The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-03-01
The NeWtOWn Bee.
CIRCULATION:
TOWN TOPICS.
P. H. sKIDMORE's NEW BUSINESS
VENTURE.

BELIEVES GOD LED HIM TO START IN
THE NEW UNDERTAKING.
Newtown people were surprised
when it was announced that the VEN
cradle P. H. Skidmore had decided to
engage in business again, having
bought large quantity of machinery
for manufacturing Nottingham lace
curtains in England, and that the ma
chinery was on it's way to this country:
Mr. Skidmore's remarkable energy and
vigor for one of his years is we'll known;
but it was not suspected for moment
cares of business again. When inter-
viewed by BEE reporter and asked
his reason, Mr. SkidmOre said:
''ln all this matter l have but one
belief, that is, my Heavenly Father
leads me. have not particle of
worry in regard to the matter. l be-
lieve it will be success, not by any
thing may do, but by Gods blessing"
"That is the way it has been in all
my life," continued Mr. SkidmOre.
''When I went into the Pacific Iron
Works I didn't know thing about
the iron business and yet 1 prospered,
and of all the establishments in Bridge
port in business when l commenced
Ill 1COA OllJ OVo "SoOASLSA OAAS S~ASS
and one was my establishment"
"Then again." said Mr. Skidmore,
"when I went to Florida, I built a
railroad, but had had no previous ex-
perience in railroading. The road was
Is miles long and extended from the St
Johns river to St Augustine. L sold
out for $4,000, half cash and half 10
per cent bonds, clearing a handsome
sum-" In New Orleans prominent
business man of that city said to a
number of his associates once in the
presence of Mr. Skidmore: "Here you
will stand around and not invest cent
in real estate but you will let damned
Yankee like P. H. Skidmore come
down here, invest $4,000 and make a
fortune" ''There isn't a man in the
state of Connecticut, probably, that
has been through what [ have" said
Mr. Skidmore with emphasis.
AS showing the vigor of health he
enjoys, Mr. Skidmore said: "LaSt Fri
day morning 1 arose at O'Clock, had
breakfast and took the 8.45 train for
Bridgeport. went over to the fac
tory, saw this one and that one and
was busy all day. I came home at
night, worked over my diary and let
ters till 10 p. m, retired and enjoyed a
blessed nights rest"
AS already stated in the Bridgeport
papers, Mr. SkidmOre has purchased a
brick factory in the Hollister Heights
district in Stratford. He says he is
the sole owner at present and has from
SAC, 900 to $5O, 900 invested. His eldest
son, Julius w. Skidmore, will assist
him in looking after the details of his
business. Robert Browning sthe me-
chanical superintendent and D. j..
Walters will be connected with the
sales department. Mr. SkidmOre says
the new factory may be in operation
by April l, but he does not expect it
till month later.
The number of hands employed at
first will be under 20, but Mr. Skidmore
says the number may be increased if
the business is a success.
Mr. Skidmore believes his good health
is due mainly to his simple method of
| living. He always does reasonable
amount of work and otter may be seen
with his wheelbarrow by the roadside
gathering up stones, picking up stray
papers or doing other work. Mr. Skid
more insists that circulation is life and
that there is no disease but congestion.
He lives simply and says he does not
eat six pounds of fbrous meat in year.
Speaking of labor, Mr. Skidmore says
he could not do without it.
Wnen ne goes away FlSlulng ne al
ways asks to be shown the wood
pile that he may get his customary
amount of exercise. He finds that if
he neglects to labor even for three days
that he suffers. In regard to the effect
of any particular food or exercise on
his body Mr. Skidmore says he has al
ways made it rule never to repeat
anything that he believed injured him,
and to this fact he believes he owes his
remarkable health. He says he sleeps
grandly and every morning his first
thought is of gratitude to Almighty
God for this inestimable blessing.