LIMITED
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of Douglas G. Ankrom, M. Ryan Kirkham and Edward G. Sloane,
Jr., signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

     (1)  Execute  for and on behalf of the  undersigned,  in the
          undersigned's capacity as an officer  and/or  director of PEOPLES
          BANCORP INC. (the "Company"),  Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance
          with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
          rules thereunder;

     (2)  Do and perform  any and all acts for and on behalf of the
          undersigned which may be  necessary  or desirable to complete and
          execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5,  complete  and execute any
          amendment  or  amendments thereto,  and timely file such form with
          the United States  Securities and Exchange  Commission and any
          stock exchange or similar  authority; and

     (3)  Take any other action of any type  whatsoever in  connection  with
          the foregoing  which, in the opinion of such  attorney-in-fact,
          may be of benefit  to, in the best  interest  of, or  legally
          required  by, the undersigned,  it being understood that the
          documents  executed by such attorney-in-fact  on behalf of the
          undersigned  pursuant to this Power of  Attorney  shall be in such
          form and shall  contain  such terms and conditions   as   such
          attorney-in-fact   may   approve   in   such attorney-in-fact's
          discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as
the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power
of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted.

     The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not
assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.

     This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities
issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a
signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 15th day of December 2011.


                                    /s/ RICHARD FERGUSON
                                        ------------------------------
                                        [Signature]


                                        Richard Ferguson
                                        ------------------------------
                                        [Printed Name]


     On this 15th day of December 2011, did appear Richard Ferguson, a
person known by me, and he acknowledged that he did sign this Limited Power
of Attorney, and that this is his free act and deed.

                                    /s/ ANNE GILLILAND
                                        ------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

				        Anne Gilliland, Notary Public
			[Seal]	        In and For The State of Ohio
					My Commission Expires April 9, 2013