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The Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, Seventh Edition, Compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg. Concord, N.H.: D.L.
channel, for the purpose of driv- ing logs from the upper lakes to market, through the whole season. There are several ponds and small streams, which abound with trout.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants. There is but little manufacturing in the town.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 20,929; mechanical labor, $1,600; money at interest, $1,200.
Hotels. Dam House, Errol House, and Akers House.
Schools. There are four schools in this town. Average length of schools for the year, eight weeks.
First Settlers. Enroll was grant- ed to Timothy Ruggles and others, February 28, 1774. Incorporated December 28, 1836.
Boundaries. North by Went- worths Location, east by Urnba- gog Lake and State of Maine, south by Cambridge and Dummer, and west by Millsfield. Improved land, 2,123 acres.
Histances. Thirty miles north north-east from Lancaster, and one hundred and fifty-nine miles north north-east from Concord.
EXETEK.
Rockingham County. Exeter is half shire town of the county, and was the third town organized in New-Hampshire. It is situated on both sides of Squamseot river, which furnishes some valuable water power. |
The surface of the town is gen- erally level, the soil quite good and well cultivated. Some of the best farms in the State are in this town. In 1870, a farm valued at $ 20,000 returned the annual value of production $2,500, paying for labor $ 400. One $ 25,000, reckon- ing their labor, with what they hired, $ 2,500, and their receipts at $ 5,068. 60 acres, valued at $4,000, paid for labor $300; farm produc- tions, $2,300, of which $300 was for lumber. This is sufficient to show that farming, if properly at- tended to, will give a fair return for the investment, even in New- Hampshire.
Rivers. The town is watered by Exeter River, by the Indians called Squamseot. At the falls the tide water is separated from the fresh. Above the falls the stream assumes the name of Great River, to distinguish it from one of its smaller branches, called Little River. Great River and its branches furnish some valuable water power, which is generally improved.
Village. At Squamseot falls and at the head of navigation, and, by the course of the river about thirty miles from the Atlantic, is situa- ted the large and beautiful village of Exeter. Here, near these falls, commenced the first settlement in town under charge of the Rev. John Wheelwright,* over two hun- dred and thirty years ago; and ever since that date, Exeter has been making a history for herself, the State and Nation, in her emi- nent men, her popular schools, her general improvements, and her fine and picturesque village, as honorable and as broad as any town of her size in America. Here are located two of the most popu- lar literary institutions in the country. Phillips Exeter Acade- my was founded by Dr. John Phil- lips, a resident of Exeter, and a charter was obtained from the leg-
* See note in other part of this work, rela* tive to the Wheelwright Deeds. |