Mathew McFarlan Lewey M.M. Lewey | |
---|---|
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Alachua County, Florida | |
In office 1883–1883 | |
Personal details | |
Born | December 1848 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Died | August 12, 1935 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
Resting place | Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, U.S. |
Education |
Lincoln University, Howard University School of Law |
Occupation | Newspaper editor, newspaper publisher, military personnel, postmaster, lawyer, politician, justice of the peace |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | Union Army |
Unit | 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Mathew McFarlan Lewey (December 1848 – August 12, 1935), was an American newspaper editor and publisher, postmaster, lawyer, politician, and justice of the peace in Florida. [1] He also served as an officer in the Union Army, and as a militia officer. [2] Lewey, who was from Baltimore, Maryland, was the first licensed Black male lawyer in Florida. [3] [4] [5] [6] He was a member of the National Negro Business League. He also used the name M.M. Lewey. [7]
Lewey was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 1848. [3] His parents were Eliza (née McFarlin) and John W. Lewey. [7] He had limited education up until age 15, and at age 16 he was sent to New York to live with his aunt Emeline Carter and his grandfather Rev. William McFarlin. [7] After his move he attended the African Free School No. 2 (or Mulberry Street School) on Mulberry Street in New York City. [7]
He left school early to join the Union Army. During the American Civil War he served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. [3] [8]
Lewey studied at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and at Howard University's Law School.
In 1876, he moved to Newnansville, Florida (near Gainesville). [9] Lewey served as the postmaster and mayor (1875–1877) of Newnansville, Florida. [3] [10] During that same time from 1875 to 1876, Lewey was justice of the peace for Alachua County. [3] He represented Alachua County in the Florida House of Representatives in 1883. [3] [8] He served as a Gainesville councilman from 1886 to 1890, and 1891. [3]
In c. 1885, Lewey and Josiah T. Walls published The Farmers' Journal. [11] In 1887, Lewey established the Gainesville Sentinel (one of Florida's first Black newspapers) which became the Florida Sentinel newspaper in Pensacola when he relocated there in 1894. [11] He served as its editor and publisher. [12]
In 1905, he started a Pensacola street car boycott, due to segregation. [9] In 1919, Lewey was a founding member of the Associated Negro Press. [9]
He died at age 88 on August 12, 1935, in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gainesville.
The New York Public Library has a photo of him. [13] A profile of him is included in the books The Afro-American Press and Its Editors (1891).
Mathew McFarlan Lewey M.M. Lewey | |
---|---|
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Alachua County, Florida | |
In office 1883–1883 | |
Personal details | |
Born | December 1848 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Died | August 12, 1935 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
Resting place | Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, U.S. |
Education |
Lincoln University, Howard University School of Law |
Occupation | Newspaper editor, newspaper publisher, military personnel, postmaster, lawyer, politician, justice of the peace |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | Union Army |
Unit | 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Mathew McFarlan Lewey (December 1848 – August 12, 1935), was an American newspaper editor and publisher, postmaster, lawyer, politician, and justice of the peace in Florida. [1] He also served as an officer in the Union Army, and as a militia officer. [2] Lewey, who was from Baltimore, Maryland, was the first licensed Black male lawyer in Florida. [3] [4] [5] [6] He was a member of the National Negro Business League. He also used the name M.M. Lewey. [7]
Lewey was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 1848. [3] His parents were Eliza (née McFarlin) and John W. Lewey. [7] He had limited education up until age 15, and at age 16 he was sent to New York to live with his aunt Emeline Carter and his grandfather Rev. William McFarlin. [7] After his move he attended the African Free School No. 2 (or Mulberry Street School) on Mulberry Street in New York City. [7]
He left school early to join the Union Army. During the American Civil War he served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. [3] [8]
Lewey studied at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and at Howard University's Law School.
In 1876, he moved to Newnansville, Florida (near Gainesville). [9] Lewey served as the postmaster and mayor (1875–1877) of Newnansville, Florida. [3] [10] During that same time from 1875 to 1876, Lewey was justice of the peace for Alachua County. [3] He represented Alachua County in the Florida House of Representatives in 1883. [3] [8] He served as a Gainesville councilman from 1886 to 1890, and 1891. [3]
In c. 1885, Lewey and Josiah T. Walls published The Farmers' Journal. [11] In 1887, Lewey established the Gainesville Sentinel (one of Florida's first Black newspapers) which became the Florida Sentinel newspaper in Pensacola when he relocated there in 1894. [11] He served as its editor and publisher. [12]
In 1905, he started a Pensacola street car boycott, due to segregation. [9] In 1919, Lewey was a founding member of the Associated Negro Press. [9]
He died at age 88 on August 12, 1935, in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gainesville.
The New York Public Library has a photo of him. [13] A profile of him is included in the books The Afro-American Press and Its Editors (1891).