Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-09-04
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
By John L. Thompson.

Our next official stop was in Fort
Madison, just outside of the peniten-
tiary. Our stop was of such short
duration that we did not have time
to 90 inside. However, we looked
over and was informed that great
number Of people were still inhabiting
this peculiar domicile, and they are
enlarging it some to hold its prospec-
tive occupants. This town has pop
ulation of about 10000, Of which
about 200 are colored. We have two
colored churches, one, the Baptist,
presided over by Rev. J. H. Bowles,
and Rev. Owens has charge of the A.
M. E. church. Both Of these minis
ters are up-to- date, wide-awake men
and are doing good work. Mr.. and
Mrs. R. Harper are still living here
and he is working at the same place.
Mrs. Harper is running first class
boarding house on Front street and IS
doing we'll. One of her daughters,
Miss Anna, is home during vacation.
She is a teacher in the public schools
at Carbondale, Ill. Another daughter
is going to take musical course ana
one is enterin gcollege and Miss Jen.
ME is the Bystasder agent and viii
chronicle the news for our paper TINS
coming year. This is very lntelli-
gent family, as they have five chli-
dren that have graduated from high
schools of Fort Madison and they are
all doing we'll. Mrs. c. w. Eubanks
Is still in the hair dressing and beauty
narlor on Front street and is consl'-
cred an artist in that work. Mrs.
Chas. Henry is doing we'll. Rev. e.
A Pavton is still here, but has re-
tired from active service as MIN
lister. Mr.. F. F. Wedley is running
new pantatorium and cleaning parlor
and is doing we'll. He is located IN
the Antlers hotel. Our new subscEo-
ers here are D. Isom, Ambsose Jack
SON. H. w. Yeiser, A. M. Bruner, +.
F. Wedley and Mrs. Alice Day.
We next stopped in Monmouth
after crossing the Father Of Waters
and found the colored people dong
as we'll as usual. The colored people
here are old settlers and most Oh
them own their own homes, many 40
ine we'll. Mr.. Richmond has a Tine
five-passenger auto. He runs gro
cerv store and also owns valuable
land in Canada and is said to be the
wealthiest colored man in warren
county, Mrs. Eliza Smith is cat.
eress and owns beautiful home, wen
fixed and we'll kept. Her husband IS
also a cook and they have purchased
a new seven-passenger car. She mas
been running first class dining nal"
at the Chautauqua and has a large
and lucrative practice and is credlt
to any race. Mrs. J. Mason IS also
one Of the older citizens here and IS
doing we'll. Samuel Cox is a con-
tractor and has been in the contract-
ing business for many years. ne
anonlovs several men and also owns
f;ve-passenger car and beautiful lprop-
artv Mr. Isaac Dover, J. 7. Wallace
orS Coo Wallace are all working at
the M same place and each doing well
Mr. Geo w. Jones is working at the
same lob, that or "House Doctor as
ha ~ +errns it and is doing we'll. DR.:
+. Il. scruggs, formerly president OF
Western college at Macon, NO. mas
charge of the Baptist church here'
which has just been built. 1t IS an
ed;f;ce which is credit to any state
~ anv race. DR.. scruggs is bright
cheerful and successful man ana mas
oet With great success since he came