The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-08
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
BY John l.. Thompson

Macon City, the county seat Of Macon
county, is a very beautifully located lit
tie town Of about 5000 population, Of
which about 5000 are colored. This
town has good school facilities for col
ored people, far above the average city,
as they have nice large six room two
story brick building with a new man as
principal, Prof. E. Cameron, fine, mid
die age, well qualified, active teacher.
He is true race man and credit to
this community. Mr.. and Mrs. I. An
cell still live at their beautiful home.
Alex Bradley is still working at the.
Burlington depot, a splendid man, while
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Adams, who are
one of the highly esteemed citizens. He
is still working at the court house as
ianitor and his wife and married daugh-
ter run small neighboring grocery
store. Mr.. John Neff is one of the Lead
ing business men here. He Is a hUnse
mover and has all the work that he can
do. His wife is sister of Richard
Windsor of Des Moines. Mr.. and Mrs.
A. McElroy still own their beautiful
home in the edge of southeast part Of
the city. VIM. Robinson, an old sol
dier of the Civil war, who is highly re-
spected in this city, has the unique dis
tinction of living on this one corner of
4th and Rutherford 54 years, in the
house that he built nearly half cen
tury ago. Mr.. w. Brown and father
own a nice property. Mrs. B. b. Bur-
ton is doing well. Prof. Inman E. Page,
who was principal Of the Western Col
lege, resigned here this year to accept
professorship in the Roger Williams
College in Tennessee. Now word
about Western College. This is one of
the oldest and we'll known educational
institutions for colored people i'll the
middle west. Prof. Enos B. Scruggs
was principal for many years, then he
was succeeded by Prof. G.. H. Garnett,
and later he was succeeded by Prof. In
man E. Page, who resigned this sum-
mer to accept chair in the Rodger
Williams College. He was succeeded
by Prof. p. H. Thompson. B. d., ID. ID.
We had the pleasure of meeting Prot.
Thompson, also getting fine biography
of this able and experienced educator
for our readers, but through some care
lessness have mislaid that paper that
contained his history. However, IT we
find it later we will run it. This school
has an Industrial, literary theological
and musical department, with competent
instructors. 1t is under the auspices of
the great Baptist denomination of Mis-
souri, and the west and that should sup
port it, There are two churches, the
Baptist and A. M. f., enc barber shop,
no restaurant nor lunch room, one ply
sician. DR.. Smith. Rev. d. l.. Howard
still lives at his beautiful home just
across from the Western College. His
wife and married daughter run gro
Gerry and confectionery store, doing
we'll. Rev. J. w. l.. Underwood is pas
tor of the Baptist church Rev. A. l..
Bird lives here. Mrs. Nora Houston is
doing well.
Our next stop was in Kirksville.
This town is city of about 5000 peo-
pie. but the colored population is fast
decreasing. Many good families are
moving to Iowa and other northern
states because Of better school facili-
ties. Rev. C. johnson is the teacher
here He is fine young man and has
recently won fame as poet. The Corn
hill Company Of Boston, Mass, have
lust published book of poems entitled
Songs Of Ny People, - which has al
ready large advance sale in Kinks
Vile among both colored and white.
. Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. Harrison are still
here doing well. Mr.. and Mrs. M. Hook
aday are living in their valuable home.
/, Mrs. S. Z. Lynn is doing we'll. Mr..
Henry Appleton and J. G. Proctor are
/ young progressive men, both doing
we'll. Each owns their property. Rev
| J. NJ. Zachary is living here. He has
charge Of tho church here. He is q
student at Western College. Miss B. N
1 Hendersos seilf 1ivet hese
4 !, sHcsyinR Missouri ~ arrived u Cen