The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-29
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
Wealthiest Colored Man in Iowa

Wealthiest Colored Man in Iowa
This will be the last observation
that shall write this collection wear,
We first stopped at Folager, mining
camp Of few hundred people. The
colored miners are doing we'll.
We next visited Buxton, Iowa, which
is the king of mining camps in Iowa
and perhaps the country. Until re-
Gently it has been the mecca for the
colored miners. However, in the last
few years, since Mr.. Buxton has left,
several hundreds and perhaps thou
sands Of miners have left and many
of their places taken by white miners.
It seems to be the policy of the new
superintendent to supplant many of
the colored miners with white. How
ever, Buxton is not what it once was,
nor will it ever be. I think last year
in my observations I stated that one
third of the 1000 company houses
were vacant. This year fully one-half
are vacant. It tells the story in brief.
The cause l am unable to state. And
those who are here are not working
on full time. Therefore the great
mining and commercial interest of
Buxton has constantly decreased,
and added to that the many fires that
have recently occurred makes Buxton
look like deserted village. I think l
might state that Buxton has had fires
amounting to $4,000 worth of dam
age. Covering most of the colored
people who were in business and all
the residences belonging to colored,
and in nearly every case the fire was
total destruction to whatever burn
ed, for there was no water protection.
We mentioned several months ago of
the burning of Coopertown, which
was part of Buxton, where perhaps
one-haf dozen stores, business houses
and the only hotel was burned, and
but few of those houses will ever be
rebuilt. Many of these business men
have gone elsewhere. Some have
gone in business in Des Moines, Cedar
Rapids Chicago, Kansas City, Mil
waukee and Detroit, and still more
are planning to leave soon. Those
who. are still in business are ]. Lucas
& Sons, who run a large bakery; Lon
don Bros, second hand store; Mr..
Roberts, blacksmith shop. There are
three barber shops. Mr. Hobe Arm
strong still operates the meat shop.
He is reputed as being the wealthiest
man in Monroe county, either white
or colored. He owns 10000 acres OF
land and the county treasurer inform
ed ye editor that some of his land
was the highest assessable land in the
county. No other land was assessed
as high as some of his. Atty. Geo. II.
Woodson still lives here, although he
is spending a vacation in New Mexl-
co, taking much needed rest. he
owns several pieces Of property here
and lost one of his fine houses in one
of the recent fires. DR.. Carter and DR..
Robinson attend to the sick. They
are splendid doctors and are dong
we'll. DR.. Willis is the dentist and has
good trade. He has added one more
to his family and some day will be
of great help to him in his work
There are several colored miners VINO
own small farms and are doing nicely
Among them are Messrs. Bates, Chat
man, Tate, Armstrong, Reuben Cams
one of the wealthiest men OF the
camp, Harvey, H. H. Harris ana
Johnson. The schools are taught oy
mixed teachers. The colored teachers
are Mrs. W. H. London, principal;
Miss Findley of Oskaloosa, georgia
Blackburn of Des Moines, Gertrude
Lucas of Bedford, Iowa, Grace Harris
of Mt. Pleasant and Lulu Hart OF
Muscatine. Mr.. Ed Mills is the Sec
retary of the Y. M. c. A., young
man who was raised and educated IN
Buxton and has a bright future oe~
foreihim. The Y. M. C. A. is progress
ing under his management and IS as
sisted by Mr.. Potter. We wish 1cr
these young menSuccess. The band IS
moving along as we'll as could be ex.
pected under the superintendency OF
Mr.. Oliver. They have the finest co.,
ored musical organization in the state s;
and it is credit to any city: Ane
churches are doing well and the re-
ligious life is keeping pace with 1ne
progress Of the age.