Abraham Lincoln Lewis facts for kids

Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865–1947) was an important American businessman. He started the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida. He became Florida's first African-American millionaire. He also created American Beach. This was a special vacation spot for Black families during a time of racial segregation.

A Leader for His Community

Abraham Lincoln Lewis was a visionary leader. He worked hard to create opportunities for African Americans. He helped build businesses and places where families could enjoy themselves. His work made a big difference in Florida and beyond.

Building a Business Empire

In 1901, Lewis and seven friends started the Afro-American Insurance Association. Their first office burned down in the Great Fire of 1901. But Lewis and his partners did not give up. They moved the business to Lewis's home. They renamed it the Afro-American Life Insurance Company.

Lewis first served as the company's treasurer. In 1919, he became its president. The company grew and even bought another insurance company. It also expanded into the state of Georgia.

Lewis helped create other important groups. These included the Negro Business League and the National Negro Insurance Association. He also gave a lot of money to Black colleges. These included Edward Waters College in Jacksonville and Bethune-Cookman College.

Creating American Beach

During Lewis's time, there were unfair laws called Jim Crow laws. These laws stopped Black people from using many public places. This included beaches and parks. A.L. Lewis saw that African American families needed places to relax and have fun.

So, he started the Lincoln Golf and Country Club. It had a clubhouse and other facilities. In 1935, Lewis bought a large piece of land. It was about 200 acres (0.8 square kilometers) of beachfront property. This land was in Nassau County, Florida, along the Atlantic Ocean.

A Special Place to Relax

Most beaches in Jacksonville did not allow Black people. Lewis dreamed of creating a community just for African Americans. They could visit and even own homes there. This community was called American Beach.

American Beach became a very popular vacation spot. It thrived throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Summers at American Beach were full of families, churches, and children. The beach had hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. It also had homes and other businesses.

His Lasting Legacy

A.L. Lewis passed away in 1947. He was buried in a historic Black cemetery in Jacksonville. There is a plaque near his grave that tells his life story. A street and a youth center are also named in his honor.

Lewis married Mary Kingsley Sammis. She was the great-granddaughter of Zephaniah Kingsley. He was a slave owner and trader. His wife was Anna Magjigine Jai, a former enslaved person. Their home, Kingsley Plantation, is now a preserved historical site.

Lewis's great-grandchildren have also achieved great things. MaVynee Betsch taught people about her family's history. She also worked to protect American Beach. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole was the first woman to be president of two major universities. These were Spelman College and Bennett College. John Betsch is a famous jazz drummer.