The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-09
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.

On leaving the soon to be metropo-
lis of the western hemisphere, nexs
set my weary feet in the city OF
Peoria, the second largest city in 1lli-
nois. Here dwells about 5000 AFRO
Americans, mingling with the almost
100000 other peoples here, some do
ing we'll and of course some doing not
so we'll. There are two churches, the
Baptist and the A. M. E. Each has
nice valuable property and brick edi-
fees. did not get the name Of either
of their pastors, as they were new
ministers in the city Mr.. H. F. john
son is stir on the mail service as a
carrier, having been working in this
capacity for the past thirty years. He
is highly respected and master Ma
son. Capt. l. C. Harper is still run
ming his pantatorium, having moved
to new location. AS Captain Har-
per has charge of the colored COM
pany NJ, which is part of the famous
Eighth Illinois regiment, his time is
now fully devoted to the rounding up
of the company for war, and his wife
is managing the pantatorium. DR..
Cotton is still practicing here. Mr..
Warren still runs his saloon and hotel.
Mr.. James has nice restaurant. Our
good friend and former editor of the
Bystander, Chas. Ruff, formerly OF
Des Moines, is working here in a
lrage factory. He says that the coz
ored people here do not get the po-
litical recognition as in Des MONIES.
They have no colored policemen, no
colored men employed in the county
or city administration in clerical posi-
tions. Mr.. Adam Bragg is a fine ola
pioneer here, an old soldier OF the
civil war. formerly lived in Iowa. Mr..
B. Wright is doing we'll. Mrs. F. Sim
mers is still at the same place. Geo.
Fields and Henry Hayes are also do
ing we'll, as is also L. R. Wagner and
Mrs. Gasberry.
We next stopped in Quincy, ILL.,, one
of the largest cities of Illinois, locat-
ed on the Mississippi river. Here lives
about $500 colored people, mostly old
citizens, and many owning their own
homes. The Prof. Brent home is one
of the oldest and most valuable prop
critics owned by colored people. He
recently died at a ripe old age. His
Youngest daughter is teacher in the
Quincy public schools. One of his
sons-in-law is w. w. Fields, formerly
of Kekouk, Iowa, who runs the only
first class grocery store doing large
business. There are three churches.
two Baptists and the A. M. e., all
seemingly doing well. Mrs. Kittie L.
Robinson is doing we'll, as is l.. W
Robinson. Mr.. j. R. Bass and wife
are still running the tonsorial parlors
doing nicely. Mr.. Edward Duncan is
running his hotel and saloon. He
owns his hotel Mrs. F. G. Munday
M Young and Mrs. L. Williams are
all doing we'll. They are leading fam
lilies here, also j w. Tut, who ha:
recently entered the ministry. There
are steveral small restaurants operat
ed by our people. Prof. J. r. Rob
erts is principal of the colored public
school, the Attacks. He has the sam'
assistants as last year, four III mum
Der. Here they have separate puDll
schools, but mixed high school. Their
are two physicians here.
| Back to Iowa, Beautiful Iowa." W.
returned, stopping at the most south
eastern point of Iowa, Keokuk, bette
known as the Gate City, and recent!
dubbed the Dam City," by virtue O.
the famous dam across the Missis
sippi river, which was constructed b!
the U. S. under the supervision O
that great engineer, Mr.. Cooper, at
cost of several millions of dollars
! which is claimed to be one of tn
| greatest pieces of modern architecture
: ever undertaken. this ci y has pop
ulation of about 10000 people, O.
which about 1900 are colored. Thu
famous statue of old Chief Keokuk
who was the greatest chief Of hi
tribe of Indians, stands upon the high
est point overlooking the great father
of waters, which can be seen for many
miles in all directions, like the famou:
Black Hawk statue which stands il
Rock Island, ILL.,, overlooking the same
mighty deep. Thus indian loire woulc
say one facing the setting sun and the
other facing the rising sun. Here ir
this county was the beginning Of the
first colored settlement, along with
those at Muscat tine and Fayette coun'
ties. Here is where was fought out
many equal rights for the Negro
Here is where the separate school
laws, along with the black laws, were
first knocked out. Here is where the
first colored Masonic lodge was sci
up, also the first colored church, and
here more colored people have gradu'
ated from the high school than any
other one town in the past fifty years
We find four colored churches here
namely, St. Mary's Episcopal, an &C
tive little church, with an active band
of loyal followers of some of the best
and Oldest families in Keokuk, pas