Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-29
WAS A FACTOR IN POLITICS
AND FAITHFUL SERVANY
"Blly" coalson First Suggested Frank
jackson for Governo-Came to State
House Under Larrabee Administra.
ton and Served as Messenger for
Five Succeeding Governors.
IBy Ora Williams.

unusually large. He was known and
favoraoly known 10 most Of the men
of the state who have had, at some per
iod OF their lives. dealings with The
Chief executive of the state or with
ne legislature. Tha: includes large
stla-s o the men OF affairs OF The state.
Silly grew Up in and around Mount
Pleasant. making the start about 50
years asp. At thai time there was
q sood.y colony OF free negroes in
Henry county. He has relatives living
there ys-, but as = barber he came
70 Des Noines about thirty years ago.
one OF his first positions with the state
vas II the cloak room of the senate
il the times OF Governor Larrabee.
Nobody ever did tha cloakroom and
barber chair JOB better than Billy"
ana he soon put himself in position 20
become g political force
Suggested jackson For Governor.
When the republicans were casting
about for candidate for governor in
1898 Billy" was running a fine little
shop in the north Des Moines SUBURBS.
where - shaved Frank Jackson regu-
Larry Billy had q wonderful instinct
and long before anyone else had ever
thought Of i he had suggested 10 his
Customer thar ne was the man who
could make the race for governor ana
wiz. His guess was good and Tor being
q good guesser he was appointed mas
senger II the Office Of governor TIE
lille IS that of messenger" but in the
case OF Billy" Coalson. :. came 10
mean great deal more -haa that He
remained in the place with Drake.
Shaw, CuCr.ns ard Ga-st-;o all Of
these men loyal and true. always re,t-
abe and always on the JOB, a faithful
companion on their many long jour
neys most valuable keeper of the
door when many we're knocking for
entrance.
II the last legislature he again took
the place Of keeper Of the cloak room,
then in the spring went 10 The Inn,
Okoboji, where ne engaged in barber
ing while MS wife engaged IN dressing
the ladies hair His death came as a
great surprise
Did Much For His Race.
billy" Coalso1 was prominent
member of The Union Congregational
church, colored which ne helped 10
organize q few years ago. He was
president Of the company which pub
lished the Bystandar. the newspaper
devoted to the Interests OF the coIored
people. He vas always much given
10 aiding the poor Of his race and he
gave much 70 charity.
Nd 'tH hite-" man lived in Iowa than
'fBtly-" CoaIson. He was honest, truth
full. Of high integrity and clean life. He
had great self respect ard il never took
the form Of idle conceit. Il was said
Of him that "he knew his place" and
never tried TO be what he was not. The
writer came into contact with BILLY"
n tre days Of Governor Larrabee and
formed an admiration for him at that
time which was never shaken. Billy
was alike 70 all men and especially 70
the ladies. He was courteous and
obl;g.ng. He would DO anything honor
able for anyone on mere suggestion.
He vas not lazy He did not shirk
duties. He had a well trained head.
His memory vas excellent. For in
stance, nc related how on one occa-
sto- many years ago a. some public
function he took care Of the wraps Of
several hundred guests, placing the
hats and coats and umbrellas about
where he could locate them. When
they were called Tor i1e kne~ right
whe-a TO find every one, and there was
no confusion. He learned men quickly
and knew names.
Valuable to Governors.
During the ad administrations OF Shaw.
Curnr1ins and Garst, at least, Billy
Coalson was really the most valuable
attache Of the office Of chief executive.
Many an embarrassing moment was
saved the governor Many a harmless
IN.
cuirer had his wants satisfied without
hothering the governor. II seemed as
/ Billy" had an intuition as 10
visitors a man would come into the
governors office and want TO see the
governor and nobody else. Very well,
would he be seated He would wait.
Presently Billy would engage him in
conversation and find out that what
he really war ted was to gee the pardon
clerk, or som ebody else; and the mat
ter would be arranged without disturb
ing the chief. Or perhaps Billy would
discover a book agent or a church fund
solicitor or a half lunatic with a rel
atfve in trouble. He had a way OF
finding out what the visitors wanted
and seldom was deceived. Then he
also had a way OF knowing just who
the governor would like TO see and he
kept in very close touch with all the
friends Of the administration to see
that they were well cared for when
they called.
On the many journeys outside the
state taken by the governors Of Iowa,
Billy proved invaluable. He was
able TO arrange the details Of the jour
ney, to look up time tables and find out
as to hotels and accommodations. He
know all about the social side OF the
JOB and he made the most Of II for his
superiors. He took many journeys TO
Washington and seldom did the official
party ever lose anything by reason Of
the negligence Of BILLY"
Could Have Written History.
II he had been able to do so ne would
nave put INTO form his recoilections
Of public men and public events and he
could have made an interesting story,
| for he had a wonderful memory OF de-
tails. He could tell, for instance, ev-
cry detail OF what TRANSFERRED at Wash
ington when Governor Drake SS2.a hi.
| military staff attended the inaugura-
ton of the president. He told some
| interesting stories of his journey into
| the south with Governor Cummins