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Biographical Sketch

By act of Congress passed July 22, 1861, the Secretary of War was directed to introduce among the volunteer forces in the service of the United States, a system of allotment tickets by which the family of each volunteer could draw such portions of his pay as he requested. In March of 1862 (Chapter 21), the state legislature empowered the state treasurer to "receive from the paymaster general of the United States army, or from the secretary of the treasury of the United States, such sum or sums as may have been or may hereafter be assigned by volunteers in the service of the United States" for the benefit of their families or others. Every three months, the state treasurer was to compile a list, classified by county of residence, of all persons to whom such funds were assigned and to transmit relevant portions of said list to each of the county treasurers. The county treasurers were responsible for verifying the identities and interest of the assignees in receiving payments and for submitting verified drafts to the state treasurer for payment.