The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-19
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
John T.. Thompson.

In Cedar Rapids, the Parlor City, we
found about 1000. colored people of
which number 90 have been called in
the last draft to be sent to Camp Dodge
on the 10th. The reason why they are
sending so many is that there were more
drawn in the first draft from this city
because Lynn County had already ex-
ceeded her quota Within the last few
years more than 500 colored people have
come into this city. Many are work
ing in the large oat meal factories, pack
ing house and other large enterprises
in this city. Cedar Rapids is beauti-
full city Of about fifty thousand popu-
lation. There are two colored churches,
the A. M. E. and Baptist. The former
pastored by an old friend, Rev. j. p.
Sims, the latter by Rev. ,Crushon, and
they both have good attendance and
their churches are keeping abreast with
the changed conditions Of our country.
In fact, the people Of Cedar Rapids are
keenly alive to the great war and are
doing their part to help carry On the
same. The secret societies here are
flourishing. The Masons own their
ground and contemplate erecting a
Temple: The *. Of P's. are doing well.
Mr.. w. H. Milligan still lives on his
truck garden about mile from the city.
His fruit has been particularly good and
plentiful this year. His bees are doing
well, also his chickens. Rev. A. Ford
still lives here and is doing nicely Mr.
and Mrs. j. w. Harrison are at the same
place. Mrs. Harrison is still our agent
They entertained Ye Editor at dinner
while there. Mr.. French Perkins il
still here. T. X. Lowery is doing we'll
His brother, l.. D. Lowery, is still in
the U. s. mail service as carrier. Mr.
A. w, Jones, 73O sth St. W., is in the
grocery business and doing nicely. Mr.
Rush is still working in the factory Mr.
Harry Fields is working in one of the
factories. One Of his daughters, Mis-,
Murle, taught last year in Piney Wood,
| school, Of which Prof. Laurence G
Jones is principal. She will return t,
take up the same work this fall. Mr.
Fields only son is in the draft and il
station at Camp Dodge. Mr.. and Mrs
Fred III. Gresham still live here and h,
is still on the road. They own lovely
home. Marshall Perkins, one Of tn,
Pioneer Restaurant men and one of tn,
| most successful negroes, who has beer
in the business here for many years
sold out. He has bought himself Al
auto. Mr.. Thomas jackson is still il
the barber business. Mr.. w. III. Lavell,
has moved to $50 A Ave. w. Mr.. Johl
Blakley, formerly Of Buxton, who ha,
been i'll for some time, is improving
i D,,kI. ~ 80 A~
recently been married to Mr.. Williams
DR.. w. n. Besheres, the dentist, ha!
taken unto himself wife, who wa
formerly Miss Helen Dameron Of De
Moines. They are doing nicely. Mr..
A, Baker and son have opened up ,
new barber shop, pool room and res
taurant at 216 8. 1st st. E. He for
| merly lived in Des Moines and we hop,
for him success. Mr.. o. j. Smith run,
! a rooming house and is doing well. Mr.
Chas. Tolbert, formerly of Des Moines
is here, also Mr.. VIM. Robinson. Boil
are doing well. Mr.. G.. w. Shipley, 81
7th Ave w. is doing nicely. B, Mel
son is still running his barber shop ant
doing well. He is race man. As W,
have regular agent in this town ",
will chronicle the news each week.
| Our next stop was in Iowa City wher'
once was located the Iowa State Capi
tol. Here is located our large Stat,
University with its many beautiful
buildings. There are about Is colores
girls and boys attending this Universit.
in the various departments. Mr.. J. w
Thompson, former graduate of thi
University, is still working at one o
the large college flats. Mrs. II.
Moore is still running her hair dressin,
parlor and is doing nicely. Mr.. an,
Mrs. Dunegan are running roomin
house. Mr. 81. H. Alberts 10 succes!
full contractor and is kept busy. He
an active race man. Mr.. lear Knigte
il doing well. - . one colore