Northside in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

1. Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum Marker

Inscription. Pioneer Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865-1947) and others founded Florida’s oldest African-American insurance company, Afro-American Life in 1901, which spread throughout the South as far as Texas. In 1926, A.L. Lewis opened Lincoln Golf and Country Club where the famous visited, such as heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (1914-1981). Later Lewis founded American Beach, which in 1935 was a recreational haven for blacks during segregation. Although most noted for the Afro, A.L. Lewis started Florida’s first black-owned and operated bottling company and assisted Booker T. Washington in establishing the national Negro Business League. Throughout his life A.L. Lewis continued to serve as a dynamic leader in countless organizations such as the 33rd Masonic Order and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was a principle financial supporter. He also provided financial support to Edward Waters College and Bethune Cookman College. Interred in this nationally historic mausoleum, which was registered in 1997, are his immediate family and first wife, Mary Sammis Lewis (1865-1923), who was the great-granddaughter of Anna and Zephaniah Kingsley of Kingsley Plantation, today a national park on Fort George Island.

Erected 2001 by A.L. Lewis Historical Society and The Florida Department of State. (Marker

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Number F-448.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the Art Deco, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 30° 22.877′ N, 81° 41.772′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in Northside. Marker is on Moncrief Road near Edgewood Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville FL 32208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Moncrief Community (approx. 1.4 miles away); Durkee Gardens (approx. 2.6 miles away); Centennial Hall Edward Waters College (approx. 2.6 miles away); J.P. Small Memorial Park (approx. 2.7 miles away); Bessie Coleman and Paxon Air Field (approx. 2.8 miles away); Durkeeville (approx. 2.8 miles away); Mid-Westside Jacksonville (approx. 2.8 miles away); Lynching in America / The Lynching of Bowman Cook and John Morine (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Regarding Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum. National Register of Historic

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

2. Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum and Marker

Places:
Lewis Mausoleum (added 1997 - - #97001225)
♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Person
♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: James, Grieg, Sheftall, Leeroy
♦ Architectural Style: Modern Movement, Art Deco
♦ Historic Person: Lewis, Abraham Lincoln
♦ Significant Year: 1947, 1939
♦ Area of Significance: Commerce, Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
♦ Period of Significance: 1925-1949
♦ Owner: Private
♦ Historic Function: Funerary
♦ Historic Sub-function: Graves/Burials
♦ Current Function: Funerary
♦ Current Sub-function: Graves/Burials

Also see . . . Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865–1947), Wikipedia entry. an American businessman. He 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 American Beach, founded as a prestigious vacation spot for blacks during the period of racial segregation. (Submitted on August 13, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. The Afro-American Life Insurance Company
was a historic business

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum Marker along Moncrief Road,looking north image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

3. Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum Marker along Moncrief Road,looking north

based in Jacksonville, Florida. It was founded in 1901 by Abraham Lincoln Lewis and his business associates. Up until the creation of this insurance company, black Americans found it difficult to purchase life insurance, which was unaffordable to most blacks at the time. The insurance company also served as a financial institution as well.
The company is responsible for the creation of American Beach in Nassau County, Florida.

— Submitted August 14, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

4. Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum

Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum Marker, looking south image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

5. Abraham Lincoln Lewis Mausoleum Marker, looking south

Abraham Lincoln Lewis image. Click for full size.

The American Beach Observer, `

6. Abraham Lincoln Lewis

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,645 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 14, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6. submitted on August 13, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.