Kevin, I recall from economics classes a few years ago that inflation was almost none existent prior to about 1912. since then it has been nearly 80 fold. Your 8.00 would be about 640.00 plus 160.00 today. Someone out there may have more accurate info but I think you'll find the 80x as a good ballpark > Subject: Cost of Living > Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 18:34:17 -1000 > From: "kevin and rika" <kevrik@shaka.com> > To: NHROCKIN-L@rootsweb.com > > When Charles Page died during the Civil War , his widow Lucy applied for a > pension . She received $8.00 a month , plus $2.00 extra for each child under > 16 until it turned 16 . I know currency has inflated many times since . > Would anyone know any prices at the time or know where to find such > information . Mahalo , Kevin Warren T. Montgomery <monty@emirates.net.ae> Dubai, United Arab Emirates -