New Britain herald., 1924-08-02

10 IlaYerhill, Mass, where Alr, iiad- well worked al custom shue making for about l5 years 0l mnlii ihls husi-
 ness began 10 deNeiap mic regular
 manufacluring business, al as he says,
 went into the factories"
 Later they moved back io West noNfard where MF k0iwell Was post master for ssAera, gears, running inc
 pnsl nffice m connection with q shoe making shnn, Later he spent some time farming, he and another man raising 5000 bushels Of paiaioes on sa acres one summei,
 For about i5 years he worked in Gnrhan's in Providence, lining boxes for sil,nrware, From that lime on he worked al gardening, did some iani, tor service and about IS or 90 years ago came tO New Britain where he
 has been ever since, Until ho was DO years old he kept busy every day al odd jobs and gardening,
 ln his younger days Alr, li0dwell was a hiker and was in the habit of taking long trips through inc Rerk- shires, He was well Nerseh on trees and was considered an authority on the different species, lie does mol venture far from home now, about threo-auartars of mile each way he ing his limit. He makes his regular rounds each day, He is familiar with all the hills and woodland paths about Bolyidefc and knows practical ly every foot Of Stanley Quarter
 Little Red school House
 Mir. Bodwell Is interested In the construction of tho new State Normal school and has watched It's growth 'It Is very interesting," he said and reminds mo of my old school house where got my education. II Is so different" He told about the littlo red school house in Massachusetts with hard wooden benches and arudely constructed desks built on inc backs of the benches and added hh. "rhe seats were made or thanks inst about two-thirds as wide as they should have been ana II we didn't sit up straight we woh'd s''"e off on tho floor.
 "ror heat we had an iron box stove |, which the students piled two ID four pieces of cord wood. The po!s had to get this wood in from outside oltbough we did not have to cut H. ,yo went to school when we felt Ike it and when we dldht we S,"sIn home. There were about 5o pup''s Ill our school
 Followed Abraham Lincoln
 Asked about his politics MT Bod vyell said: T was q democrat all ny life until Lincoln became candldate ,bon | became republican. Lately I haven't taken so much intcres, III politjcs and the later presidents IiNe Grover Cleveland and others l don't know so much about. l didn't vote for Wilson but I guess should nave
 He was S2 years old when the CIVIL ,yar brokc out, too old 10 enlist but exuected to be drafted every day.
 The usual newspaper writer aitcr a man or woman who IS getting along in years, generally fnds q place to say, He never was SICK a 1ay in his life" This is not the case n Mir. Bodwell's history. Several ines he has been forced to change his occupation because of poor health, although he appears to be in excellent health now. He wears glasses. but ne can read print slightly larger than ordinary newsprint without them, his hearing is almost as keen as it was years ago and his abundant crop of hair is generously streaked with black.
 Wait until Nu get to be as old as am, you'l feel different he told | lis visitor. "1 don't expect 10 be that | ,ld," said the visitor. "Neither did | ." he replied. "The young folks . up to day don't know much bout life. When they get to middle ge they are all worn out. About alf of them don't take care of them- elves. They follow the crowd too much, they do as others do instead of oing what they ought to do.
 When my boys were growing up, they were out at play and one of hem came in crying and complaining bout something that went wrong, he Ias sent out to settle his own prob ms. They did their own thinking oo. I never dictated to them but hoy always came in the house right fter z o'clock"