten O. Sawyer, 1859-1862 (Note: Cedar County was dissolved by the legislature in January 1862 with its territory divided between Tooele and Utah counties.) *Submitted by Sleeping Fawn*



©2009 Genealogy Trails