There shall be a pension board, hereafter referred to as the “board”, for each of the counties of the State, with full authority, within the limits prescribed by law, to make investigations necessary to comply with this part and to grant pensions to employees and former employees of their respective counties, who are or were ineligible to the benefits of the employees’ retirement system, and are not the recipients or beneficiaries of pensions from the State or any county, or to the widows of the employees.