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Matthew M. Lewey
American politician, militia officer, and judge From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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] He served in the Florida House of Representatives and on Gainesville's city council.
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Early life and education
Lewey was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 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.
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Career
In 1876, he moved to Newnansville, Florida (near Gainesville).[9] Lewey served as the postmaster and mayor (1875–1877) of Newnansville.[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 to protest segregation.[9] In 1919, Lewey was a founding member of the Associated Negro Press.[9]
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Death and legacy
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).
See also
References
External links
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