HENRY MINING DISTRICT RECORDER

Agency History #2938

CREATION

The first Henry Mining District Recorder was elected on July 6, 1883 by mine owners within the mining district (Mining Records, series 22251, reel 1). According to the laws of the United States, "miners of each mining district may make regulations not in conflict with the laws of the United States, or with the laws of the State or Territory in which the district is situated" (United States Statutes at Large, 1866, Volume 14, Chapter 262, Section 1). Mine owners elected a mining district recorder to uphold this law and regulate the mining district. The Territory of Utah considered the mining district recorder a public official similar to the county recorder (Compiled Laws of Utah, 1876, Chapter 10). The Henry Mining District Recorder recorded mining operations in Sevier County, Utah. The district recorder's office ended in 1897 when the law changed and the county recorder assumed sole responsibility for mining records (Laws of Utah, 1897, Chapter 36).

FUNCTIONS

The Henry Mining District Recorder kept the district mining records, which constitute a legal record, for the purpose of monitoring and registering mining claims and operations. He was responsible for recording notices of location, proofs of labor, deeds, district by-laws and amendments, annual meeting minutes, and district officer election results. The recorder was also responsible for certifying the records with the seal of the office which provided evidence of the election and official status of the recorder. Mining district recorders were deemed public officials and records in their custody were deemed as public records (Compiled Laws of Utah, 1876, Chapter 10).

ADMINISTRATION

The Henry Mining District Recorder was elected by mine owners within the mining district. Other elected officials in the mining district included deputy recorder, chairman, and secretary.

DISTRICT RECORDERS

David A. Giles, 1883-1896

COMPILED BY: David Clark, December 1999

SOURCES

Henry Mining District Recorder. Mining Records. [Series 22251]

United States. Statutes at Large, 1866.

Utah. Legislature. Laws of Utah. [Series #83155]

Utah. Legislature. Utah Code Annotated. [Series #83238]