Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-06-15
Editors Observations

Editors Observations
This year as in the past several years
we have begun our regular annual visit
to many of the cities and towns of ILL
nois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska
and Iowa in the interest Of the Iowa
state Bystander, which has already
become very welcome weekly house
hvld visitor. 1t Is we'll liked, because
it is non.sectarian; through her col
umns all churches, classes. sects and
secret society are PERMITTED to voice
their cause. She appeals to the young
people for their social functions and
educational interests are chronicle
there. She appeals to the matured
and older man, because in her editorial
columns are often found simple, honest
truths that appeal to every true citi-
zen. Then the political and race
questions are so thoroughly discussed
and analized that it becomes one of
race pillars for all that IL good for his
own development. Therefore in the
observation let us remember that the
facts as observed byye editor are true.
In stating thoss facts we must be brief
and without comment, leaving our
readers to pass judgment.
The little town of Osceola, nestled
on the prairies OF south central Iowa,
the county seat of Clark county. situ-
ated he central part Of standpatism
in Iowa politics. Here lives about 40
colored people, mostly old settlers,
owning their homes. Mr.. John Bryant
a 9 ood plasterer, has several children,
three whom live in Des Moines;
Samuel. Charles and Roy, and Frank
who lives with his parents is the bus
driver and has been for twelve or fif-
teen years. Mr.. A. Lankford runs an
express wagon. MIR. Wilson is the
blacksmith and is working hard. The
most successful of the colored people
are three farmers who came from Mis-
souri, few years ago, Messrs. Wilson,
Jackson and the other gentleman's
name we cannot remember. They all
own good farms, well stocked, and
thew are hustlers There is one church
tho A. NJ. e., with Rev. Fl. Wright
pastor. .....
Our next stop was Alton, only few
families reside here. The two MIR,
RAYS have been here over 20 years.
| owning good valuable property. MIR.
II Ray has been school Janitor for the
past IS years. His daughter win soon
grad uate from the High School.
The next stop. was Creston, q town
about s 900 people; about 40 coloreo
people live here. 1t is the railroad
division of the c. B. & @. MIR. Georg.
Burnaugh is one of the snbstantia
citizens. He is Porter for the Kimbal
hotel. His wife runs first blass hail
dressing parlors and is doing gooG
business IN good location. Mr.. Chas
| Clark who owns. several houses ane
lots is running first class four chai
bar Der shop With the best equipmen
and furniture of any shop in town
with all white BARRIERS. Messrs. Il
Martin, G w Dow and Mcdonald owl
good homes, we'll filled with fruit trees
Into Clarinda, the county seat o
Page, in the extreme south county 0
Iowa, boarding on Missouri, her
dwells fully 600 colored people in tn
county, and many are doing extremel
well. AS everybody know that we ar
extreme believers in farming and
strong advocate of our people takin
to the farms, we will mention ther
first. The largest farmer is perhap
Mr.. Montgomery who lives near Coir
and the Stewards near Hollyville, an
the Cooks; all Of these having owne
their farms for many years. Thos
Jones owns u good farm three mule
from town. He is one Of the oldes
and highly esteemed by all who kno'
him. he was a. one time blacksmit
and ran q shop for many years. II
son Allen is blacksmith in Buxtol
Mr.. Jones has on his farm IS fin
thorough bred Poland China pigs, h
hogs took two first and one secon
. prize at the fair last year, and he wi
: enter many head this year. To sho'
what his Industrious helpmate, Mr.
Jones is doing, she cold this Spring Ii
goose eggs at SC apiece, 140 Pecan due
eggs at 30c per dozen, ITO guinea egt
! at csc per dozen, from to % doze
hen eggs per week. She now has
little more then 500 young CHECKER
and did not use the incubator at al
!, At one time she had AZ hens Setting
+ Mr.. Jones has 80 acres of corn 2 acr,
$ Of potatoes, and ~ acres of waite
, melons. Who can report so we'll as J
, with only one son at home to ASST
: him. Mr.. Bly, owns nice fruit farm
. has about acres in strawberries an
+, the day that we were there he ha
, ubont Is pickers, mostly white. E
delivers his own berries to the mark,
as he only lives ~ miles from tow
Mr.. BY is solving the race problem
g The Baptist church under the efticiel
4 and honest christian, Rev. s. Bates,
f doing nicely; they are making improv