The bystander., 1918-10-11
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.

by JOuH LIZ uOulpSOu.
Monday, Sept. 80, found me for few
hours in Osceola, Iowa, the county seal
of Clarke county. This is an old towr
containing about 80 colored people. A,
one time there were more than hun
dred, but many have left here. Mrs
John Bryant is one Of the pioneer citi
zens here. She has several sons, all
doing well in different parts of the
United States; one, Roy, in Minneapo-
lis; two, Samuel and George, in Des
Moines; one in Los Angeles, Calf, and
one, Frank, who is married and lives
here. He has been the bus and express
man for the Howe Hotel for many
years. He is a fine young man. Mrs.
Anna Williams is another pioneer, hav-
ing lived here for SO years. w. Crit
fin is also an old settler. The Draden
people are newcomers. There are three
families. They are good citizens.
Our next stop was in Creston. It too
is like Osceola, losing in colored people.
They never did have a church, as does
Osceela, now has = good A.. M. E.
church and parsonage. Mr.. Marion is
one Of the pioneer settlers here, an old
soldier Of the Civil war. He is genius
in wood and wire working. He can
make most anything. He has made a
Noah's Ark in wood and has exhibited
it and many other things in shows that
he used to travel with. Ye Editor has
bought bird house that he made out
Of one piece Of wood and it will be on
exhibition in my Office in Des Moines.
The Baldwin brothers are still farming
two miles east Of this town on their 500
acre farm. This big farm they own,
the other is rented. They are the most
up to date colored farmers that I know
of in Iowa. They ship their own hogs
and steers direct to Chicago. Mr.. Haw-
kins still runs the shoe polish stand.
We next landed in Red Oak, the coun-
ty seat of Montgomery county. We
found here about so colored people and
colored population is decreasing per-
haps. The new and more progressive
northern Iowa cities are Offering better
opportunities. Mr.. p. 8. Everhart, the
pioneer colored man who owns music
store in Iowa, is still doing good bust
ness here. Mr.. Everhart is indeed one
Of the best business men Of our race in
Iowa. He started out in life with moth.
ing as newspaper boy with d stand in
Red Oak. Later he entered the music
store for himself, where he has been
for the past IS years. He handles some
Of the standard pianos, organs, graphic
phones and high grade sheet music and
other instruments. Mr.. w. Chappell is
still here. He has just built a new
house on his lot. Thomas g. Jones is
one of the successful young business
men. He is an automobile washer and
cleaner and has a large trade. His
wash garage is on his own lot. w. A.
Baker is doing nicely. He owns his
own home Emanuel Keene is doing
well. He is still working in Tucker s
dry goods store. Mr.. II. Goodlaw is
young farmer who is succeeding well
here. He has farm Of 200 acres rented
and a large crop Of corn, about 60 acres
this year.
We next arrived in Clarinda, not in
the state asylum, but in the city. Here
we found the colored population about
at a standstill. They have about 800
colored people. Two churches, A. M.
E., presided over by Rev. Manley, and
the Baptist, pastored by our good
friend and brother from Des Moines,
Rev. J. II. Reynolds. Both Of these