Board of Examiners Indian War veterans' fund records, i 1918-1928.

These files contain papers relating to the distribution of pension funds by the State Board of Examiners to Indian War veterans or their widows. Funds were appropriated initially in 1917, again in 1919, and finally a lesser amount in 1925. The files contain resolutions of the Board to allocate funds to specified individuals from all these appropriations. There are related claims forms for the 1919 appropriation, and there are eligibility lists, affidavits, and correspondence following the 1925 allotment.

In 1917 the legislature created an "Indian War Veterans' Fund" to be disbursed by the State Board of Examiners to "veterans who have performed actual service in any of the Indian wars of the Territory of Utah while such veterans were members of the regular militia of the Territory, or to the wives or widows of such veterans, as compensation for the services of such veterans." Twenty-five thousand dollars in state general funds were allocated (Laws of Utah 1917, ch. 30). The approvalresolutions for 1918 and part of 1919 are for those veterans or widows; claims for $10.00 each were approved.

An additional $20,000 was allocated in 1919 with a new proviso: that all Indian war veterans of Utah and their widows, who made satisfactory proof of service before the Board of Commissioners of Indian war records created by the Legislature of 1909, and whose claims have not, or are not likely to be admitted as pensionable by the Federal Government, shall share alike in the division of this said #20,000.00 appropriation." (Laws of Utah 1919, ch. 62.)

Board resolutions list the names of those individuals whose claims were approved for $15.00 each under the 1919 appropriation. The claim forms, although rarely specifying the individual names, also indicate the amounts disbursed under this appropriation.

A final $2,000 appropriation was made in 1925 under similar terms to the 1919 appropriation. This resulted in five lists to determine the eligibility of applicants. Attached tomany of the lists are affidavits requesting pension funds. The affidavits for veterans list the veteran's name, residence, duration of residence, current age, date of enrollment, company and captain under whom enrolled, age at the time, and discharge date, all sworn before a notary. The form for a widow is similar, only listing her current residence and age and the veteran's death date in addition to his enrollment and discharge data. Some forms also provide blanks to list any former distribution from this fund and disavowing receipt of any federal pension.

The first of the five eligibility lists shows names of those who had filed affidavits with the Commissioner of Indian War Records. Attached are three affidavits: one with a name discrepancy, one duplicate, and one who had died in the interim. The second eligibility list shows those who had not filed and where the locality in which service was claimed was ruled unpensionable by the federal government; no affidavits are attached.The third lists shows those whose names were not located on the rolls of the organizations in which they had claimed service before the Commission; no affidavits are attached. The fourth list shows names of those who were eligible for federal pensions but who had not drawn any because of inability to prove identity, etc.; their affidavits are attached. The fifth list is of those who filed for state funds although they were drawing federal pensions and were therefore ineligible; their affidavits are attached. A letter from the Commissioner of Indian War Records with attached affidavits shows the names of five whose federal pension claims had recently been approved and who should therefore be moved from list one to list five. A final loose affidavit is also included, with the notation that the application had been disapproved because the woman was not the legal widow.

The last category of papers includes letters and affidavits sent in from 1926 to 1928. One requested the return ofaffidavits, but the remainder had applied for pensions. Copies of the return correspondence from the Board of Examiners are attached, stating that the fund was depleted and regretting that the application was not sent in sooner.