William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

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[95] four years of the war, and which was afterwards repaid to it by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, 00; in 1862, $700.73; in 1863, $1,590.00; in 1864, $2,073.40; in 1865, $1,030.80. Total amount, $5,394.93.

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Peru

Incorporated July 4, 1774. Population in 1860, 499; in 1865, 494. Valuation in 1860, $218,200; in 1865, $214,930.

The selectmen in 1861 were Turner Joy, Dwight Rockwell, B. J. Geer; in 1862, B. J. Geer, E. W. Pierce, J. M. Stowell; in 1863, E. W. Pierce, J. M. Stowell, S. Shamway; in 1864, E. W. Pierce, S. Shamway, James Barnes; in 1865, E. W. Pierce, J. M. Stowell, J. S. Barnes.

The town-clerk during the years 1861, 1862, and 1863, was S. B. Fench; in 1864 and 1865, S. S. Bowen. The town-treasurer during all the years of the war was Ebenezer Haskell.

1861. The first legal town-meeting, to consider matters relating to the war, was held May 13th; at which it was voted that ‘the treasurer borrow five hundred dollars to be appropriated to the benefit of volunteers in our country's service, and their families, if needy; that each volunteer shall receive eight dollars a month aid, or such sum as the district convention may agree upon. All of said appropriations are to be subjected to a committee of three.’

1862. July 19th, Voted, ‘that the treasurer borrow the sum of five hundred dollars to pay bounties offered to the four volunteers, as far as it will go.’ September 17th, Voted, ‘to pay all the nine-months volunteers that have been, and that hereafter may be, secured for our present quota, one hundred and twenty-five dollars each.’ Voted, ‘that each of the above-named volunteers shall receive twenty-five dollars in hand as soon as sworn into service, and that Mr. Edwards¹ shall receive one hundred and twenty-five dollars at that time.’

1863. September 21st, Voted, ‘to adopt the measures contained in section 9, chapter 218, of the Acts of 1863, and raise money as there provided.’