The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-25
Try Walter E. Williams.l

TBy Walter e. Williams.]
One form OF production that has
been overlooked In many accounts Oh
the various Keokuk industries; an In
dustry in which the product Is more
widely known than some others that
are more generally recognized at
home, and in which the factories are
widely scattered is that OF literary
production.
Many OF the literary factories are
still standing, although the persons
who gave them that distinction are NO
longer occupants Of them.
The one which would rank flrst
| among them is perhaps the place
where Rupert Hughes thought Out
some of his best sellers. 1t Is the req
brick house at 312 North Fifth street
occupied by his father, Judge Felix j.
Hughes.
In common with most of the other
literary factories in Keokuk, 1t has
rather an impressive appearance that
comes from age The shutters on the
windows give it just the suggestion
of exclusiveness, as if to shut out the
outside world. The heavy arched
doorway made to initiate the heavily
|
castle adds to its atmospher of age
and dignity.
Where Sue cIaggett Wrote.
| At 223 Morgan street there stands
| the house where Sue Harry Claggett
wrote the novel Her Lovers" The
book was written about forty years
ago when the house was rather new
To- h. 80 hat
| it has acquired with time.
1t would be hard to find better
natural setting to stimulate literary
effort than that which surrounds the
home. Its tall shade trees that cast
their sheltering GOODNESS over the
house and yard give 1t restful and
inviting atmosphere.
The house itself is another OF those
large and comfortable red brick struc-
lures that withdraws behind closed
shutters. The well kept lawn and in
wiling GOODNESS of the wide veranda
are an open invitation to the passing
stranger to stop and loiter behind the
climbing vines or under the dark
green shrubbery.
A House Full Of Biography.
Another large red brick house at
319 Franklin street has some features
il common with other of the literary
factories that would almost reveal to
the stranger who had observed other
such houses that it has the claim to
distinction. The closely cut and well
trimmed lawn is a little out of har-
mony with the appearance Of the
house itself, for the drawn shades in
some Of the windows and the baroness
of the others, reveals the fact that it
lis tenantless just now.
But perhaps it is not entitled to dis
tinction so much for its literary out
put as for the fact that under its
roof have lived some famous person
ages during its sixty-five or more
years Of existence. First among it's
tenants was Dr. Sanford. a noted
war. Later United States Senator
James B. Howell lived there for many
years, and during the time when he
was building the water power plant
Hugh L. Cooper occupied it. 1t was
there that DR.. G. Walter Barr wrote
"Shacklett"
The Old WINS Home.
rSu ItCLuIeS VI Gdlly
Days." is the title Of book written
by Virginia Wilcox WINS. The vol
ume is book of word pictures of the
events of pioneer travel to the Paci-
fic coast.
But those pictures were set down
while Mrs WINS lived at 112 North
Second street, where she spent many
years of her life.
The house suggests somthing of the
hardships Of pioneer life by it's rather
harsh exterior. A tall, plain, three
story structure. unrelieved in its
plainness, stands close to the walk
and one can step into the front door
without going above the level of the
street. With it's slate colored brick
walls the house appears as though it
was built with an eye to utility rather
than beauty. 1t has stood for many
years, and will stand for many more
years without taking on that decrepit
appearance in many old houses. 1t is
too substantial for that.
The Center of Much History.
Perhaps the best "reminiscences OF
early Keokuk history were written by
Col. ]. M. Reid, whose pen name was
J. Monroe Reid.
By profession Col. Reid was law
yer and had his offices at "a North