Nathaniel Swasey

Nathaniel Swasey, in his boyhood, was frail constitution & unable to enjoy the sports & pastimes of his more vigerous playmates. He worked upon his father's farm, going to school a few months in winter under the instruction of Master Abel Brown, & took private lessons. He became proficient in the few text books then used, especially Walsh's & Pike's arithmetics, which he often quoted in later years as the ultimate authority for any mental process in reckoning. He memorized much of the poetry of the reading books then used & would often recite it.

As Nathaniel grew to manhood his bodily health improved & before attaining his majority he developed a muscular strength that is only attained by the most systematic training & was able to take his place among the harty, tireless race of men who were his contemporaries. He was of medium height, broad chested, short limbs & every movement indicated a resolute purpose. He loved the work of farming, & while he could not level all the hills or fill up all the hollows, his untiring industry & physical endurance is manifest on every part of the farm. In his earlier days when the customary jug of rum was passed around to the field hands, he peremptorily refused to partake of its contents & in later years attributed his ling life & vigrous health to the resolution then made. He was upright in all his dealings & had great respect for the Sabbath & would never engage in secular work on that day except in case of absolute necessity.

In 1851, he fell heir to his father's property adjoining on the north , thus giving him an acerage of nearly 250 acres, 75 acres of which was tillage & all of wich still remains in the family. Nathaniel Swasey was a progressive farmer & making the best of his opportunities was ready to adopt all labor saving appliances. He introduced the first practical working mowing machine that came into Rockingham County. Its initial trial about 1852, was made in the field where the homestead building now stands. In 1850, Mr. Swasey built on the highest point of what was then his father's farm, a family tomb, quarrying the granite from his own pasture. In later years this was taken down by his consent & lots purchased in the Exeter cemetery.

Several years before his decease, he deeded the remainder of his estate to two of his sone: Eben & Ambrose. Abagail, wife of Nathaniel, inherited a most vigorous, rugged constitution. She was of refined manners, of cheerful disposition & sunny temperament, with a vein of humor that often came to the surface under the most adverse conditions