Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-10-16
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
By John L. Thompson.


Arriving in Boone, Iowa, we found
the people quietly at work. The
church is moving along as usual un-
der the supervision of Rev. STAINS
berry, he being at conference. Mr..
Fred Anthony is still clerGng in
fuckers grocery store, where he has
been for nearly ten years. He is one
Of the trusted clerks there and Is
thoroughlyexperienced. He took to
himself one of our Des Moines girls
about a year ago and is doing nicely.
Mr.. G. J. Taylor is still working at
the barber shop and owns nice prop
erty. Mr.. VIM. Coleman, P. E. Stew
art, C. Milton and H. Evans are
hustling young men here and are try
ing to hold the good record of the
race up. Mr.. T. H. Harding is chef
at the hotel.
Our next stop was in Fort Dodge.
Here we found our colored people do
ing as we'll as could be expected. Mr..
Luke RagTin is still in the barber
shop. He has recently bought him a
beautiful home and is making good.
Mr.. S. Hudson is still running first
class pantatorium and has a good
business. He owns valuable property.
C. F. Rodgers is still working at the
same place, also Mr.. Chas. Lewis.
Mr.. H. Venerable is a farmer and has
been here many years. He is doing
we'll and his Industrious wife is a
good helpmate for him. She sells
vegetables in town. They have been
Oil the farm many years. Scott Davis
has opened a new shining parlor and
barber shop. Mrs. r. w. Watson is
matron at the court house, where
she has responsible position. She
is well liked here and owns valuable
property. Mrs. Lydia Cooper is run
ming a restaurant and rooming house
and is doing well. #
In Mason City we rested our weary
feet for while. This is one of the
1uost progressive towns in Iowa and
is growing faster in population and
wealth perhaps than any other town
and doubtless some of the coloreo
people are enjoying the wave Of pros
perity in this city. Mr.. John D
Reeler, formerly Of this city, is doubt
less one of the most successful col
ored tonsorial artists in Iowa. He
has a very fine, barber shop and is
doing we'll. He is a breeder of fine
chickens and owns valuable property
L. W.. Jones is another barber. He
is also hustler. A. L. Renix, form
erly of Des Moines, lives here and is
working at the Bank building. He
has recently purchased him beauti'
| full eight-room house and is doing
we'll. Rev. F. D. Woodford is pastor
of the M. E. church here, which il
the only colored church in town an6
try matrimonial life again. Mr.
one of the most beautiful churches
owned by our race in Iowa. It is
completely modern, built of bricl
and stands on a very valuable corner
The people here, are elated over Rev
Woodford'h success. He has recently
taken unto himself a wife and viii
Claude Carr, formerly Of Des MONIES
is still working at the same place
His children are in school and ont
! took first prize for punctuality ant
attendance last year. H. H. Spencer
and his brother, Horace, are here a.
cement contractors. They are boil
doing well and bid fair to become sue
cessful business men. L. W. Tyler i
still here and doing well. Mr.. A. H
williams is still driving the express
wagon and he owns valuable prop
orty. Mr.. Virgil, Warren and D. J
Howard are hustling young men an
are making good here. Mr., Waite
Davis is still. running his shining
parlor. Mr.. Henry Sims is working a
the same place and is one Of the sub
stantial men in the city. The STRAIT
tens are farmers living just outsid
Of the city. They are very success
full farmers. Rev. E. ]. Penny is lily
ing out. on the, farm with one Of tn
Stratton boys. It is claimed that tn
| colored farmers in this county AM
Fayette county own over 1000 acre
Of land and have owned it for man,
years. We secured a large humble
Of new subscribers for the Bystande
and hereafter nearly every one il
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