John K. Cheyney Explained

John King Cheyney (April 1, 1858 – March 19, 1939) was a Sponge Company & Sponge Exchange founder, a local politician and a sponge industry promoter in Tarpon Springs, Florida.^{[1] [2] [3]} A memorial on Dodecanese Boulevardcommemorates his life.^[4] He is listed as a Great Floridian.

Biography

He was born in Philadelphia. He died in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Legacy

The John K. Cheney House (1890) at 30 West Tarpon was home for the Philadelphia banker who financed establishment of the sponge industry in Tarpon Springs, bringing Greeks from the Dodecanese Islands.^[5] His efforts as a land developer seeking establish Tarpon as a sponging center failed for nine years until the Spanish–American War caused boats from Key West to shelter in the area. In 1896 the first Greek, John Cocoris, arrived and he brought his brothers in 1901.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Archived copy . nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135929/http://nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/~ufruss/documents/bernard%201965%20sponge%20boats%20in%20florida.pdf . 4 March 2016 . dead.
2. Book: Burnett, Gene M.. Florida's Past: People and Events That Shaped the State. May 24, 1986. Pineapple Press Inc. 9781561641154. Google Books.
3. Web site: History of Tarpon Springs, Florida. www.fivay.org.
4. Web site: John K Cheyney - Tarpon Springs, FL - Signs of History on Waymarking.com. www.waymarking.com.
5. Web site: 2020 Walking Tour of Tarpon Springs and the Sponge Docks. floridahistory.org.