It shall be the duty of the registers of deeds, in the several counties of this state, to receive for record, and record all patents of lands, from the United States, or this state, or any copy thereof, duly certified by the commissioner of the United States general land office, or by the secretary of state of this state, or other officer having the legal custody of the records of any such patents, in the same manner and with like effect, as by existing law he is required to receive and record deeds and conveyances; and it shall be the duty of the secretary of state of this state, to record all patents of lands issued by this state, in suitable records; and the existing record of patents, in the office of the secretary of state of this state, and all copies of the record of patents heretofore made and certified to by the secretary of state of this state, and recorded by the register of deeds of any county of this state, are hereby declared legal records, and shall have the same force and effect as if recorded after the passage of this act, and such certified copies of the record of patents heretofore recorded in the office of said secretary of state, and the record of such certified copies may be read in evidence in all courts of this state with the same force and effect as the original patents.