Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-09-27
EDITOR s OBSERVATIONS.

not a native of the state, yet there
are many tender and lasting memories
that unite me with the real Missouri
ian. First, my dear mother was born
and raised there. Second, my amiable
and better half was raised there.
Third, my father spent his first thirty
years of life there. Then again my
first public speech was delivered in
that state when was II years old and
my first school was taught in Holt
county, hence, dear readers, you can
readily see the unity and love cling
ing to The good people of Missouri,
Missouri with some disadvantage To
the colored man, yet she has SOME
great advantages to the industrious
and frugal young man and girl. Mis-
souri, employs several colored public
school teachers. She has three col.
ored colleges employing fifty or more
instructors. She has ten high schools
employing some eighty instructors.
She has more colored farmers owning
and operating farms than any state
in the union north of Mason and Dix
on's line. She has more wealth per
capita than any other state in tie
union among the colored people Mis-,
souri, is the greatest fruit growlns
state and one of the greatest agricul-
tural states in the union. accordin :
to our last census. Then why not be
proud of your state. 1t is great
state diversified with all the minerals
known to man It is vot undeveluped.
While many of my people are au
well, yet if they would use the econ
omy and same energy that the loWal
does they would do far more and re-
suits in year or so would be telling.
They are losing many opportunitit 5
to so into business and conduct it on
business basis. Over the Wabash
railroad to Kirksville we made onr
first stop. 1t being midnight, we soon
found shelter and comfort in the
pleasant home of Mr.. and Mrs. l.. A.
Eubanks. Mr.. Eubanks is barber.
They own nice home Mrs. Lizzie
Coursey owns very nice home. She
is doing well. Prof. Flater, the teach
er in the schools, has moved out from
his beautiful residence to the outer
edge of the city limits, where he has
purchased him a ten acre tract OF
land, and is improving it. He still has
charge of the public school, having
been there for more than fifteen years
He says he enjoys reading the BY
stander. E. ]. Linn is still at the
same place. Mr.. Hockaday has a
beautiful home well kept and has an
intelligent family. One Of his daugh-
ters is attending school in our city.
On to Macon Here we found about
900 colored people with two churches,
the A. M. E. and Baptist. The latter
is pastored by that able young div ne,
Rev. Ed e. Green He is well liked
and doing well. The "A. M. E. peopls.
own a very nice building. ] have
forgotten the pastors name. The pub
lie school is presided over by my old
friend, Prof. Perkins He has three
assistants. There are more wealthy
coored people here than any other
town that l was in, according to size.
Among those are Craig Griffin, who
has lived here for forty odd years.
He owns valuable property, twenty
acres, in the city limits, we'll i'm
proved. Then he owns a valuable
farm. He has lots Of fruit trees, al.
though this year there is no fruit. He
is a race man. Then Mr.. Morrison,
the veteran carpenter and contractor.
who for nearly fifty years has followed
his profession with success. He owns
some very valuable pieces of city
He has a lovely home, and,
like Mr.. Griffin is race lover. J. W.
owns valuable city property.
R. l.. Howard owns the only colored
grocery store. Has been there for
several years. He is a progressive
business young man and should be
by the good citizens. Prof.
Enos Scruggs, the former president OF
the Western college, owns a very fine
home near the college. Or. ]. H. Gar
nett, the new president OF the Western
college, is one of the coming strong
educators in the middle west and his
influence will soon be felt throughout
the country. with his able and highly
cultured wife, whose influence for the
good and better things of life will be
very helpful among the college stl-
dents there. See their ad elsewhere.
We soon hope to have DR.. Garnett in
our city. G.. w. Guy, DR.. G. w. Brown
and ]. H. Bradley are doing well in
their chosen avocations. Mrs. \.
Henderson is still running a good res
taurant and ice cream Darlor. There
are many others whose names can
not remember. We were soon in Mo.
berry. where fully 1,50O colored people
live, and about 5000 white people.
This town needs more business
among our people. They need a gro
Gerry store, a drug store, a good res,
taurant or boarding house, a shoe pei
lshing stand etc. There are tour
churches, the M. E., A. M. E. and two
Raptist,, Rev. F. Bates has charge {:
the new Baptist. church that was re-
Gently built While it Is not entirely
completed. it will be a nice edtfice.
The Rev, Bates is a hustler. Young
Rev has charge of the 9th
er Baptist church, which has been
here many years. Rev. VIM. Hender:
son has charge Of the A. M E. church
He has son that is attending Wilber-
force university, who will graduate
there next year. He is a nice gentle.
man to meet. I did not meet the N
E. minister There are two school
buildings, one with three teachers and
enc with two, teachers. Prof. Vaughn
and A. B. Bolding have charge OF
these schools. The latter Is the week
ly scribe for the Bystander. He owns
valuable property and is doing well
Prof Vaughn also owns a lovely resi-
dence. r. Renfree, who used to have
the restaurant, will son take charge
Of It again. as Mrs. F. G. Chanmette
will soon quit, She has been success.
full with it. Mr.. NJ. J. Halliday and
N. Thompson are living at the same
p'aces IN Bedford etreet aud are do
Ing nicely. S. f. $Bcope is working at
!. L..;ldi.c IIa ic n in