Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-26
EDITORS OBSERVATION

From Chicago We landed in Clin-
ton, Iowa, one of the prettiest little
cities on the Father of Water, with
her broad walks and wide streets,
with her beautiful up-to-date business
and public buildings, and her we'll
kept homes, I can truly say that the
colored people are in that class while
we did not have to stay very long
nor visit many of the homes here for
our very efficient and Industrious
agent, A. A. Bush is really doing his
duty in every department Of his Of
fee and correspondent. II more OF
our agents would follow his example
colored Journals would soon thrive
Mr.. and Mrs. Bush are one of the
leading young families in this city.
He is employed by the Wapsicounes
club as the custodian Of the club, also
to keep a list and collect all the dues
He has been with this club for the
past II years. His wife Is one of
the finest caterers in the city. She
has very large trade. They have
two children, girl and boy, both
entering High school.
M. o. Culbertson is prominent
citizen here. He was recently elect
ed G. IS. Warden of Iowa Masonic
Lodge. He and his wife and family
are active in church work. His
brother, J. T. Culbertson, is also an
old and highly respected citizen. He
recently sold his grocery store that
he has successfully run for 18 years.
Mr.. VIM. Emerson is one Of the
pioneers OF the colored man here. He
is a good race man, owning very
beautiful and valuable home. ]. T.
Hancock is still running his restau-
rant and ice cream parlor, the finest
in the city-has been in business for
about Is years.
Mr.. II. G.. Williams is still work
ing as machinist in the shops. He
has been improving his home and
filling in his lot which has added
beauty to his property.
r. D. Smith is still here hustling
as usual. He is quite public race
man.
Holland Williams and Henry Hen
derson are hustling men.
Our next stop was in Davenport
AS we have already said SO many
good things about this in the past
month about the Masonic Grand ses-
sion and the S. 8. and District Nor
NAL conventions, we will not say
much in our observations. However,
we have noticed the greatest change
in this city's moral tone in it's en-
forcement of law and order. AT one
time it was called the wide open city,
now she has cleaned out her den Of
1>vice, obey the laws as do the other
cities and the colored citizens are
not bit behind her white brethren
in this respect.
The churches, Christian organiza-
tions and societies and secret orders
have all joined hand in purifying and
bettering the home life. Rev. T. B.
stovall, that hustling minister Of the
A. M. e. church, is just finishing
one of the most modern and finest
! churches Of that connection in Iowa,
and the beauty of it all Is that when
entirely completed it will be out Of
debt not more than six or eight hun
dred dollars, at the most it costing
100000. While Rev. W. w. Will
liams was the first pastor to
start the building about IA years ago,
the main work has been prosecuted
NY ncV. SLOFdll. uo ulIu SLIcct
Baptist church has new pastor, Rev.
Toomey from Ohio, very nice, pro-
gressive minister. They own a
| beautifully located church on valu-
able street and they are out Of debt.
They are planning on some improve
ments. Through the efforts Of some
of the leading citizens they have
| opened a Children's play grounds,
having leased a large tract of land
I on Ninth and Ripley streets. 1t Is
wired in and they have young man
, to teach them all the out of door
amusements. The promoters are
Mrs. C. H. Marshall, Mrs. Busey, Mrs.
D. s. Johnson, Rev. Stovall and Rev.
Toomey. Several white people are
also assisting financially. They held
their opening on the 18th of July
! when the Grand Masonic Lodge was
in session. Harrison Gould, presi-
dent of the Y. M. C. A. of Des Moines,
also s. Joe Brown and John L..
Thompson, attorneys of Des Moines,
| spoke.
Mrs. Rosa Corbin is operating one
! of the most successful home laundry
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