Utah Business and Occupations
United States
United States Business RecordsUtah Utah Business Records
Introduction
See United States Business Records
The genealogical researcher would do well to remember that European settlement of Utah essentially began in 1847 with the arrival of the first Mormon Pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. But businesses were established from this point forward. Another important date to remember is the arrival of the railroad in 1869, marking the end of the pioneer era. Many early Utah settlers or their children worked for the railroads or depended on the railroad for their businesses. Utah governments are no different than any others and have issued permits and licenses to allow businesses to operate. Also from pioneer times there have guilds and trade unions governing the activities of their members and keeping records. Many businesses have also produced biographical collections of the company's officers and employees. In the Unites States and in Utah, publicly owned companies often produce an annual report in printed form. Cities have produced city directories listing all of the businesses in the city and included, in many cases, all of the residents. It is also important not to overlook advertisement in Utah newspapers which may contain information about the owners or operators of a business.
Mortuary records
Mortuaries keep records of their internments independent of the cemeteries and state death records. Some of the funeral homes and mortuaries date back to pioneer times and are still in business.
Farming and agricultural records
Slaves, Apprentices and Indentured Servants
Insurance records
From fire insurance maps to databases of historical insurance policies, there are companies that date back into the 1700s providing farm, life, fire and marine insurance. Applicants for policies were asked to provide information about their beneficiaries (usually family members), their lifestyle, health, age, residence and other topics. Most of the insurance records that are currently available are still held by the individual companies, with some records dating back to the creation of the companies. Few companies provide search services but some do allow proven descendants to search the records to look for information about an ancestor. See also
- Sanborn Insurance Maps
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
- How do I locate an insurance company? Utah Insurance Department