Changes coming to MOBIUS soon! Find out more.

The Midtown Carnegie Branch Library elevator from the basement to the 2nd floor is not operational. Please ask a staff member if you need assistance. The branch will close for renovations May 6. Find out more.

The Library

thelibrary.org Springfield-Greene County Library District Springfield, Missouri
Local History

Pension Vouchers

"Justice John A. Davis of North Campbell Township had a busy day yesterday looking after pension vouchers. August 4 is the day on which the quarterly payments to the pensioners are made and all these vouchers have to be sworn to before a notary public before they are cashed. Justice Davis is a notary by virtue of his office and about fifty vouchers were sworn to before him yesterday. Every three months on the fourth day of February, May, August and November, the pensioners receive the vouchers for the sums due them for the past quarter. They are required to make an affidavit to a number of facts concerning their identity, length of time in the service and in what command. 'Pension day,' as it is known in 'Squire Davis’ office, is always a busy time for the justice." -- Leader August 6, 1907


According to an article published by NGS magazine titled Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933 “From the nineteenth century to mid-1909, pension payments were made by designated ‘pension agencies’ located in major cities across the United States, and payment records were kept in...leather-bound volumes…until 1912, the pensioner had to present himself or herself, along with his or her (1) pension certificate and (2) quarterly pension voucher to a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths on or after the fourth day of the designated month. Then the pensioner mailed the notarized voucher to the pension payment agent, who then mailed the pensioner his quarterly pension check. Beginning in February 1913, that system was replaced by centralized payment from Washington D.C.”.

Pension payment cards are available on FamilySearch.org and the examples above are from that site.

Find this article at