Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-07-06
Editors Observations.
AMONG OUR FRIENDS.

county, we spent Sunday in Mucha
KNOCK, Iowa. The first thing Sun
day morning TO surprise the coloree
man is to hear the church bell toll
ing the hour of service from the
colored brick church. Then to see
them coming to church in their bug
gies and we'll kept teams. Some
with rubber tired, beautiful buggies:
will forever register the impression
on everybody, even our enemies,
that the colored race is climbing
and climbing rapidly. The two
churches, the Baptist and Methodist
are in hourishing condition. Rev.
Bingham has charge of the former,
and Rev. Williamson, the latter.
Sunday school at 9 o'clock. The
Sunday Chicago dailies find ready
sale each Sunday, here, and many
other things that one might mention.
Their band, with about $50 excur-
sionists are making great prepara-
tions to spend two days in Des
Moines, July 1918, the Odd Eel
lows annual meeting.
Monday morning found us in Coal
Palace City. Here fully one thous.
and colored people are nestled away,
some working in various places, but
large number find employment in
Merrill & Co.'S packing house. Mr..
Joseph Hopkins, who recently mar
ried the young daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Jas. Hamilton, is one of the
assistant book-keepers, he having
worked there many years. Mr.. 4.
Taylor, one of the wealthiest men ct
color, still driv es his express wagon.
4. Dodd, James Johnson, Jas. Ham
ilton, VIM. Bailey, Wells Fowler,
H. Weeks, Mr.. Owens and many
others we do not now remember,
owns nice homes, and are doing
we'll in their line of work. Mr.. Car
- D.. f % 80 ~
penter and J. H. Weeks, and JEFF
Thomas, own their own tonsoriai
shops; the former beautiful frsts
class shop. J. T. Harris is still
employed to work in the post Office.
Mr.. Henry King, one of the pioneer
and successful farmers, owns a
farm and is highly respected in his
neighborhood, having lived there
over quarter of century. His ex-
ample convinces us that if more OF
our people would become agrlcuul
tnrists they would be better respect
ed and more influential in the finan-
cial world.
Ottumwa has a goodly number of
young people, and their secret socl-
cites are in good condition. Mrs.
Gilbert is still conducting the Bee
Hive restaurant, with a good pa
tronage. Miss Burnice Davis, the
only daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Wal
ter Davis, is one of the finest pianists
in Ottumwa, and at the young age
of sixteen, she is constantly busy
filing engagements. Is employed
this summer at the Orphean. She
will pen the Ottumwa Musings for
the Bystander.
Tuesday found us enroute to Mt.
Pleasant, but spent few hours in
Fairfield. Only a few colored peo
are here. Mr.. B. ]. Fuller is sue
cessful business man, owning first
class barber shop; also does Sam
Sykes. They both have beautiful
residences in the best part OF town.
Mr.. Hutchins owns feed stable,
and we understand is doing we'll.
Mr.. Moss, Stevens and Jas. Deli are
substantial citizens. In Mt. Pleas
ant we were there so short time
and it was raining, SO we could not
get a good report. Mount Pleas
ant holds the banner in Iowa. She
is sending out efficient and more
graduates of color than any other
city in Iowa. There were four to
finish the high school course. Mr.
S. McCracken, and J. H. Mosely,
are operating tonsorial shops. lhe
former is building a new house on
his other lot. which, when completed