John Sunday Jr. grew up in Pensacola and was an apprentice to a Warrington cabinet maker, Ambrose Vaughn. He worked at the nearby Navy Yard until the Civil War's beginning, when Sunday enlisted in the Union army, serving with the troops in Louisiana where he met his future wife, Seraphin.
Sunday was elected to the state Legislature in 1873 and was the second black legislator from Escambia County. He was a city alderman for three years, during the same time that Salvador Pons (also buried at St. Michael's Cemetery), a Creole barber, was mayor.
In the late 1800s, he owned a restaurant on the corner of Garden and Palafox streets until Jim Crow laws forced black businesses to move from the main district.
The businessman's sister, Merced Ruby, founded St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
John Sunday Jr. grew up in Pensacola and was an apprentice to a Warrington cabinet maker, Ambrose Vaughn. He worked at the nearby Navy Yard until the Civil War's beginning, when Sunday enlisted in the Union army, serving with the troops in Louisiana where he met his future wife, Seraphin.
Sunday was elected to the state Legislature in 1873 and was the second black legislator from Escambia County. He was a city alderman for three years, during the same time that Salvador Pons (also buried at St. Michael's Cemetery), a Creole barber, was mayor.
In the late 1800s, he owned a restaurant on the corner of Garden and Palafox streets until Jim Crow laws forced black businesses to move from the main district.
The businessman's sister, Merced Ruby, founded St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement