"Abraham Lincoln Lewis"(1865-1947)

Was an American businessman.He co-founded the Afro-American Life Insurance

Company in Jacksonville,Florida,and became the state's first African American millionaire.He also founded the National-Register-listed community of America Beach,a prestigious vacation spot for African Americans during the period of segregation.Along with seven other business associates,Abraham founded the Afro American Life Insurance Company.During this time he served as treasurer,and Abraham became the president of Afro-American Life in 1919.Eventually the company acquired Chathorn Mutual Life Insurance Company and expanded into Georgia.Abraham helped to found both the Negro Business League and the National Negro Insurance Association.He was a heavy contributor to African American Colleges Jacksonville's Edward's Waters College as well as Bethune Cookman College.Due to the Jim Crow laws of the day,African American were not allowed to enjoy many basic recreational amenities.Abraham realize the need for African Americans to have rectional activities for their families,so he founded Lincoln Golf & Country Club, which featured a clubhouse a clubhouse and facilities.In 1935,he purchase 200 acres of Nassau County beachfront land along the Atlantic Ocean.African Americans were not allowed on most beaches in Jacksnville and it was Abraham dream to create community where African Americans could visit and own reasonably-priced homes along ocean.This community which he named Americ Beaching was a thriving vacation spot throughout the 1930s,1940s,& 50s.Summers at American Beach were known being Jammed with families,church and children.The Beach included hotels,restaurants and nightclubs as well as other businesses and homes.Abraham is buried in the family crypt in a historic African American Jacksonville cementery.The grave is along the road with a plaque marker placed by the city inscribed with his biography.There is a street as well as a youth center named in his honor.He married Mary Kingsley Sammis,the great granddaughter of Zephaniah Kingsley a slaveowner and trader,and his wife former slave Anna Magigine Jai,whose homestead on Fort George is preserved as Kingsley Plantation.At three of his great-grand 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 a performer in Paris.