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1876 Survey: Amherst.—It was set off from the plantation of Mariaville, in 1822, and incorporated on the 5th of February, 1831. Its name was suggested from Amherst, N. H. It is thought that men began to come in and fell trees in it as early as 1802 on 1803. Among the first that came, were Mr. Chapman, Mr. Shumway, Mr. Whitman, John Barker, John Giles, Thomas Harpworth and Mr. Graves. In 1805 Capt. Goodell Silsby came in from Charleston, N. H. In 1806 or 1807 his parents came and took up the lots now known as "The Old Silsby Place." The first and only meeting-house was erected in 1844. Three men, one living in Amherst and two in Aurora, built it. The first settlers endured many hardships. Some came into Ellsworth, in a vessel, and from that point found their way hither by following a spotted line on the trees. Some carried their grain twelve miles on their backs to grist mill, and then home again. This is the 26th town. Population, 350. Decennary loss, 34. Wealth, per capita, $165. Area 23,040 acres. State valuation, $57,276. U. S. valuation, $82,477. Union soldiers, 43 ; State aid, $522 ; town bounty, $5,300 ; cost per man, $142. |