Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-08-21
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.

EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
Arriving in Keokuk Saturday night.
which is one of the oloest and quaint
est cities in Iowa, yet in the Gate
City dwells some of the wealthiest,
oldest and best families, both white
and black, in the Hawkeye state. 1t
Is a town of about $4,000, people of
which 1000 are colored There are
four colored churches, all apparently
are doing well. The Francis Street
Baptist is the largest and is located
down in the heart of the town. 1t
Is now pastored by the learned and
we'll experienced man, Rev. Crushorn,
1t has been involved in some financial
trouble, but now, under the reverend's s
wise counsel, may pull out. The Sew
enth street Baptist Is perhaps tle
next largest church, with Rev. Green
as it's pastor. He Is a bright man
and church is crowded each evening,
mostly youn 6 people. The A. M. e.
church is a commodious brick with
large seating capacity. Rev. T. W.
Lewis is the pastor and he is succeed
ing very nicely. His members like
him and we look for still greater
things for the A. M. E. church there.
st. Mary's, the Episcopal parish, is
pastored by Rev. Ed s. Willett, a
former will known Des Moines man,
where he was educated, and finished
by taking a course in st. Johns Col
lege, Washington, D. G.. While the
congregation is not so large as the
others it is composed of some Of the
best, most refined and most intelli-
gent of our race in the city. They are
getting along so nicely that they have,
with the assistance Of the public,
built the first Y. M. c. A. reading room
for colored people in Iowa. 1t is a two
story room, 40xS0 feet, hard wooo
finish and electric lights. On the first
floor is the reading rooms. gym
nasium, pool rooms and library, and
on the second floor is the assembly
room seated with chairs, which can
This church has an excellent choir.
Mr.. j. w. Bland still runs the black
smith shop. the best shop in the town,
and the best in Iowa owned by col.
ored people. Mr.. French Bland is
still in co.partnership with two other
white men operating the large furni-
ture and carpet store; they are doing
well Mr.. Frea d. Fields is still the
bookkeeper for the Hauskamp Shoe
Co., whose cut we run last week. He
has an elegant home just completed.
Mr.. A. A. Bland is the city bill poster
and runs lunch wagon. He was ap-
pointed by Governor Cummins as dep
uty milk inspector for that district.
When ye editor called on him he was
in his private room busily preparing
the Grand Lodge minutes for publica-
tion. Mr.. AL Fields. brother Of Fred
D., bears the distinction of owning
and conducting the only grocery store
in the city by our race. He has been
in business for three years and is do
ing we'll. His amiable wife Is mis- as
sistant clerk. They have also Just
completed nine.roOm two-story.
very beautiful house. all modern fur
nished. Mr.. Orange Fields is still
working at his trade, the carpenter.
and is doing well. Mr.. H. Woodard
is getting along nicely, also Mr.. H.
Martin. Mr.. Drains folks and at the
same place Miss Ella was just pre-
pairing to attena institute in st.
Charles, Mo-, as she is going to teach
school. Mr.. and Mrs. Holmes are do
ing nicely also. Mr.. and Mrs. Rush
and Mr.. Geo. Kellis folks are doing
well. Their daughter is visiting rela-
tives in Springfield. She will reenter
high school this fall. Mr.. w. w.
Fields is on the mail service and pro-
crossing nicely. Mr.. Wilson is sub
mail carrier. Selby Johnson has dis
posed of his feed business and is look
ing after his real estate business.
Elder Malone, the presiding elder, re-
sides here. He has a pleasant home
ana is we'll liked and highly esteemed.
His wife is great church worker Mr..
VIM. Jones still conducts a first class
tonsorial shop with good trade of
the best class of people. The new
readers of the Bystander are Rev. Ed
8. Willett. F. D. Fields, J. w. Bland.
A. M. McElroy, Mrs. Maria Jackson.
Rev. Ed Wilson. In KeOsauqua
found that quite number of the col
ored people had left Mr.. Benjamin H.
Hubbard has moved from where he
was down near town. where he has
purchased very nice home, a seven
room house with host of fruit of all
kinds. In fact he has several lots
there. He has chickens. ducks and
geese, ~ head of nice hogs. which he
hopes to get ready to sell before
Xmas. Mrs. Hubbard's mother is liv-
ing with them. She is an exceeding
ly good and refined lady. They have
many beautiful flowers. Mr.. John
Johnson still owns his truck garden
and has rented more land: He. too. is
ao,nr vol Thov have lots of fruit