Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-12
.COLORED LADY
WORTH 100000.
7TLeavenworth Times. /

rLeavenworth Times.1
Mrs j. w. Francis, colored woman,
whose home is in Mound Bayou, Miss,
and who has been visiting at the home
of W. B Townsend of this city. enjoys
wealthiest colored woman in the
Mrs. Francis. but She is one of the
leading citizens in the largest colored
colony III the country.
Mound Bayou is a place Of 1900 peo-
rle all colored. and is without doubt
the only city in the country in which
the city government is carried on by
colpred officials. Indeed the popula
Itlon is entirely colored. not a white
family residing within the corporate
limits of the city.
The success Of the plan by cclored
people TO maintain a city, govern ard
control it after the most approved and
lsmodern methods has been complete in
the case Of Mound Bayou. 1t was
tsounded eight years ago where there
l,was nothing but farmland and today 1t
lis one Of the most .iourishing towns of
that part Of Mississippi. Mrs Francis,
! Who las ha@:. visiting here ,hc last few
days. was one of the promoters Of the
| plan 10 establish the coiopv Of Mound
| Bayou She owns the greater part of
! the townsiie and besides isthe ~ pre-
| tor of $40 acres OF rich land adjoining
| the city She LIKES in the town. where,
| With her husband. she owns and oioer-
! ates a large general store. the largest
in the place. where all the necessarivs
Of life are sold 10 the townspea!'le. Shs
is also agent for the one railroad which
runs thru the town. Her wealth has
been variously estimated at from So
Iooo to 100000
one OF the features Of the town Of
Mound Bayou is the fact that no in
JUDGEMENTS are held out to people 70
lc9me there other than tits exclusively
2 eelDred mans town. Its growth since
it was founded has been remarkable
! and it has been even greater the last
lfew years thar at first. The little city
4 depends for its support mainl5 upon
the rich farming region which sur
4 rounds it. i3olival county in which il
/ is situated, is one Of the most fertile
il the state The staple products Of
The county are corn. cotton and lin-
her mainly cotton. The farinsIange IN
4 size from forty 10 100 acres and the cot
ION Witch Is raised is shipped from
i Bayou. There are three cotton giils in
4 The place. where Ihc cotton is baled,
ard there are also number Of saw
mills. The SAM mills are owned by
Mrs FRANCS, on whose farm there is a
large amount q timber.
This has ileen a Very prosperous
year fel us, said she yesterday. While
the cotton crop WAS not as large as last
4 year We got 3 aud cents pound
more for it. and that is a great deal.
4 We have Our own school system in
4 The city and many of the children When
4 they complete the public school course
|sga 10 the college. This year a number
sIof them Went T. the different ealored
/ colleges. among Them F'iske University,
4 Mehara and Tuskogee. There is Nc
friction whatever in politics or govern
Iinsst, ard we elect our own officers
l.eEtYy year. The present mayor of tbs
LEFTY is /. L Montgomery There arc
a three aldermen. a city attorney, treas
uroi and clsrk. The pestmistress OF
his town is a woman, Mrs NJ. H. Mont
Z atnesy. The city marshal is ". l..
its8N
All business is carried on in a Very
q sue fu ma ansr ana everybody in III.
toxin is praspesous W. havs our Soci-
cites ard eilaritabls organizations
There are three ohulehes II the CITY be.
sides otlie, organizations OF course
the citizens OF Mound BAYOU are all r.
pablicaii IN palitias bpt they have nev-
"a had d Representative In the legisla
tuYe TIE mayor, j t. Mpntgomers
Mas Al one Time a mernbfr@of the legis-
lHture, hnt that was some years ago
CT Course we want u see the toyt
grow ard prosper but no uducernent:
are offered 10 col0red people to8cenne L
a Mound Bayou others than the fact tina
Sa have 4 city that is exclusively fei
our race and they have al the adyan-
I tages that are q BE- gained By such as
Isoeiation W. are proud Of what ".
haze done, for il has demonstrated tina.
icclored people can govern themselves a:
well as they can b. governed"
. Another feature Of the city Is that Il,
liquci is sold within its limits Loca
I loptipn prevails in mississippi am
Mound Bayou has voted against allow
Ing the sale Of intoxicating liquors o
the license If gambling. The city /
4sf4t- from the evils that attend the prac
s t.ee Of such vices and the people declar
they viii keep II so.
Senator Bruce who was the only col
torea senator ever elected to congress
!, lived in Bolival county
: Mrs. Francis is u niece of Mrs
George Craig Of Grinnell and her sue
cess viii b. OF interest to the colore
people Of this state because Of the rela
tionshp to one of theis number Ed
! A Fiendisi, Attack.