(1867-07-20)July 20, 1867 Elbert County, Georgia, US
Died
December 1, 1938(1938-12-01) (aged 71) Miami, Florida, US
Spouses
Jessie Byrd Sewell, Anna Lousie Deans Sewell
Children
John Jackson, Crozier Keller, Jacqueline Byrd
John W Sewell was born in 1867 in Elbert County, Georgia, and moved with his parents to Florida when he was 19 years old. Sewell, working for Henry Flagler, served as foreman and superintendent for the Florida East Coast Railway during the construction of the line from Jacksonville to Miami and later joined the hotel construction department. After helping to construct The Royal Poinciana Hotel and The Breakers Hotel at Palm Beach, Sewell moved to Miami in 1896 to work on the Royal Palm Hotel.
While working on the hotel, Sewell stumbled upon the burial grounds of the Tequesta Native-Americans. Sewell gave away some of the skulls as souvenirs, and ordered African-American laborers to move the remaining bones and bury them in a hole.[1] Sewell remained in the employ of the Florida East Coast Railway until 1899, when he left to concentrate his efforts on the mercantile establishment jointly owned with this brother. They owned at least three retail businesses at one point.[2]
He was Mayor of the City of Miami from 1903 to 1907.
After serving in local politics, Sewell began the construction of his house in 1912. Built on the highest point in the city, the house was named Halissee Hall from the Seminole word meaning "New Moon."
Sewell wrote a self-published autobiography entitled John Sewell's Memoirs and History of Miami, Florida. It included an appendix describing his witnessing the attempted assassination of president-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The book is valuable as a primary source of information on pioneer days in Miami.
His brother, E.G. Sewell was 13th, 16th and 19th Mayor of Miami.
john, sewell, miami, john, washington, sewell, july, 1867, december, 1938, businessman, third, mayor, miami, john, washington, sewell3rd, mayor, miamiin, office, 1903, 1907preceded, lummussucceeded, whartonpersonal, detailsborn, 1867, july, 1867elbert, county,. John Washington Sewell July 20 1867 December 1 1938 was a businessman and the third Mayor of Miami John Washington Sewell3rd Mayor of MiamiIn office 1903 1907Preceded byJ E LummusSucceeded byF H WhartonPersonal detailsBorn 1867 07 20 July 20 1867Elbert County Georgia USDiedDecember 1 1938 1938 12 01 aged 71 Miami Florida USSpousesJessie Byrd Sewell Anna Lousie Deans SewellChildrenJohn Jackson Crozier Keller Jacqueline Byrd John W Sewell was born in 1867 in Elbert County Georgia and moved with his parents to Florida when he was 19 years old Sewell working for Henry Flagler served as foreman and superintendent for the Florida East Coast Railway during the construction of the line from Jacksonville to Miami and later joined the hotel construction department After helping to construct The Royal Poinciana Hotel and The Breakers Hotel at Palm Beach Sewell moved to Miami in 1896 to work on the Royal Palm Hotel While working on the hotel Sewell stumbled upon the burial grounds of the Tequesta Native Americans Sewell gave away some of the skulls as souvenirs and ordered African American laborers to move the remaining bones and bury them in a hole 1 Sewell remained in the employ of the Florida East Coast Railway until 1899 when he left to concentrate his efforts on the mercantile establishment jointly owned with this brother They owned at least three retail businesses at one point 2 He was Mayor of the City of Miami from 1903 to 1907 After serving in local politics Sewell began the construction of his house in 1912 Built on the highest point in the city the house was named Halissee Hall from the Seminole word meaning New Moon Sewell wrote a self published autobiography entitled John Sewell s Memoirs and History of Miami Florida It included an appendix describing his witnessing the attempted assassination of president elect Franklin D Roosevelt in 1933 The book is valuable as a primary source of information on pioneer days in Miami His brother E G Sewell was 13th 16th and 19th Mayor of Miami John Sewell was buried in the Miami City Cemetery See also editList of mayors of Miami Government of Miami History of Miami Timeline of MiamiReferences editNotes Connolly N D B 2014 A World More Concrete Real Estate and the Remaking of Jim Crow South Florida University of Chicago pp 20 21 Sewell Brothers Open Up First Store in 1896 Miami History Retrieved March 18 2024 Bibliography University of Miami website Historic Preservation application PDF 708 KiB Sewell John John Sewell s Memoirs and History of Miami Florida Miami Franklin Press 1933 E V Blackman 1921 Miami and Dade County Florida Washington D C V Rainbolt OCLC 1580474 Daniel Decatur Moore et al eds 1922 Miami Men of the South New Orleans Southern Biographical Association External Links editFindagraveMiami HistoryPolitical offices Preceded byJ E Lemus Mayor of the City of Miami1903 1907 Succeeded byF H Wharton nbsp nbsp This article about a mayor in Florida is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This article relating to the history of the United States is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article related to Miami is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Sewell Miami amp oldid 1215540222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
