Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-05-23

EDITORS OBSERVATIONS 1918.
(Ry John L. Thompson.)
Again on bicycle with pen in hand
we have started out upon our regular
annual collecting trip incidentally 70
observe the changes and improve
ments that have been made among
our race in each community, town or
city that we might visit. I some-
times think that these lessons be-
come q bore or monotonous to our
readers, yet after all and after lapse
Of a year we are glad to hear of the
progress that the race is making in
their community, which to some de-
gree is encouraging to the race and
gives hope and inspiration to us
everywhere. l shall be very brief
this year on each person or thing OBJ
served, because there are so many
towns and so many individuals that
are deserving of space that We must
necessarily condense the articles even
though we would like to do other
wise.
Oskaloosa, Iowa, the Quaker City,"
was our first stop. This town bears
an Indian name and was one Of the
oldest settlements in Iowa by band
Of Quakers from Pennsylvania. In
fact Oskaloosa is today unique in
Iowa, as it has the only Quaker COLI
lege in the state and the only Holi-
ness college in Iowa. In fact it has
three colleges with a population Of
about 10000, of which about 500 are
colored people, who have two church,
es, the A. M. E., presided over by our
friend, Rev. John H. Bell, who is
making a success, and the M. =.
church, pastored by Rev. A. A. Toll
son, a new minister recently assigned
here from central Missouri, who has
entered upon his work. Mr.. A. Hardy
is one of the oldest and substantial
men of our race. He is doing well.
A. G. Clark is still operating his ton
serial parlors. Frank Moore is as
sisting him. Mr.. Clark is our grand
custodian of the Masonic lodge. E.
E. Jones is working at the same place
Mr.. Henry Coleman is still at Bold
worth's dry goods store. He has
worked there for more than twenty
one years. H. ]. Hackady is still
running his barber shop. Mr.. Lloyd
is running the barber shop in Mr..
George Jones' old shop, doing nicely.
Rev. M. G. Newman is very busy
man at his trade, that Of carpenter.
Robt Franklin is still here. Mr..
Frank Allen is perhaps the most sue
cessful Of any Of the men here. He
is q plastering contractor and has
several men working for him. He
owns a beautiful home and is q hus-
tier, highly respected. Robt. John
son is employed by the Standard Oil
company as driver Of the oil wagon.
Robert is a fine man, a real race man.
The new subscribers from here are
Hannah Williams, L. T. Tolson, H. J..
Anderson, A. L. Cooper, Frank Allen.
Julia Taylor, Rev. A. A. Tolson, Robt.
Johnson and VIM. Crump.
Washington, iowa, being our next
stop. Here we are told that the peo-
pie are about as usual. think per-
haps a larger per cent Of our race
here own their own homes than any
other town in Iowa. Our agent, Mr..
N. L. Black, had done his duty as q
real agent. He had collected most all
the subscription dues. Rev. w. D.
Brown, pastor of the A. M. E. church,
the only colored church here, is doing
we'll. He is improving the church
both on the interior and exterior pre-
paratory to entertaining the district
Sunday school convention on the 25th
Of June. The ladies of this city have
a nice club, recently organized, and
the men Of the city have also organ
lied q club for social and commercial
advantages. Both organizations are
doing well. Mr.. Joe Daniels still
holds the city contract to do the
street sprinkling. He is the most
successful business man here Mr..
Horace Spencer is a cement contract
or in this city. He is a hustler, q
brother to our John Spencer, the con-
tractor, of Grinnell. Mr.. Geo. Black
is the oldest colored barber in Iowa.
He has been barbering in Iowa since
1852 and Ye Editor is indebted to
Mr.. Black for some manuscripts and
early history Of the irsttcolored colo
MES in Iowa, which we are compiling
to some day print history of Iowa
colored men,. Mr.. Mott, the barber,
is one of the best fixed financially
here. Mr.. Rhodes is still working at
the depot.
Iowa City was our next stop. Here
dwells but few families. Mrs. Ella
Moore and her daughter, Daisy Fan
ME, are in the hair dressing and man
touring business. They have got q
nice business. Mrs. Moore at one
time lived in Des Moines. Rev. B. F.
Hubbard, our good friend, is the pas
tor Of the only colored church here,
the A., M. E. He is doing nicely. Mr..
J. Wesley Thompson is still working
here, fully determined TO succeed
financially. He is a fine young man.
There are about sixteen colored stu
dents here attending the university.
Mr.. J. w. Morton, formerly Of Des
Moines, is here doing nicely.
" Our next stop was in Muscatine.