Series 2220

Secretary of State Indian war veteran medal records, i 1905-1940.

2.20 cubic feet and 18 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

In 1905 the legislature passed an act entitled "Medals for Indian War Veterans" (ch. 86 in Laws of the State of Utah....1905. The Star Printing Co., Salt Lake City, 1905.). This authorized the governor and secretary of state to procure a medal for each of the veterans who actually served in suppressing Indian hostilities in Utah during the years 1850 to 1872, inclusive. These forms are the applications for a medal submitted by the veteran or next of kin.

Scope and Content

In 1905 the legislature passed an act entitled "Medals for Indian War Veterans" (ch. 86 in Laws of the State of Utah....1905. The Star Printing Co., Salt Lake City, 1905.). This authorized the governor and secretary of state to procure a medal for each of the veterans who actually served in suppressing Indian hostilities in Utah during the years 1850 to 1872, inclusive. These forms are the applications for a medal submitted by the veteran or next of kin. Related correspondence also is included as are a few actual medals which were never distributed. Most of the applications relate to service in the Black Hawk wars. Other confrontations mentioned on the forms include the Walker War, Navajo raids, Shoshone war, Paiute raids, Tintic skirmishes, etc.
The form required county; veteran's age; birthplace; current residence; name of war in which served; enrollment date; rank; commander's name; and places, years, and type of actual service followed by the applicant's signature. If beingcompleted by next of kin, there was a blank for the applicant to state his or her relationship to the veteran. The statement was witnessed by a notary and attested to by two individuals with personal knowledge of the applicant's service. The signature of the commander stating that the individual was entitled to a medal might also be included. The back of the form gives the date received, date approved, and the signatures of the governor and secretary of state.
Correspondence is scattered amidst the forms and clustered at the end of the series. Correspondence includes requests for forms, manufacturing orders, inquiries regarding delays, requests from veteran reunion groups, requests for receipts and the receipts themselves, thank you notes, etc. By 1925, appropriations last made in 1921 had lapsed to the general fund, and the applicant was required to pay a two dollar fee; letters explaining the necessity of a fee may be included. Correspondence as late as 1940 is noted whereapplicants were responding to 1939 advertisements listing unclaimed medals.
The medal could be presented to the veteran, or if deceased, to his nearest relative. If the medal was claimed, a signed statement acknowledging receipt of the medal by the applicant is usually attached to the application form. A few unclaimed medals remain in the series. The medals are bronze with the name of the veteran inscribed on the back and suspended by a red, white, and blue ribbon, as required by the legislation. Specifically, there is a bar pin at top with an Indian head and the dates 1850 and 1872. Suspended from that on the ribbon is a starburst with the state seal surrounded by the legend "Utah Indian War Veteran."

Arrangement

The forms are arranged alphabetically by the veteran's name; some files are filmed in reverse order. Correspondence is also alphabetical with the exception of a miscellaneous file. Some correspondence is mixed with the forms; much is filed after the applications. Medals appear at the end.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.
Copies of these records are located at FamilySearch.org as "Utah Applications Indian War Service Medals, 1905-1912" View Online.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

Arranged with each page numerically stamped by the USHS Military Records Section. Microfilmed in 1980. Archivally processed by A.C. Cone, 1989. Updated in 1999 to note the actual medals which had been shelved in the reference vault.

Related Material

Territorial militia records from the Division of Archives and Records Service,
, contains service data from many of the same individuals whose original war records are present here.

Container List

ReelBoxFolderDescription
111Applications; Aagard, Andrew-Amundsen, Dyre
112Applications; Andersen, Andrew-Averett, William
113Applications; Babcock, Albern-Bean, Joseph
214Applications; Beard, Thomas-Bethers, William
215Applications; Brockbank, Isaac-Butterfield, George
316Applications; Caffall, Ephraim-Church, H.S.
317Applications; Clark, Joseph-Clyde, William
318Applications; Coates, Joseph-Curtis, John
418Applications; Curtis, John-Curtis, Uriah
419Applications; Dack, Philip-Dyches, Thomas
4110Applications; Eagar, John-Ewing, John
4111Applications; Farmer, James-Fuller, Sanford
5111Applications; Fullerton, Alexander-Furguson, Eli
5112Applications; Gabbott, John-Gould, George
5113Applications; Goulter, William-Guymon, James
5114Applications; Hacking, Hanks, George
5115Applications; Harder, Willit-Haws, Caleb
6115Applications; Haws, George-Hitchcock, J.C.
6116Applications; Hodgson, Allen-Hyer, Christian
6117Applications; Imlay, John-Ivie, William
6118Applications; Jackman, A.R.-Jex, William
6119Applications; Hohansen, Niels-Jones, David
7119Applications; Jones, Elias-Justeson, Louis
7120Applications; Karren, John-Koffard, Larry
7121Applications; LaFevre, Thomas-Lewis, William
7122Applications; Lindsay, Joseph-Lytle, George
7123Applications; McAllister, W.J.F.-McArthur, Daniel
8123Applications; McArthur, J.D.-Mayne, William
821Applications; Mecham, Amasa-Memmott, William
921Applications; Mendenhall, R.L.-Mitchell, William
922Applications; Moefser, J.H.-Mynster, A.W.
923Applications; Nash, James-Nye, Charles
924Applications; O'Neil, William-Owen, Evan
925Applications; Payne, Joseph-Paxton, Anthony
1025Applications; Paul, Adam-Pace, Harvey
1026Applications; Petty, Robert-Peacock, George
1027Applications; Phillips, William-Quinn, George
1028Applications; Raper, Henry-Riter, Samuel
1029Applications; Robb, Thomas-Robb, William
1129Applications; Robbins, Theodore-Rust, George
11210Applications; Salisbury, Oke-Short, Samuel
11211Applications; Sidwell, George-South, Jordan
11212Applications; Spafford, Alma-Spencer, John
12212Applications; Spendlove, William-Syphus, Luke
12213Applications; Twelve, John-Tanner, William
12214Applications; Udall, David-Vanfleet, Elias
13214Applications; Vanvolkenburg, Alonzo-Vincent, Thomas
13215Applications; Wadsworth, George-Whittle, John
14216Applications; Widdison, Robert-Winchester, James
15216Applications; Windows, George-Wixom, Justin
16217Applications; Wolsey, Thomas-Zundle, Thomas
17218Miscellaneous correspondence
17219Correspondence, 1905-1912, A-C
17220Correspondence, 1905-1912, D-H
17221Correspondence, 1905-1912, I-L
17222Correspondence, 1905-1912, M-P
18222Correspondence, 1905-1912, M-P (Cont.)
18223Correspondence, 1905-1912, Q-S
18224Correspondence, 1905-1912, T-Z
None3n/aIndian War Veteran Medals (8)