Henry Flagler, son of a Presbyterian minister, had Memorial Presbyterian Church built in memory of his daughter Jennie Louise Flagler Benedict and her newborn daughter Margery, both of whom died in 1889. His attention was consumed by the business of his hotel chains and expanding railroad empire. (2022) "Historical Person Profile: Henry Flagler." Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The history of the Old Seven Mile Bridge is closely tied with Florida's history Henry Flagler's railroad down the east coast of Florida is what opened the state to the world. In 1904, Henry Flagler announced he would build a railroad from Miami to Key West. Luckily, the couple found the city to be even more promising than before. University Press of Florida. "Mr. Flagler, who was a true practical philanthropist, believed it to be his duty in the management of the great fortune that he made to use it for the greatest benefit to his fellow man - to help men to help themselves," the article reads. It is difficult to believe that a man who island hopped upon an iron horse died of anything but his own accord. Mary Lily died after a short illness, and, according to the Wilmington Morning Star, the news of her death produced a profound shock in the family and among many friends in the city and in other cities of the State[12]Mary Lily was buried on July 31, 1917, after a service in the residence of Mary Lilys sister Sarah. She was 34, but it wasn't only the age gap that scandalized the nation. Henry started spending a great deal more time in Florida, soon claiming the state as his permanent residence. If you ask the same question in Florida, most people will have known someone who lives on Flagler Blvd., in Flagler County, or down the road from the Flagler Museum. Racked with bronchitis and unable to do much for herself, Mary joined Henry in the Buckingham Hotel. One monumental achievement was the completion of the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway from Knight's Key to Key West, known as the "Railroad over the sea.". By 1915 trapping manatees violated Florida law, but with the blessing of federal andlocal government officials, Joe captured one more manatee for display at the Panama Exposition in San Francisco. Two years later Flagler married his second wife, Ida, and took her to visit St. Augustine. From various newspapers, 1887 - 1895. Overlooked No More: Julia Tuttle, the 'Mother of Miami' "Flagler's Magnificent Hotel Ponce de Leon," FL: The Florida Historical Quarterly, Issue 54, Volume 1. He was also a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway. [3] By the late 1870s, her family lived in Wilmington, North Carolina[4] Mary Lily attended Amy Bradleys Tileston school in Wilmington. The flooding and high winds killed more than 3,000 people in Palm Beach County. By 1896 Flagler extended the Florida East Coast Railway south to Miami, and in 1912 it reached Key West. All this is to say that the winter and spring of 1885 were life-changing for Henry Flagler and his circle. (Florida's 53rd county was eventually named for him.) Mary Lily Kenan Flagler inherited the majority of Henry Flagler's fortune but was unlucky enough to die of an apparent heart attack, only five years after Flagler's death. Henry Flagler's dream, the Over-Sea railway, came true 100 years ago He persuaded them to keep the old Indian name, "Miami." In 1905, he began constructing what would be called, "Flagler's Folly," a railroad that would . He was the baby of the household, being born several years after the youngest of his siblings. Harkness and Company. Louis Comfort Tiffany (who was about ten years into his monumental career) was hired to decorate the hotel and craft its windows. Henry Flagler | American Experience | Official Site | PBS Industry Icons: Henry Flagler - Insights Graham, Thomas. Because Henry Flagler had not yet claimed Florida as his own, Savannah, Georgia was considered to be the last bastion of civilization on the East Coast. Flagler designed a city across Lake Worth to be the commercial and residential area to support the resort. The Zorayda's poured coquina and concrete structure, Spanish architecture, and lavish interior inspired Flagler, who actually tried to buy the building, but was denied. It was here where Flagler would host his final parties and conduct his final business transactions. Although not much is known about Ida Alice Flagler, many sources claim she became fond of opulent parties and leisurely pursuits that were available to the fabulously wealthy. Pigeon Key | In 1904, Henry Flagler announced he would build | Flickr Flagler's second trip to Florida, with second wife Ida Alice Shourds, convinced him to pour his oil fortune into the state's development. Anderson owned a large tract of orange groves west of the Governor's House along King Street the main thoroughfare of St. Augustine and wanted to sell it to Flagler. When she was little, her father was a life insurance agent. The same article also claimed that Old Jumbo, one of Joes alligators, was 2,000 years old and weighed 2,000 pounds. https://staughs.com/the-mary-lily-kenan-conspiracy/. Harkness and Company's grain store to its sales staff, increasing his salary from five dollars a month to $400. This hurricane damaged almost everything in its path. The Hotel Alcazar is now the location of St. Augustine City Hall and the Lightner Museum, and the Casa Monica Hotel is still in business to this day. "She was like,'It's nothing,'" said Kenneth Hamilton, who was helping his sister clean the home on Wednesday. Engineers were aghast. In order to marry Mary Lily, Henry Morrison Flagler had to obtain a divorce from his second wife, who had become mentally ill over the course of their marriage. Here, Flagler made an acquaintance that would alter his, and Florida's, destiny. Many people were curious about Henry Flagler's decision to launch a new business venture during his twilight years. 1942 - German U-boat saboteurs land at Ponte Vedra Beach, June 18, 1983 - Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space, June 19, 1972 - Hurricane Agnes makes landfall in Panhandle, June 20, 2003 - Non-profit Wikipedia established in St. Petersburg, June 21, 1926 - Miami barbers don't want to be called 'chirotonsors', June 22, 1990 - Florida bans thong bikinis in state parks, June 23, 1938 - Marine Studios, 'world's first oceanarium,' opens, June 24, 1987 - S. Fla's most famous resident, Jackie Gleason, dies at 71, June 25, 1981 - Dolphins QB Bob Griese retires after 14 seasons, June 26, 1964 - Governor orders extra police to riot-torn St. Augustine, June 27, 1964 - State tells Daytona: Stop price-gouging your tourists, June 28, 1911 - Big Cypress Indian Reservation created by President Taft, June 29, 1931 - Monticello hits 109 degrees -- hottest-ever for Florida, June 30, 1975 - Cher marries Daytona Beach's favorite son Gregg Allman, May 1, 1562 - Jean Ribault arrives at St. Johns River, claims Florida for France, May 2, 1936 - Panama City Beach incorporated in Bay County, May 3, 1901 - Jacksonville burns to the ground, May 4, 1990 - Execution goes awry as flames, smoke shoot from head, May 5, 1961 - Alan Shepard becomes first American in space, May 6, 1965 - Rolling Stones play Clearwater, write 'Satisfaction' riff, May 7, 1940 - Voting machine shortages create long wait at polls, May 8, 1923 - Killings of work camp prisoners detailed in hearing, May 9, 1981 - Sinkhole swallows house, five Porsches in Winter Park, May 10, 1781 - Spanish Gen. Bernardo de Glvez captures Pensacola, May 11, 1996 - ValuJet Flight 592 crashes into Everglades, May 12, 1997 - Tornado hits Miami, poses for photos, videos, May 13, 1955 - Jax fans chase Elvis after show, tear off his clothes, May 14, 1973 - Skylab launches new era of space studyand toys, May 15, 1947 - Florida State College for Women goes co-ed, renamed FSU, May 16, 1929 - Lake City mob lynches grocer after wife shoots chief, May 17, 1980 - Not guilty verdict triggers three days of rioting in Miami, May 18, 1955 - Educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune dies, May 19, 2004 - Drugstore chain owner Jack Eckerd dies at 91, May 20, 1913: Henry Morrison Flagler dies in his home at Palm Beach, May 21, 1956 - Police close beach after catching black, white teens talking, May 22, 1931 - Canned rattlesnake goes on sale from Arcadia, May 23, 1898 - School for Deaf & Blind issues first diplomas, May 24, 1931 - Writer develops Planet of the Apes storyline for Miami, May 25, 1961 - JFK challenges nation to land on moon within decade, May 26, 1845 - Florida holds first statewide election, May 27, 1965 - Mysterious land deal near Orlando revealed, May 28, 1935 - Now controversial "Old Folks At Home" becomes state song, May 29, 1967 - Woman jailed after 25 kids found in station wagon, May 30, 1989: Claude Pepper dies after 60 years of public service, May 31, 1539 - DeSoto comes to Florida, changes continent forever, April 1, 1926 - Air Mail service begins in four Florida cities, April 2, 1513 - Juan Ponce de Leon lands in Florida, April 3, 2006 - Gators basketball team win first-ever national title, April 4, 1933 - NASCAR 2nd generation leader Bill France Jr. is born, April 5, 1925 - 'Great Miami Tornado' kills 5, destroys 250 homes, April 6, 1959 - Seminole Tribe votes to support building "Alligator Alley", April 7, 1890 - Author, Everglades crusader Marjorie Stoneman Douglas born, April 8, 1923 - News of "lost" Tamiami trail blazers heats up, April 9, 1921 - Whites kicked out of West Palm Beach "colored" town, April 10, 1766 - John Bartram ends journey through Carolinas, Ga., Florida, April 11, 1986 - FBI shootout in Dade prompts cops' need for more powerful guns, April 12, 1981 - Space Shuttle launched for first time, April 13, 1951 - Marion County sheriff killed by forged check suspect, April 14, 1528 - Bumbling conqueror Pnfilo de Narvez lands near Tampa, April 15, 1896 - Henry Flagler's railroad arrives in Miami for first time, April 16, 1915 and 1917 - Aviation takes two steps forward, April 17, 1961 - U.S. launches failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, April 18, 1957 - Florida to U.S.: Integration ruling unconstitutional, April 19, 1930 - First Publix store incorporated in Winter Haven, April 20, 1967 - Orange Juice becomes official state beverage, April 21, 1924 - NY's infamous 'Bobbed Haired Bandit' caught in Jax, April 22, 2000 - Elian Gonzalez seized in raid, returned to Cuba, April 23, 1982 - Keys secede from Union, create Conch Republic, April 24, 1965 - Orlando honors hometown astronaut with John Young Day, April 25, 1966 - Gov. [14][15][16] Before they married, Judge Bingham waived his rights to the Flagler fortune and most of the estate was left to Mary Lilys birth family members. His wifes doctor suggested that her health might improve if she spent the winters in milder weather. Henry Morrison Flagler (1830 - 1913) - Genealogy - Geni.com Version accessed: St. Augustine, FL: Historic Print & Map Company, 2004. Many people had good jobs and could buy what they needed, so businesses were making money. "Anything that was news to her, she kept it.". Not to mention a talented young woman named Mary Lily. Henry Flagler Page 2 - Keys History Its benefactor declined the honor. The prescribed remedy for Flagler's despondence was, fittingly, a vacation in Florida. And even Thomas Edison had his hand in this project, having been responsible for wiring the entirety of the Hotel Ponce de Leon with electricity. The grand marble building was named by the final Mrs. Flagler herself: "Whitehall." Mary's condition grew steadily worse, and she eventually died in New York at age 48, on May 18, 1881. Standard Oil, headed by partners Rockefeller and Flagler, commenced operations in January 1870 and within two years stood at the forefront of the U.S. oil industry. In 1877 Flagler, his wife, Mary Harkness, and their two children relocated to New York City. "She collected everything. Last (and perhaps most importantly), the truth is a hard thing to garner when it comes to what happened in the past even harder than it is today. Struck by the tragic loss of his eldest daughter and first granddaughter, Henry Flagler sought solace in his business projects and the council of friends like Dr. Andrew Anderson. ", Flagler quickly made his first $50,000. (To get a first-hand account of the journey from New York to St. Augustine, visit our page on Constance Fenimore Woolson's article "The Ancient City In Two Parts," which was published in Harper's New Monthly Magazine in 1874.). Later, he negotiated land deals with Julia Tuttle and Miami's other prominent landholders, the Brickells, and in 1896, his Florida East Coast Railway reached Miami. Though he didn't recognize him through his medicinal stupor, Henry Flagler's only son, Harry Harkness, was at his father's bedside alongside Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, whom Harry was actually meeting for the first time. Gainesville, FL. By the time the Florida East Coast Railway reached Key West, Flagler was 82 years old. Perhaps because of the economic success that Flagler's industries had delivered to the state or perhaps because of direct funding being delivered to individual senators, Flagler was able to convince the legislature to pass a little bill for him in April of 1901. Ida and Henry spent their honeymoon in St Augustine, and by 1885 Flagler had decided to build his first hotel, the Spanish-inspired Ponce De Len. Generally, we are not often able to share specifics about the man himself. While many tourists were satisfied with the charms of rural Florida, the appeal quickly wore off for the Flaglers, Henry specifically. He was twenty-three and she was twenty and they were married in her father's home. Flagler embarked upon a career change: railroad and hotel magnate. Scrapbooks full of newspaper clippings were enough to fill a shed in the backyard. It also shipped vegetables and fruits more quickly to northern cities, which helped the local economy. McGuire & McDonald were in charge of construction. Jan 26, 2022 In need of capital for his new venture, Rockefeller approached Henry Flagler. 1888: The Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine, 1888: The Casa Monica/ Cordova Hotel in St. Augustine, 1894: The Royal Poinciana Hotel in Palm Beach (on Lake Worth), 1897: The Royal Palm Hotel on the banks of the Miami River, 1901: The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach (on the Atlantic Coast). In 1885 he began work on the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine. By the 1920s, Florida had a population of 968,470 people. It was that shrewd attitude that caught the eye of one John D. Rockefeller. She lived the rest of her life in New York, under strict supervision by her guardians (who were chosen by Flagler, of course). Flagler would secure $100,000 from his wife's cousin provided he got 25. A major setback was experience in July 1907 when the War Department operating from instructions of the Navy at Key West shut down all dredging for the proposed 174 acre rail terminal at Key West. Sometimes the buyers did not have enough money to pay for the land, only just enough to pay the binder. Despite (or perhaps because of) the tragic death of the mother of his children, Henry Flagler poured himself into the business of Standard Oil. But Miami was not enough for the man who described himself as "contented, butnever satisfied." Standiford, Les. Mary's health had been deteriorating for years, and on doctor's orders, the Flaglers tried wintering in Jacksonville, Florida, then the only accessible city in the state. Up next . The 1920s were called the Roaring 20s. var googletag = googletag || {}; At the farm, Alligator Joe entertained the crowds with his alligator wrestling. This was the beginning of the Standard Oil company, which would catapult both men into unimaginable levels of wealth. She was 34, but it wasnt only the age gap that scandalized the nation. An intimate portrait of the woman whose groundbreaking writings revolutionized our relationship to the natural world andlaunched the modern environmental movement. Dan married Lamon's eldest daughter, Isabella, in 1849 (yes, they were first cousins). Then, just a few months before the end of the Ponce de Leon Hotel's second season, Jennie Louise Flagler Benedict died from complications of childbirth. In general, government officials (especially Andrew Anderson) permitted Flagler to widen the roads and to dredge marshes to establish neighborhoods. The Standard Guide to St. Augustine. A railroad and oil magnate who laid claim to Florida's east coast. Harry Harkness Flagler - Wikipedia When Flagler gave Rockefeller capital to back his new oil refinery, an oil giant was born. He also began a steamship business to trade with the islands of the Caribbean. But if they didnt sell the land, they didnt have enough money to keep it. [citation needed]. The family moved as was necessary for Isaac's job, having lived in Virginia and Ohio during Henry's childhood. Between the 1890s and 1920s, there were strict rules for women. Her parents had sent her away for a reset, and the 23-year-old met 61-year-old Henry Flagler. The His, Congratulations and sincere thanks to the Young Fr, Celebrating Juneteenth: Honoring Freedom and Resil, The Historical Society of Palm Beach County ends i, HSPBC Meets The Pink Retreat Young Harry was 10 years old. Henry Flagler's most monumental accomplishment was realized only a year before he died. Municipal, State, and Federal government officials questioned how many limits they should place on these "Captains of Industry." Henry Flagler didn't leave the sanitarium wanting, however, as Alice's estate (to which only her Flagler-hired guardians had direct access) was full of Standard Oil stocks. This 'FEC' project had been underway since the late 1880s, when Flagler purchased the St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad in Jacksonville. In January of 1870 at the age of 40, Flagler officially co-founded Standard Oil alongside John D. Rockefeller. . Ida Alice Shourds became Ida Alice Shourds Flagler in June of 1883 and moved into the Flagler family home the day after their wedding. Barely any of Ida Alice's personal writings have survived, so there is a major piece of the puzzle missing. She died on May 18, 1881 at age 47, leaving Henry Flagler with a young son to raise alone. By 1852, Henry had saved enough money to become the one-third-owner of the Harkness & Company alongside his half-brother Dan and Dan's uncle Lamon. So, when sources from the time period say that Ida Alice Shourds Flagler was insane, one must look closely and think critically. It was a time when a persons wealth and success were measured by what he or she owned, and the economy was prospering. "The Mary Lily Kenan Conspiracy." Plant Museum. Shortly after their marriage in 1883, the newlyweds visited St. Augustine. Returning to Florida in 1881, he became the builder . Here is a list of Flagler's hotels (that he either purchased or built) along Florida's east coast: To learn more about Henry Flagler's East Coast Railway, consult the 'Works Referenced' section at the end of this Historical Person profile. Henry Morrison Flagler was born in Hopewell, New York on January 2, 1830, the son of a struggling Presbyterian minister. According to the article, who was Old Jumbo. Nothing major just language that "[made] incurable insanity a ground for divorce.". He extended his Railway to St. Augustine and then lengthened the track, first to current-day Daytona Beach, then to Fort Pierce, and finally to Palm Beach. Flagler was again charmed by the weather but frustrated by the inadequate hotel and transportation facilities. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 2, 1870, to Henry Morrison Flagler, a founder of Standard Oil and Mary Harkness Flagler. [5] Mary Lily was well-educated for a woman in the late 19th century: she both attended school in Wilmington, and attended Peace College in Raleigh. Mail:P.O. Henry had his sister, Carrie, move in and help with the care of Harry. The rest of the money was to be paid in thirty days. Mary Flagler died in 1881, and within two years Henry married her carer, 34-year-old Ida Alice. Last Train to Paradise. He was born in New York City in 1830. There was even a male beach patrol to make sure the rules were followed. Tail tucked in shame, the destitute Flagler family moved back to Ohio in January of 1866. While Mary Lily Kenan attended Peace College at a time when women were not admitted to the University of North Carolina, one of her greatest legacies is the Kenan Professorship Fund, considered to be a milestone endowment in the university's history,[22] consisting of $75,000 per annum in memory of her father and two uncles, who were university alumni. The Story of Henry Flagler, One of Florida's Most Influential Figures In 1913, Henry Flagler passed away after breaking his hip falling down a staircase at Whitehall. Craze became frenzy when Mary Lily Kenan and Henry Flagler married on August 24th, 1901. . Rumors of drug use, alcoholism, and murder have swirled around the life of Mary Lily Kenan Flagler Bingham ever since. The smart set, once again, felt comfortable calling an old man's dream "Flagler's Folly.'' . Which of the following is an activity mentioned in the article? While in this state he met his good pastor, to whom, being soundly upbraided for his condition, he replied, 'I've been giving all my days to the Lord hitherto, and now I'm taking one for myself. On September 16, 1928, a great storm struck Palm Beach County, equal to a Category 4 hurricane. She left the millions she inherited to members of her family and to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Henry Flagler - Biography - SwiftPapers Those who failed to fulfill these expectations were often punished for it. Harkness employee when he gave up grain for oil. St. Augustine, FL: Saint Augustine Historical Society, 1978. Early Life Henry Morrison Flagler was born in Hopewell, New York on January 2nd, 1830 to Isaac Flagler and Elizabeth Caldwell Harkness Flagler. The local newspaper reported available activities daily. Accessed at North Carolina Room, New Hanover County Public Library in Kenan family file, note on top says From Oakdale Cemetery Records., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Carolina's Early Benefactors: Mary Lily Kenan Flager Bingham", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Lily_Kenan_Flagler_Bingham&oldid=1165747009, Burials at Oakdale Cemetery (Wilmington, North Carolina), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 17 July 2023, at 04:50.