In all cases where any sale has been made or is hereafter made by any sheriff under or in pursuance of any order, judgment or decree of any court and the sheriff did not, or does not, before the expiration of the sheriff’s term of office, execute a deed to carry the sale into effect, the deed may be executed by the successor of the sheriff in office at the time of the application for the deed, and any deed so executed by any successor of the sheriff making the sale while in office shall have the same effect as though it had been executed by the sheriff making the sale.