Monroe County Library Tom Hambright Monroe County Historianc2001
Key West Salt Works
Key West Population 1840 Freemen 76 Slaves 97 1860 Freemen 160 Slaves 451 1870 Blacks 989 1910 Blacks 5,515
Freemen Court Cases from Bahamas1829 law to prevent Freemen from outside of Territory. Most Free Blacks came from Bahamas and St. Ausustine.
Bark William unloading Africans
Sandy Cornish 1793-1869
AME Zion Church
Colonel Montgomery arrived January 1863 recruiting for 2nd South Carolina Volunteers Black Regiment over 200 recruits joined Black Population less than 1,000
January 24, 1863. Official news of Emancipation Proclamation arrived in Key West. Parade in the morning followed by a party at the African Barracks. Sandy, the aristocratic farmer of the race, was called on and made a speech of the day. Emancipation Proclamation
Battleship Maine Plot
Henry Keene, 16 year old from USS Nita, died at the Marine Hospital June 29,1864. Charles Tillman, 30 year old from USS Augusta Dinsmore, died at Marine Hospital January 10,1864. George E. Jackson, 19 year old from USS Restless, died at the Marine Hospital July 8, 1863. Prince Carroway, 30 year old from USS Dale, died at Marine Hospital May 7, 1865. Thomas Thomas, 25 year old from USS Neptune, died at Marine Hospital March 6, 1864.
Frederick Douglass in Key West on USS Tennessee 1871
New York Age 1888 Reporter wrote Not withstanding these manifestation of prejudice Key West is the freest town in the South, not even Washington accepted.
Douglass School 1884
Douglass School
Catholic School
Nelson English
Nelson English s Father was first Black Monroe County Commissioner He served as Postmaster and Career Postal Service. One of the founders of Welters Cornet Band. Children: Music Teacher, Chief Red Caps, Ph,D, Mathematics & teacher, Teacher, M.D.
J. Willis Menard Published Key West News 1882
Elected Officials
Charles F. Dupont was born in Tampa. He was a carpenter and active in the Republican Party. Elected Sheriff in 1888 the first popular elected Black sheriff in Florida. One of the founders of the first NAACP chapters in Florida.
Benjamin Roberts Born North Florida AME Minister City and County Commission 1875-1878
Robert Gabriel born Key West. Served Florida House 1879 and City Commissioner 1876-1907.
William Middleton Artrall born Bahamas. Teacher & Principal Douglass School. City Alderman 1st Ward 1875 Inspector Custom House
James A. Roberts born in Key West. Served in Army in Civil War. Worked as cigar marker. Served as Monroe County constable 1872-1874 and Sheriff of Monroe County 1874-1877. Also served as a Key West councilman 1875-1876. Was also part of the Welters Cornet Band.
Robert Meacham held a number of offices in Jefferson County including as a member of Florida Senate. AME and later AME Zion minister at Key West.
Charles A. Shavers born Key West. Worked as cigar marker. Elected to Florida House of Representative 1887. Key West councilman 1898-1901.
Father Kerr of St. Peter s
Key West newspaper Equator-Democrat Editor Charles B. Pendleton
Judge James Dean
Calvin and Governor 2002
Captain Graham Lester
Governor Gleason and Captain Andrew Price Mail Boat
Dray Men on Simonton Street
Window St. Paul s for James Shackelford 1883-1919
Frank and Peter Welters Band & Harbor Pilots
Cigar factory in Key West
Deputy Sheriff Frank Adams was killed in the line of duty on October 7, 1901. The first Monroe County law enforcement officer killed in line of duty.
Dr. Livingston 1893
Attorney Bryant 1900
Thomas Romer 1783-1891
War of 1812 Veteran
Sylvanus Johnson arrested for rape of a White woman in June 1897
Threat to lynch Johnson led by by Charles Pendleton led to what was called in the newspapers a Race War. One man was killed by gun shot, may have been an accident.
Sheriff Frank Knight
St.Francis Xavier Catholic School
Douglass School 1956
Key West Coconuts
Kermit Shine Forbes
Alfred Skinner and Hemingway
Funeral for Alfred Skinner 1949
Theodore Fats Navarro
Dr. Frank Pinder & Governor Graham
Stephen Henderson 1926-1997 Author Professor Howard University
Yankee Kee
Lincoln Perry Stepin Fetchit
Athalie Range Miami Commissioner Sec. Dept. of Community Affairs
City Commissioner Lang Milan 1971
Theodore Sands 1914-1995
Roosevelt Sands 1901-1997
Monroe County Library Tom Hambright Monroe County Historianc2001