Abraham Lincoln Lewis

Abraham Lincoln "A.L." Lewis (1865–1947) was an influential American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida, and became the state's first African-American millionaire. He also founded American Beach, a prestigious vacation spot for African Americans during the period of racial segregation.

Background and family history Named after President Abraham Lincoln, A.L. was born March 29, 1865 in Madison County, Florida, only months after the president issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Although he was known to be bright and a "voracious reader," Lewis, whose formerly enslaved father was a blacksmith, dropped out of school in the sixth grade in order to contribute to the family income. After the family moved to Jacksonville in 1880, Lewis began working as a water boy at a saw mill where, over time, he was promoted to foreman and became the highest paid Black person at the mill.

Lewis was a heavy contributor to black colleges such as Jacksonville's Edward Waters College, the first HBCU in Florida, and Bethune-Cookman College.

Legacy A.L. Lewis died in 1947 and was interred in the family crypt in a historic black Jacksonville cemetery. The grave is along the road with a plaque marker placed by the city inscribed with his biography. There is a street, a youth center, and the Lewis & White Business League of Jacksonville named in his honor.

A.L. Lewis Museum On September 5, 2014, American Beach on Amelia Island revealed a new sign to the newly renamed A. L. Lewis Museum (formally known as the American Beach Museum). This date was chosen specifically to honor American Beach activist MaVynee Oshun Betsch, Lewis' great-granddaughter, who died on September 5th, 2005. At the unveiling ceremony, attendees witnessed tributes from former Spelman College President Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole--one of Lewis's descendants, along with John Betsch, and Rahman Johnson, all dedicated to Lewis, Betsch and other ancestors of American Beach.

In the present day, American Beach has only retained half of its original size, due to developments leading to land loss. However, current property owners, preservationists and historians work to preserve American beach and the history behind it.

Personal life Lewis's first wife was Mary Kingsley Sammis, the great granddaughter of Zephaniah Kingsley, a slave owner and trader, and his wife and former slave Anna Magjigine Jai, whose homestead on Fort George Island is preserved as Kingsley Plantation. All three of his grandchildren are achievers: MaVynee Betsch was known for educating the public on their family history and her efforts to preserve American Beach. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole became the first woman to serve as president of two major universities, Spelman College and Bennett College. John Betsch is an internationally acclaimed jazz drummer.