Before the founding of the city of Lake Worth, Florida, there stood in its place a brave community of everglades pioneers called Jewell. First settled in 1885 by Samuel and Fannie James, a racially mixed couple, believed to be former slaves, the Jameses had initially called the area La Paz, meaning "peace" in Spanish. Samuel's lineage was part black, part white. Fannie was black, white and American Indian. They were the social and financial hub of their mostly white community, their forgotten story here colorfully retold. ...
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Before the founding of the city of Lake Worth, Florida, there stood in its place a brave community of everglades pioneers called Jewell. First settled in 1885 by Samuel and Fannie James, a racially mixed couple, believed to be former slaves, the Jameses had initially called the area La Paz, meaning "peace" in Spanish. Samuel's lineage was part black, part white. Fannie was black, white and American Indian. They were the social and financial hub of their mostly white community, their forgotten story here colorfully retold. Meet their neighbors like the adventuresome physician Dr. Harry Stites, Justice of the Peace "Squire" John C. Hoagland, hermit Michael Merkel and other first settlers through their struggles, successes, fights, and fast friendships.
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