John Smith and his bride, Mary, bought a farm in West Center Harbor, where his labors earned him a comfortable living. Mr. Smith sold his produce in profitable sales trips to Newburyport, Massachusetts, supplementing his farm goods with stocking yarn made at the John Busiel mill in Laconia.
In 1854, John Smith and family sold the Center Harbor farm and bought a lot at the northwesterly corner of Main and New Hampton (now Waukewan) Streets. He also bought a house in Holderness, dismantled it and hauled the pieces to Meredith where he reassembled it. Moving day was November 1, 1854, son Benjamin's 21st birthday.
Source: "Filling The Void - History of the Meredith Public Library" by Rudy VanVeghten, published 1989.2