Abraham lincoln lewis biography

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.^[1][2] 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.^[1][3][4] 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