- John Sewell (Miami)
Infobox Person
name=John Sewell
caption=
birth_date=July 20, 1867
birth_place=Georgia
death_date=December 1, 1938
death_place=Miami, FloridaJohn Sewell (
July 20 ,1867 in Georgia -December 1 ,1938 in Miami, Florida ) was the thirdMayor of the City of Miami .John Sewell was born in 1867 in
Elbert County , Georgia, and moved with his parents to Florida when he was 19 years old. Sewell served as foreman and superintendent for theFlorida East Coast Railway during the construction of the line from Jacksonville to Miami and later joined the hotel construction department. After helping to construct TheRoyal Poinciana Hotel and TheBreakers Hotel at Palm Beach, Sewell moved to Miami in 1896 to work on theRoyal Palm Hotel . 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. 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.” He is buried in the Miami City Cemetery.References
* [http://www6.miami.edu/campaign/facilities/priorities_med_halissee.html University of Miami website]
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.