The Colorado statesman., 1907-10-12
REV. j. w. SANDERS
First Missionary Visit to Alamosa and
Wslsenburg, Colorado.


Colorado conference was reviewed
at the Annual conference which
ended in Denver Sept. 22nd 'O7
and my work seemed to be satisfac-
tory to the Bishop and brethren;
for after strong endorsement by
vote of conference the Bishop re-
appointed me to same position as
last year. 1 had determined to
visit the above points, SO on the
28th Of Sept. | arrived in Alamosa.
1t is a prosperous bustling town in
the center of the coming San Luis
valley. A number of good citi-
zens of our race have started in to
build their fortunes with the
growth of the city. I might men,
ton Mrs. Luvinia Smith, she is
the oldest cstizen there; as wild
ow she reared an intelligent family.
Mrs. Jas. Clay of Boulder being
one daughter and the other lives
in Chicago. Her husband having
been an old soldier the Govern
ment sees after her every three
months, she has a. comfortable
home and other interests there.
But perhaps the most striking evi-
dence of thrift which has brought
success in the short space of three
years is Mack Wright, he started
just as our ordinary young men
must start, without home. Now
he has four acre tract all fenced
about three. quarters of a mile
from town, a comfortable house,
and hogs, COWS, chicken, ducks,
turkeys, rabbits, pigeons and horse
and wagon and all good stock. and
the beauty is its all paid for. I
think many of our young married
men would do well to go and do
likewise. We have in this town
also widow who does not look
old, she is well spoken of by both
white and colored, Mrs. Maggie
Perkins. She reared two sons Clar-
ence and Tom with such correct
ness and care that they are called
"Model boys" far and wide. Now
they earn good wages, have bought
nice brick house and take care of
their mother who is housekeeper
for them. Messrs William Strib-
ling of Pueblo, Andrew Riley of
Denver and Frank Curtis of Colo
RADIO Springs and their wives are
making good, in fact all of our
people I had the pleasure of
meeting are credit to us.
SO much SO the mayor, Hon. Hen
ry Mullen is calling for three more
good colored men. He will employ
them at fair wages and will help
them as he does those already in
his employe. One excellent trait
in all our people here they are
ready to take hold and help get
church where our people can meet.
They are united on that PROPOSE
ton and the leading real estate
man, F. W. Swanson will endeavor
to secure us church lot. We or
ganized with 10 persons and they
now start out for business. I
preached two sermons for them.
wALsENBERG.
On Saturday October 5, came
to Walsenburg, ard found here a
prosperous set of people who never
tires sounding the praises of the
town. Some of these l pastored
in Pueblo 7 years ago. Sister
Ware is still holding on to the
church, as is also her two daugh-
ters, Mrs. Willis and Mrs. Gooden
1 met also, Brothers York and
Dance and all are eager to have an
African Methodist church. We
organized with ten persons in
church after preaching Sunday
and Monday nights. Our people
here seem to be busy at work and
prosperous. 1 met here the most
striking example of persistence in
business and success therein that
[ have seen in Colorado. Mr.. A.
j. Steele, liveryman and about
the leading one of four others,
came to the town "a years ago
from Tennessee. He is by all odds
the most prosperous colored man
in Southern Colorado. Owns 1000
acres of coal and farm lands, town
propartv borces COWS atc He is