Reunion celebration : together with an historical sketch of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town, Part 9

Author: Batchelder, Ira Kendrick, b. 1811
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Brattleboro : Phoenix Job Print ; E.L. Hildreth & Co.
Number of Pages: 226


USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Peru > Reunion celebration : together with an historical sketch of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town > Part 9


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1826. 1827. 1828.


Daniel Tuthill, Peter Dudley, Edmund Batchelder.


Peter Dudley, Edmund Batchelder, Benjamin Barnard, Jr.


1829. Peter Dudley, Edmund Batcheller, Benjamin Barnard.


Benjamin Barnard, Edmund Batchelder, Francis Bennett.


1830. 1831. Benjamin Barnard, Edmund Batchelder. Francis Bennett.


1832. Benjamin Barnard, Reuben Bigelow, Peter Dudley.


1333. Benjamin Barnard, Reuben Bigelow, Peter Dudley.


1834. Benjamin Barnard, Jr., Peter Dudley, James Lincoln.


1835. Benjamin Barnard, Peter Dudley, James Lincoln.


1836. Peter Dudley, Nathan Whitney, Stillman W. Lincoln.


Israel Batchelder, Jonas B. Bennett, Amherst Messenger.


Jonas B. Bennett, Amherst Messenger, Jonathan R. Wyman.


1840.


Benjamin Barnard, Aaron Burton, Joel Lyon.


IS41. Benjamin Barnard, Joel Lyon, Freeman Lyon.


1842. Benjamin Barnard, Aaron Burton. Ezra Dodge.


1843.


James Wait, Benjamin S. Ballard. Ezra Dodge.


1844.


James Wait, Benjamin S. Ballard, Fra K. Batchelder.


1845.


Ira K. Batchelder, Ezra Dodge, George Batchelder.


1 846. George Batchelder, Stephen Dudley, Cephas Bailey.


1847. George Batchelder, Stephen Dudley, Cephas Bailey.


1848. Jesse Rider, Mark Batchelder, Z. F. Whitney.


1849.


Jesse Rider, Aaron Burton, Z. F. Whitney.


1850.


Jesse Rider, Edward Batchelder, Stephen Dudley.


I851.


Jesse Rider, Edward Batchelder, Stephen Dudley.


1852. Edward Batchelder, Aaron Burton, Mark Batchelder.


1853. Aaron Burton, Mark Batchelder, Stephen Dudley.


Aaron Burton, Mark Batchelder, Stephen Dudley.


1854. 1855. Z. F. Whitney, J. G. Mellendy, Cephas Bailey.


1856. Ira K. Batchelder, Joseph Long, Jonathan Hapgood.


1857. Ira K. Batchelder, J. P. Long, Jonathan Hapgood. 1858. Ira K. Batchelder, Dexter Batchelder, John G. Mellendy.


1859. Ira K. Batchelder, Dexter Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood.


1860. Ira K. Batchelder, Dexter Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood.


1861. Ira K. Batchelder, Harvey Stone, Stephen D. Simonds.


1837. 1838. 1839. Benjamin Barnard, Francis Bennett, J. J. Hapgood.


S7


IHISTORY OF PERU.


1802. 1863. 1 864.


Ira K. Batchelder, Harvey Stone, Stephen D. Simonds. Ira K. Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood, Ira R. Walker. Ira K. Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood, Ira R. Walker. Ira K. Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood, Ira R. Walker. Ira K. Batchelder, Jonathan Hapgood, Ira R. Walker. Jonathan Hapgood, Ira R. Walker, G. K. Davis. Ira R. Walker, G. K. Davis, J. H. Simonds.


Jonathan Hapgood, J. P. Long, Harvey Stone. Jonathan Hapgood, Harvey Stone, J. P. Long. Jonathan Hapgood, Harvey Stone, J. P. Long. Harvey Stone, A. C. Nourse, John G. Walker. A. C. Nourse, John G. Walker, Charles Batchelder. A. C. Nourse, A. H. Williams, Samuel Stiles. Harvey Stone, Jonathan Hapgood, James C. Lakin. Harvey Stone, Jonathan Hapgood, James C. Lakin.


1865. 1 866. 1 867. 1868. 1 869. 1870. IS71. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. John G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, E. R. Hart. John G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, E. R. Hart. E. R. Hart, Samuel Stiles, A. H. Williams. Samuel Stiles, A. H. Williams, G. K. Davis. 18,8. 1879. 1880. 1881. J. G. Walker, G. K. Davis, J. C. Lakin. 1882. J. G. Walker, G. K. Davis, W. B. Simonds. J. G. Walker, W. B. Simonds, M. B. Lyon.


1883. 1884. J. G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, J. C. Lakin.


J. G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, J. C. Lakin.


1885. 1886. J. G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, J. C. Lakin.


1887. J. C. Lakin, R. I. Batchelder, W. J. Farnum.


IS8S. R. I. Batchelder, W. J. Farnum, Samuel Stiles.


TOWN CLERKS.


John Brook, 1802. William Pollard, 1803 to 1807. Joseph Fairbank, 1807 to 1812. Reuben Bigelow, 1812 to 1835. Russell Tuthill, 1835 to 1837. Israel Batchelder, 1837 to 1839. Thomas Baldwin, 1839 to 1845. Ira K. Batchelder, 1845 to 1852. O. P. Simonds, 1852 to 1869. Charles W. Whitney, 1869 to 1873. O. P. Simonds, 1873 to 1889.


88


HISTORY OF PERU


CONSTABLES.


Aaron Killam, 1803 to 1812. Seth Lyon, 1804 to 1805.


Joseph Fairbank, 1805 to ISI0.


Mendal Fosgate, 1807 to 1809. Silas Clark, 1808 to 1809. Josiah Barnard, 1812 to 1818. Asa Simonds, 1818 to 1821.


Nathan Whitney, 1821 to 1828.


Peter Dudley, 1828 to 1829.


Nathan Whitney, 1829 to 1836.


Mark Batchelder, 1836 to 1838.


George Batchelder, 1838 to 1840.


Stephen Dudley, 1840 to 1843. Freeman Lyon, 1843 to 1846. George Batchelder, 1846 to 1847.


F. P. Batchelder, 1847 to 1860. J. H. Simonds, 1860 to 1861. James Lincoln, 1861 to 1864. P. J. Walker, 1864 to 1868. M. B. Lyon, 1868 to 1869.


Wesley Woodward, 1869 to 1870.


James Lincoln, 1870 to 1872.


George K. Davis, 1872 to 1880.


J. B. Simonds, 1880 to 1883. M. G. Walker, 1883 to 1885. George K. Davis, 1885 to 1890.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


Reuben Bigelow, Peter Dudley, Israel Batchelder, Samuel Stone, Daniel Tuthill, Josiah Barnard, Seth Lyon, Sen., James Wait, Amherst Messenger, J. G. Walker, M. B. Lyon, J. C. Lakin, A. C. Nourse, Ira R. Walker, C. M. Russell, Freeman Lyon, B. S. Ballard, I. K. Batchelder, James Lincoln, E. H. Tuttle, Stephen Dudley. J. H. Simonds, F. K. Stiles, J. P. Long, Jonathan Hapgood, J. R. Utley, M. J. Hapgood, E. R. Hart, J. Chadwick.


MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE.


Reuben Bigelow, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1828. Peter Dudley, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1812, 1814, 1816, 1818, 1832, 1833.


89


HISTORY OF PERU.


Benjamin Barnard, Jr., 1834, 1835, 1839. Mark Batchelder, 1836, 1852, 1853. Israel Batchelder, 1837, 1838. John Davidson, 1840, 1841. Freeman Lyon, 1842, 1843. George Batchelder, 1844, 1845. Jesse Rider, 1846. Ezra Dodge, 1847, 1848. Ira K. Batchelder, 1849.


Edward Batchelder, 1850, 1851.


F. P. Batchelder, 1854, 1855. A. T. Byard, 1856, 1857. Dexter Batchelder, 1858, 1859. Joel Adams, 1860, 1861. Edmund Batchelder, 1862, 1865. Amos G. Bowker, 1863, 1864. O. P. Simonds, 1866, 1867. J. P. Long, 1868, 1869. Jonathan Hapgood, 1870, 1871. Hiram Griswold, 1872. Charles Batchelder, 1874. Wm. B. Simonds, 1876. George K. Davis, 1878. M. J. Hapgood, 1880. John G. Walker, 1882, 1884. James C. Lakin, 1886. M. B. Lyon, 1888.


DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.


Peter Dudley, 1814, 1821. Josiah Barnard, 1828. Samuel Stone, 1836. Mark Batchelder, 1843. Gen. S. Dudley, 1850.


MEMBER OF THE SENATE.


Ira K. Batchelder, 1850, 1851.


SIDE JUDGES.


Ira K. Batchelder, 1864, 1865. Dexter Batchelder, 1888.


90


HISTORY OF PERU.


MAIL.


The first mail was carried from Chester to Peru on horseback by Francis Fuller of Chester as early as 1815 (or earlier), and for four years Peru was the end of the route, the carrier returning to Chester the same day. He passed through AAndover, Weston, and Landgrove Flats, distributing newspapers from house to house. In 1819 the route was continued to Manchester, but it is not known how often it was carried, or by what route. In 1822 Simeon Leland established a line of daily stages from Charlestown No. 4 to Manchester, and Peru had a daily mail each way until 1851. At the introduction of railroads into Vermont the coach and four was discontinued, and a mail stage was run from 'Derry to Manchester one day, returning the next, and is in use at the present time. The postmasters were as follows: Reuben Bigelow, Ist .; Daniel Tuthill, 2nd .; Russell Tuthill, 3rd .; M. Smalley, 4th .; O. P. Simonds, 5th, 1839 to 1850; Cyrus Hatch, 6th, 1850 to 1851; O. P. Simonds, 7th, 1851 to 1866; L. B. Hapgood, 8th .; T. K. Snow, 9th .; C. W. Whitney, roth .; G. K. Davis, 11th .; O. P. Simonds, 12th .; G. L. Richardson, 13th.


MILITARY COMPANIES.


.A military company was organized in the town in 1805, with Peter Dudley, first captain, John Batchelder, first lieutenant, and the usual number of non-commissioned officers. The annual training was held on the first Tuesday in June. The captain issued his orders to the orderly sergeant, who delivered them to the corporals to warn the men on their lists to be on hand at the appointed time and save themselves from being fined. The commissioned officers were equipped with a military coat, with round brass buttons as large as a cherry, sash, epaulettes, sword, and a cockade hat with a tall plume in the top. The privates were equipped with a gun, bayonet, knapsack, canteen, cartridge box covered with leather, two spare flints, priming wire and brush. They usually had a fall training. A regimental muster, held within the bounds of the regiment, was held at Weston Island or 'Derry. In 1825 Brigadier-General Dudley had a brigade muster at Manchester. Joel Adams was baggage master for the company at Peru. The only rations furnished was a few gallons of New England rum, which was paid for by the commissioned officers in honor of their office, and the only pay that the soldiers received was their exemption from poll tax. All able


MARK BATCHELDER.


ENE! UBLIC


ASTOR, LEAK TILGEN FC. "


91


HISTORY OF PERU.


bodied citizens over the age of 18 and under 45 were subject to duty. One practice prevailed which would not be tolerated in these days; the soldiers would be at the residence of the commissioned officers any time after midnight on the morning of the training day to wake up the officers, which was accomplished by the discharge of their guns around the house, this being an invitation to the officers to come out and treat, which was promptly done. These trainings were kept up by practice and law until 1844, when the company was disbanded. No one knows of any records of the company being in existence. The captains were promoted to regimental officers or discharged after three or four years service, which exonerated them from military service, and the under officers were promoted by the vote of the company. It was considered wrong to promote a lower officer over a higher one, and it was not often done. The band consisted of fifes, bass and tenor drums. The tenor drummers were Mark Batchelder and Alfred Sawyer: bass drummer, Joel Adams; fifers, Russell Wyman and Abel Adams. The captains of the company were Peter Dudley, John Batchelder, James Lincoln, Joseph Whitney, Israel Batchelder, Josiah Stone, Asa Simonds, Joel Lyon, Mark Batchelder, Joel Adams, F. K. Stiles, Stephen Dudley, and Ezra Dodge. The trainings were held on the common where the old meeting house stood, and the soldiers were allowed to occupy the church when necessary. The day was spent in calling the roll, examining the equipments, drill, company marching, and closed with a lively game of ball or a trial of the strong and active ones in wrestling. The June training was about the best holiday that the boys had during the year, and men of all ages would be present. The boys, in imitation of their fathers, organized a company, elected a full board of officers, who called out all the boys in town between the ages of 14 and 18, and went through all the manœuvres of the older ones, handling the wooden guns with dexterity and a great deal of ambitious pride.


NAMES OF SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION WHO HAD A PENSION.


Peter 1. Gould, Elijah Simonds, Benjamin Barnard, Sen., Stephen Bennett, David Sawyer, Ebenezer Stiles, Asa Farnum, Moody Roby.


92


NAMES OF SOLDIERS FROM PERU WHO SERVED IN THE REBELLION.


1


Name.


Age.


Date of Enlistment.


Date of Muster.


Reg't.


Co.


Remarks.


William S. Weymouth,


42


Oct. 16, '61,


Oct. 31, '61,


2


A


Benjamin S. Barnard,


30


23


26


..


2


Promoted Sergeant Major, mustered out Oct. 31, '64. Mustered out Oct. 31, '64.


Clark R. Bryant, Harlan E. Batchelder,


22


..


2


A


Mustered out Oct. 31, 64.


Warren S. Bryant,


21


6.


2


Mustered out Dec. 7, '64.


Charles M. Hapgood,


18


..


2


A


Mustered out Oct. 31, '64.


Everett E. Adams,


22


2


A


Charles D. Robbins,


2I


2


A


Deserted Aug. 17, '62. Discharged Feb. 14. 63.


Wilbur F. Bowker,


20


Dec. 17, '61,


Feb. 18, '62,


H


Killed at Port Hudson, May 27, '63.


Henry W. Crocker,


32


Dec. 27, '61,


Feb. 12, '62,


H


Joseph M. Long,


18


Dec. 18, '61,


H


Charles D. Odell,


23


Oct. 7, '61,


July 6, '62,


9


Discharged April 29, '63.


Lysander W. Russell,


25


Schuyler Bennett,


24


Mar. 21, '62, |April 12, '62,


4 9


Died in service, April 29, '65.


Clarence B. Lincoln,


IS


Dec. 9, '63.


Dec. 17, '63, ..


9


Died Oct. 3, '64.


Albert J. Simonds,


1 8


9


Lauren A. Russell,


00


..


44


19


/ Died Oct. 4, '64. C Died in Andersonville, Aug. 21, '64.


Pardon W. Allen,


2I


Mar. 24, '64,


Dec. 24, '63, Dec. 17, 63, 2 April 12, '64, 18


I1


F Absent, sick, July 14, '65.


HISTORY OF PERU.


Mustered out in 1865, was kept for service some time. Died at Washington, Feb. 20, '64.


Leroy Wyman, Allen J. Benson,


31


Dec. 8, '63,


Dec. 24, 63,


1


Mustered out July 13, 65.


John P. Quackenbush,


22


June 24, '62, ..


8 8 I


Killed at Port Hudson, June 15, '63. Discharged Nov. 20, '62.


Discharged Ang. 2, '62.


Frank P. Simonds,


2I


1) Discharged Sept. 2, 63.


2


1


Died Dec. 14, '61. Discharged Nov. 7, '62. Discharged Oct. 31, '62.


Daniel M. Priest, Henry Stiles,


22


..


2


Name.


Age. Date of Enlistment.


Date of Muster. Reg't. Co.


Remarks.


Levi W. Collins,


18


Mar. 24, '64,


April 12, '64,


1 7


John T. Howard,


IS


Feb. 10, '64,


Feb. 10, '64,


17


Thomas J. Lakin,


44


Dec. 9, '63,


Dec. 9, 63.


9


- Mustered out June 29, 65.


Peter Willey,


James J. Howlin,


U. S. N.


Abel T. Wyman,


23


Mar. 31, '64.


2


Sick in hospital, July 16, '65. Mustered out June 13, '65.


Calvin R. Bryant,


Aug. 4, '64.


.Aug. 4. 64, 9


2


A Mustered out June 9, '65.


Richard Green,


30 Sept. 23, '64,


Sept. 23, 64,


F


William A. Penfield,


20


Obadiah N. Russell,


23


Sept. 15, '64. Sept. 15, 64,


5


F


Mustered out June 19, '65.


Gilman Thompson,


30


-


5


Joseph M. Farnum, IS


Sept. 20, '62, Oct. 23, '62, ..


..


I


Jerome B. Lakin,


..


I


Joseph H. Mason,


42


1


..


1


Wm. C. Strong,


16


..


..


I


..


..


George R. Wyman,


19


..


..


1


..


Joseph M. Farnum re-enlisted in the 5th Vermont, Company E., Sept., 1864, and was killed in the battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 19, 1864.


Hezekiah Stone and E. B. Batchelder furnished substitutes. The nine months' volunteers received $100 as town bounty. They were at the battle of Gettysburg.


93


HISTORY OF PERU.


Mustered out June 13, '65.


John W. Penfield,


19


Aug. 4. '64.


Aug. 4, '64,


0


F


H Mustered out June 1. '65.


Charles F. Sheldon,


24


F


Mustered out Aug. 10, '63. I


Jefferson French, 36


Chas. H. Reed,


IS


F Mustered out July 14, '65. F Mustered out July 14, '65.


F Discharged May 20, '65.


Phillip J. Johnson,


2I Jan. 26, '65. Jan. 26, '65, 5 4 Ms.


F


Leroy G. Davis,


19


Sept. 5, '64,


94


HISTORY OF PERU.


The first ten on the list of soldiers were enlisted by Col. J. H. Wallridge, and received no bounty, but the citizens gave each man ten or twelve dollars for spending money until they got into camp. They were accompanied to the depot on the morning of October 21, 1861, by friends who wished to give the shake of the hand and say the last good-bye as they parted, the friends for their vacant homes and the soldiers to the front to strengthen Company A of the 2nd Regiment. The captain of the company was William S. Weymouth, and he enlisted body and soul, but before they had reached their regiment his energy and spirits flagged, and he sank under the task that he had undertaken. In two months his remains were sent home and buried on December 16, 1861. Slowly and sadly was he carried to his grave to the music of the drums and fifes, accompanied by his family and a large number of friends and citizens. Benjamin S. Barnard and D. M. Priest were wounded before Richmond in the seven days battle of the Pines, taken prisoners and sent to Richmond. Barnard was put into Libby prison and kept there until he was so prostrated that he could not walk, when he was exchanged and sent to the Philadelphia hospital, staying there until he recovered. Priest was placed on an island by his own choice, where he could have the benefit of water but no shelter. He was discharged sooner than Barnard, but it was a sad experience for both of them. C. M. Hapgood was wounded by a bullet grazing his scalp, was sent home on furlough but soon returned to duty. The other five followed the army of the Potomac for three years and were in most of the battles, some of them not receiving a scratch or being away from duty a single day during that time.


Wilbur F. Bowker, Henry W. Crocker, and Joseph M. Long voluntarily enlisted December 21, 1861, and were mustered into Company H of the 8th Regiment. Bowker and Crocker went south with the regiment. Bowker was shot at Port Hudson May 27, 1863, and Crocker was shot June 15, 1863. They were both shot by sharpshooters, and were the first two that were killed in service from Peru. Joseph M. Long went into camp at Brattleboro, where he took cold and was sick. He had a furlough, but was discharged November 2, 1863, and afterwards died of consumption.


Allen J. Benson enlisted in Company C of the 11th Regiment, Heavy Artillery, and was taken prisoner. He died in Andersonville prison, Ga., August 21, 1864, and was the only soldier from Peru who died in prison.


·


95


HISTORY OF PERU.


Clarence B. Lincoln died in hospital of yellow fever October 3, 1864, in South Carolina.


Lauren P. Russell mustered into Company C of the 11th Regiment December 17, 1863, and died at Washington February 20, 1 864.


Leroy Wyman enlisted December 19, 1863, was wounded, and died in hospital October 4, 1864.


John Platt Quackenbush enlisted December 8, 1863, and died in service April 29, 1865.


Of the forty-seven volunteers furnished by Peru, eight died in service.


SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES. 1


The first school in town was taught by Reuben Bigelow in 1803, and was kept in Deacon Seth Lyon's log house, which stood in Mr. Whitney's lot. Schools have always been sustained since they were first started, but were held in private houses until 1807. James Grant taught several terms in the Holton house. The first school- house was built in 1807 in the corner of M. B. Lyon's lot, at the back of the barn south of the Adams road. It was a large building, with an L for the entrance, and was fitted up inside with two rows of wooden seats and a desk, with an open stove in the centre. This building was also used as a church, the desk answering the purpose of a pulpit, and the men sitting on one side of the room, while the other side was occupied by the women. Town meetings were held in the schoolhouse for a long time. James Grant, father of Gen. L. A. Grant, taught the first term of school in the building in 1808, and this was the only school that held winter terms until 1822. The building committee, Reuben Bigelow, Gen. Peter Dudley and Deacon Thomas Wyman, took great interest in having this house built, and they all had large families, which were sent there to be educated.


In I810 a log house was erected about half way between Clark Lakin's house and the bridge to be used for a summer school. It was taught, at different times, by Hannah Barnard, Sally Ballard, Abigail Bigelow (she was 15 years of age when she taught her first term), Samantha Ballard, Encinda Whitcomb, Lucinda Bigelow, and Lucy Dudley, who taught the last term held in the schoolhouse.


In 1821 the town was divided into three school districts, which were called the centre district, the north district, and the south


96


HISTORY OF PERU.


district, and these were sufficient to accommodate all the scholars. The centre district retained the old schoolhouse until 1830, when a new one was built near where Freeman Lyon lives, which was kept until the present schoolhouse was built, the name of the district being then changed to district No. 3. The first winter school in the north district was held in a log house that had been built for a dwelling house, and was taught by John H. Dudley, who was an excellent teacher, for eight dollars a month. He also taught the second term, receiving ten dollars a month. The next year's school was held in a log house standing in the corner of Edgar Batchelder's lot, north of the road leading to Mr. Bell's place, and was taught by Russell Tuthill. In 1823 a frame house was erected on the site where the present house stands, and was enclosed on the outside with clapboards half an inch thick and six inches wide. There was a fireplace at one end of the room, benches made out of slabs, long tables made with plain boards, and one chair for the teacher. The boys and girls, who had just come from the log house, thought this a very convenient schoolhouse. Three years later this building was sealed up with spruce boards overhead, a closet and entry made, permanent desks and seats put in, and a teacher's desk was furnished. The scholars then thought that they had a grand schoolhouse, and many a pupil had the mind and intellect stored and polished so as to be intellectually brighter and stronger for life's work, and some were taught physically by the birch in a way that was not agreeable or pleasant for the time. Joseph Wright and Asa B. Brown were teachers in this school.


The south district had school kept in private houses owned by Elijah Simonds and Gen. Peter Dudley until 1822, when the district erected a house on the right hand side of the road east of Goodell Walker's house, in which many valuable terms were held. In 1833 this house was moved to the spot where the present schoolhouse stands, near Charles Russell's house. In 1838 the town was divided into six districts, and this changed the south district to district No. 1. The first schoolhouse that the district built was moved near Joel Adams's house, and school was kept in it until the present one was built in 1864. The old house is now standing at the west end of Mr. Adams's wood shed, and is used for a carriage house. It has seen much hard service, having been built about 80 years.


District No. 5 built their first schoolhouse in 1838, which was burnt down in 1864. The present building was erected in 1864, and is well built.


97


HISTORY OF PERU.


In 1838 district No. 6 built a schoolhouse, which is now in use. Previous to that they used Capt. Wait's house.


District No. 7. which is at the extreme north part of the town, was organized by I. K. Batchelder in 1866, and has a schoolhouse and school that does it great credit.


A school district was organized at the notch mill, and school kept in private houses. It has since been given up.


The first select school held in the town was in 1828, and was taught by Theodore Wilbur. It was exclusively a grammar school, and twenty-two students attended its session, very much to their improvement and satisfaction. Esquire Bigelow was the principal one in the organization of this school. In 1849 John P. Reynolds taught a select school with great success, and from 1850 to 1859 select schools were taught by Milton R. Tyler, George Richardson, S. E. Burnham, and Stephen Grout, which were a credit to the teachers and to the town. Since that time there have been several select schools, the most thorough of which was taught by Miss Nancy Haynes.


Peru has given commendable attention to her schools, and many good teachers have been brought up in town. Among the early teachers were the daughters of Reuben Bigelow, Gen. Dudley, Samuel Stone, J. Howard, Asa Simonds, B. Barnard, and among the young men were Joseph Wright, A. B. Brown, Wm. B. Lincoln, Hiram Howard, B. S. Ballard, I. K. Batchelder, Reuben Stone, who all taught school more than fifty years ago.


SCHOOL TEACHERS OF PERU.


Abigail Bigelow, Samantha Ballard, Sally Ballard, Lucinda Bigelow, Damietta Bigelow, Laura Bigelow, Orrella Bigelow, Caroline Bigelow, Betsey Warren, Asa B. Brown, Hepsibah Barnard, Nancy Barnard, Emily Barnard, B. L. Barnard, Seth B. Barnard, Emily Messenger, Joseph H. Simonds, D. K. Simonds, Peter Dudley, Lucy Dudley, Elvira Dudley, Joseph Wright, Lydia Dudley, Lucinda Whitney, James M. Dudley, B. S. Ballard, Sophia Simonds, Mary Simonds, Mary Wyman, Nancy Wyman, Louisa Holton, Harriet Howard, Olive Howard, Hiram Howard, Abigail Barnard, Lucy Barnard, B. L. Barnard, Marcellus Lyon, M. B. Lyon, Ruth Hapgood, Susan A. Burton, Mary Burton, Bowman Burton, R .. Bigelow Burton, Ann Whitney, Susan Batchelder, John W. Batch- elder, Wm. B. Lincoln, David Smith, Rosetta Stiles, Sarah Stiles,


98


HISTORY OF PERU.


Henry Stiles, Martha Stone, Susan Stone, Reuben Stone. Abbie Davis, Abbie Ann Davis, Ira K. Batchelder, F. P. Batchelder, Roxana Batchelder, Amos Batchelder, Daniel Davidson, Julian E. Batchelder, Rossetta Batchelder, Mary Emma Batchelder, Nellie Walker, Ellen Simonds, Jennie Byard, Blanche Simonds, Frank Wyman, Mary McMullen, Myron Dudley, George Dudley, Lucy Dudley, Ella Batchelder, Sarah A. Simonds, Mary Chandler, G. N. Wyman, A. P. D. Simonds, Ellen Simonds, Martha Simonds, Charlotte H. Hapgood, Marshall J. Hapgood, Carrie Adams, Rowena Baldwin, Isa Weymouth, Abbie Dale, Ann Janette Dale, Bell Simonds, Emily M. Mellendy, Aurilla Mellendy, Ella Mellendy, Eunice Chapin, Hannah Batchelder, Daniel Batchelder, Mary Coolidge, Chalmers H. Coolidge, James K. Batchelder, Luella Batchelder, Damietta Dudley, Caroline Dudley, Burton Barnard, Hannah Thomas, Abbie Davis, Ellen Davis, Helen Rider, Caroline Rider, D. M. Priest, Sarah Coolidge, Charles K. Batchelder.


COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO WERE NATIVES OF PERU.


R. B. Burton, Myron S. Dudley, D. K. Simonds, James K. Batchelder, Daniel M. Priest, Alonza Barnard, M. J Hapgood, Robert A. Ray.


ATTORNEYS WHO WERE NATIVES OF PERU.


Thomas Hill, practiced in Bangor, Me.


Moses Hill, practiced in Ohio.


Ezekiel Simonds, practiced in New Orleans, La.




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