Perea, Francisco, 1830-1913

Francisco Perea (January 9, 1830 – May 21, 1913) was an American businessman and politician, serving first in the House of the New Mexico Territory after the area's acquisition by the United States following the Mexican–American War. During the American Civil War, Perea was commissioned as a Union Army lieutenant colonel, helping to defend the Territory. He was elected to serve as a delegate for the Territory of New Mexico to the 38th United States Congress from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1865. After the war he served again in the Territorial legislature, and then as US postmaster of Jemez Springs from 1894 to 1905.

Born in Los Padillas, Nuevo México (now Bernalillo County, New Mexico), he attended select schools in Bernalillo County from 1836 to 1837 and at Santa Fe from 1837 to 1839 before matriculating to the Jesuit College in St. Louis, Missouri and the Bank Street Academy in New York City. When Perea returned to New Mexico, it had been annexed by the US; Congress authorized it as a Territory in 1850 after Texas gave up its claims. Throughout the 1850s, Perea was engaged in stock raising and commercial pursuits. He transported merchandise by mule train along the Santa Fe Trail from St. Louis and Independence, Missouri, to Mexico. He also traveled to California, and had an extended trip to New York City during the 1850s. In 1858 Perea was elected to represent Bernalillo County in the Territorial House.

When the American Civil War broke out, Perea traveled across the Territory of New Mexico to garner support for the Union cause. President Abraham Lincoln authorized the establishment of two regiments and four battalions for the defense of the New Mexico Territory. Perea was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel. In December 1861, he organized one of the battalions, which came to be known as Perea's Battalion. It was stationed at Albuquerque during the winters of 1861 and 1862. He commanded the unit to defend New Mexico against the Texas Rangers and Navajo. Perea took part in the Battle of Glorieta Pass, in March 1862, where the Union defeated Confederate forces. Perea resigned from the battalion and worked to repair his home, destroyed during the war. He was elected in 1862 as a Republican Territorial delegate to the Thirty-Eighth Congress, serving from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1865.

Perea was elected to the Territorial Council of New Mexico for a third time in 1866, and a fourth time in 1884. In 1881 he had moved from Bernalillo County to Jemez Springs, New Mexico. There he served as proprietor of the springs, believed to be healthful, and a related hotel. After several years, he was appointed as US postmaster of Jemez Springs, serving from 1894 to 1905 during Republican administrations. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1906 and died there. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery.