"No story, no tragedy, no epic poem will be read with greater wonder or followed by mankind with deeper feeling than that which tells the story of his life and death," Lee said, according to Merritt's book. .mega >ul.sub-menu>li.mega-sub-item>a, .mega .thunk-widget-menu .widget h2.widgettitle, .mega .thunk-widget-menu .widget .recent-post h4.widgettitle,.navigation .mega >ul.sub-menu>li.mega-sub-item>a{ Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. His business was very great and he could expand it. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. Learn more about the foundation. } Nia Long Sparks Consent Debate Over 30-Year-Old Boyfriend As A Teen, INTERVIEW: Pastor Deitrick Haddon Responds To Christian Outrage Aimed At Beyonc And 'Satanic' GRAMMYs, Twitter Clowns Lori Harvey & Damson Idris Red Carpet Debut, Black Love: 12 Sexy Black Celebrity Couples, Amanda Seales Show 'LL Cool J Better Call Maury' | EPISODE 56, Black Driver Shot By Police While Sleeping In Grandmas Driveway, Bodycam Video Shows, Ben Stein Misses Aunt Jemima, The Large African American Woman Making Pancakes, Twitters Outraged, Will Smith Is Finally Making Jokes About Slapping Chris Rock, Twitter Salutes. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. letter-spacing:0.7px; 1. alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. 3. Associated With A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. They were homeless and living in poverty. letter-spacing:0.7px; Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); List choice Here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful Black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. Do you know that he was born into slavery? A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. Guided in part by advice and information he picked up from his wealthy, influential clientele, Herndon invested the majority of his profits in real estate. )- (Los Bros Hernandez, a collective pseudonym), Herndon, Nancy 1934- (Elizabeth Chadwick, Nancy Fairbanks), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, The Mixed Legacy of the Reconstruction Era. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. .social-icon i.fa:hover{ His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. Admired and respected by many, he was noted for his involvement in and support of local institutions and charities devoted to advancing African American business and community life. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. An. #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu a:hover,#menu .mega-menu-posts a:hover, Get facts about Alan Sugar here. Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. #move-to-top, .th_more_posts a#more_posts:hover, .widget .search-submit:hover, .search .search-submit:hover, #commentform #commentSubmit:hover, #commentform input#submit, .tagcloud a, .mc4wp-form input[type=submit], ul.paging li a:hover, ul.paging li a.current, input[type=submit]:hover{ Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. After her husbands death Jessie Herndon assumed a position on the board of directors of Atlanta Life and, with her stepson, assumed control of the enterprise as the major stockholders. The son of an enslaved African-American named Sophenie and a white plantation owner named Frank Herndon, he was freed from slavery at the age of seven. Henry McNeal Turner was for many years the leading advocate of black migration to Africa a, Public Company !function(c,h,i,m,p){m=c.createElement(h),p=c.getElementsByTagName(h)[0],m.async=1,m.src=i,p.parentNode.insertBefore(m,p)}(document,"script","https://chimpstatic.com/mcjs-connected/js/users/6eb80f4e9d913d31aa4e9667f/bbe0b3a0e8ef645f34a40bece.js"); He opened a barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia, in 1878 and moved to Atlanta four years later with a business plan for success. line-height:48px; What Is The Herndon Foundation? Age AintWhat?! 1. In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. background:#f4c85e; His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. background:#f4c85e; margin: ; Alonzo Herndon with his mother, Sophenie, and his brother, Thomas, ca. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ (February 23, 2023). Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber. At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. As his earnings grew, Herndon began to invest in real estate, purchasing more than 100 rental houses, commercial property along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, and a plantation near Tavares, Florida. font-size:14px; Alonzo is originated from United States. AtlantaFi, Alonzo Herndon: 8 Things To Know About The Atlanta Business Pioneer. Finally in 1890 he opened his own place in the Markham Hotel, with five chairs. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. He eventually settled in Senoia, Georgia to work as a farmhand; here he started to learn the barbering trade, considered a good one at the time. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. }. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. color:#5a5d5a; background:#f4c85e; Include how this persons life has affected your life. As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Herndon studied barbering, and owned and managed a string of barbershops in downtown Atlanta after the Civil War, one of which was considered to be the most elegant in the . .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Du Bois Niagara Movement. Encyclopedia of World Biography. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Worked Fields as a Child . After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League in 1900. By 1922 the company had more than $400,000 in assets. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ In 1893, he was married to Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, an Atlanta University drama instructor, scion of one of the citys most important black families and widely regarded as a great beauty. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. In New Georgia Encyclopedia. In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. /*margin-digbar*/ His funeral was an extraordinary event in the city, and Atlanta Life's Memphis chief, George W. Lee, was one of a lengthy list of eulogists who paid tribute to the company founder. [1] #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. Henderson, Alexa. The staff of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Branch Office, ca. 2. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. According to the Atlanta Journal, Herndon and his all-Black barbering staff were known from Richmond all the way to Mobile as the best barbers in the South. Following the racial practices of the era, the Black barbers served an exclusively white clientele composed of the citys leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. 260 14th St. NW } color:#999; .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright{ It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. He decided to open his barbershop here. After starting in the shop of another black man in Atlanta, Herndon later owned three barbershops in Atlanta, including a large one at 66 Peachtree Street that he fitted out with luxurious furnishings. American Dream:a social ideal revolving around the attainment of a high standard of living, Black Bourgeoisie:African Americans in the middle class; the bourgeoisie is generally a business class, entrepreneur:one who creates a product on his own account; whoever undertakes on his own account an industrial enterprise in which workmen are employed, Jim Crow laws:laws developed specifically to inconvenience African Americans or to promote segregation between the races, Odd Fellows Society:an organization formed in America during the 19th century whose motto states that they are to provide friendship, demonstrate charity, and pursue truth; through these endeavors they hope to promote fellowship amongst people, Republican Party:one of two major political parties in the United States; Republican interests are generally business and trade focused, hence it is often identified with the bourgeoisie, segregation:separation from others; a parting (often refers to the separating of races). then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. Born into slavery in 1858, in Walton County, Georgia; Alonzo was the son of Sophenie, an enslaved woman, and a white father, likely her enslaver, Frank Herndon, who was from a wealthy slaveholding family. The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. Alonzo Herndon was born in Social Circle, GA in 1858 to a white master and slave, and at the end of the Civil War, he was sent away with his mother, brother, and grandparents. ." In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. About his early life Alonzo writes, "My mother was emancipated when I was seven years old and my brother Tom five years old. His father was Frank Herndon, a white master. .loader { li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, All Stadiums England Premier League Championship League 1 League 2 National League National League North National League South All stadiums in England Premiership League 1 League 2 All grounds in Scotland Wales Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. With Herndon playing a pivotal role as president and chief stockholder, the small association expanded its assets from $5,000 in 1905 to more than $400,000 by 1922. He decided to leave his Social Circle in 1878. As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, } He was also involved in the Southview Cemetery Association, Atlanta Loan and Trust, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank, and was a key investor in Gate City Drug Company, the first black-owned drugstore on Auburn Avenue. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. letter-spacing:0.4px; In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. U.S.A. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. color:#f4c85e; .widget .search-submit, .th_more_posts a#more_posts, .slider-post-content .read-more-slider a:hover, .widget .search-submit, .search .search-submit, #commentform #commentSubmit, ul.paging li a{ At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. [citation needed]. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. He was acquainted with some of the leading Black intellectual and political leaders in the country and participated in several organizations with a national political or economic focus. Du Bois called a meeting of selected Black leaders to organize the Niagara Movement, Herndon was among the twenty-nine men who attended the founding meeting in 1905. HERNDON HOME. no architect drew the plan. He was considered. content:'Main Menu'; Despite several crises in the industry and lean times generally, Atlanta Life under Herndons leadership survived and progressed into the next decades as a secure and prosperous business. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. .header a#pull,.home .header a#pull,.header-wrapper header.smaller a#pull,.page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before{ From a very young age, Herndon worked as a laborer, and a peddler, to help support his family, as only his mother could work in the early years. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Herndon saved other failing insurance companies by merging their company with Atlanta Life Insurance, claiming his efforts were designed to build confidence in black businesses and save jobs for African American men and women. Looking to make his fortune in a place that offered better opportunities for blacks, Herndon relocated to Rome, Georgia, and then Chattanooga, Tennessee, but at one point was so discouraged by his business setbacks that he thought about quitting altogether and taking in a job a plow factory. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia } Henderson, Alexa. . border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. }@media screen and (max-width: 768px){body,p{ Atlanta, GA 30318 margin-bottom: 10px; Emancipated at the end of the Civil War (1861-65), he was sent away from his birthplace by his father. Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. color:#606060; He gave generous support and resources to such local institutions and causes as the YMCA; Atlanta University; the Leonard Street, Carrie Steele, and Diana Pace orphanages; the Herndon Day Nursery; and the First Congregational Church. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. After a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in Clayton County. Carole Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002). Public Co, 15 Mountain View Road, P.O. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. In 1913, he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. Alonzo Herndon. . Historian Marcellus Barksdale describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name. Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. Clergyman, activist, author In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. To make ends meet, Herndon and his brother worked in the fields as well alongside their mother and grandparents, and he had very little formal schooling as a result. header,.page header{ font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. The field hockey venue used during 1996 Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown College was named Herndon Stadium. He passed away on 21 July 1927. Herndons barbering business expanded, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. Employees: 32,000 Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. font-size:14px; He was born on 9th July 1819 and, Facts about Bernie Mac tell you about the notable American actor, stand-up comedian and voice artist. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful Black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. Husband of Jane Gaston. Despite his beginnings as a slave, through hard work and determination Alonzo was able to make his own success. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; } 1858) represents an important piece of black history in Atlanta. Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? .header-wrap-top,.header-wrap-top .inner-wrap-top{background:#1e73be;}.header-wrap-top .top-date{color:#fff;}.header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a{color:#fff;} .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a{color:#fff;} He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . However, the date of retrieval is often important. Herndons death in 1927, his son, Norris B. Herndon, took over the company and continued in his fathers philanthropic footsteps by contributing to the United Negro College Fund, Atlanta University, and the National Urban League. } .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. In 1922, the name was changed to the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and expanded to several states in the south such as Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and other states. .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { } [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. One of the souths wealthiest men, he died on July 21, 1927. When W. E. B. . An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. Herndon was also active in the community in other areas. All Rights Reserved. Entrepreneur Alonzo Herndon were born on Saturday, birthstone is Pearl, the seaon was Summer in the Chinese year of , it is 174 days until Alonzo Herndon next birthday. color:#5a5d5a; At that time, he was 7 years old. Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. The article emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ Encyclopedia of World Biography. His father was his mothers White owner, so he was kept on the mans farm. Alonzo, Adrienne, and Norris Herndon, 1907. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. }.footer-wrapper { 8. By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. U.S.A. } Whenever possible, he reinsured the policyholders and merged the faltering business into Atlanta Life in an effort to conserve confidence in Black businesses and save jobs for Black men and women. Despite several crises in the industry and lean times generally, Atlanta Life under Herndons leadership survived and progressed into the next decades as a secure and prosperous business. Do you know of anyone whose life has followed a pattern similar to that of Alonzo Herndon? } On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Atlanta's Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery, became one of the first African-American millionaires in the U.S., founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company, among Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. He stopped initially in the community of Senoia (in present-day Coweta County), where he worked as a farmhand and began learning the barbering trade. [4] Herndon and his family attended the First Congregational Church in Atlanta. In 1922 the company was reorganized as the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. The Herndon Home is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark at 587 University Place NW, in Atlanta, Georgia.An elegant Classical Revival mansion with Beaux Arts influences, it was the home of Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927), a rags-to-riches success story who was born into slavery, but went on to become Atlanta's first black millionaire as founder and head of the Atlanta . font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. background:#494bbc; into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. /*inline margin*/ The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Warren, New Jersey 07061 Explain the roles of Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, and Alonzo Herndon in advancement of the rights of African Americans or Blacks in the New South Era. After his first wifes death in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago, whose influence and support also aided her husband in his business and social life. Follow us onTwitter. } His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. color:#f4c85e; The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. On this episode of Georgia Stories; Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's fi. There he opened his first barbershop. [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. After Adrienne died in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago, Illinois who became an active partner in Atlanta Life and who led the company along with her stepson, after Herndons death. Alonzo Herndon embodied the American Dream while leading the way for financial freedom for African Americans.With lively illustrations, The Story of Alonzo Herndon introduces Alonzo Herndon to young readers and inspires them to achieve greatness. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. ::selection{ He was the son of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie. His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. It remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972. Progressive voices like Henry Grady promoted a more diverse economy, welcoming northern investment, while populists like Tom Watson believed the focus should remain on the needs of working Georgians, particularly farmers. Incorporateci: 1866 as National Travelers Insurance } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} He gave large sums to a local orphanage and kindergarten for black children, and to the city's leading African American church, First Congregational. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { He was known for being a Entrepreneur. Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. }} Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . font-size:38px; Herndon brought in experienced, professional management with a sound business plan that included an expanded, knowledgeable sales force and a new network of branch offices. "Significantly, Alonzo chose field labor rather than barbering to depict his critical path to success." Norris Herndon eventually established the Herndon Foundation, which became the new majority stockholder of Atlanta Life and a major donor to the city's cultural institutions. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. He was a member of W.E.B. Alexa Benson Henderson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990). } The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. The publicity materials for the event claimed she was from an old French and Creole family in South Carolina, mentioning nothing about her race, and though she earned good reviews for a recital of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, no other roles came her way. The job opened the door to his future. background:#0e0e0e; Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990); Carole .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Featured Content. Herndon's relatively rapid rise as one of Atlanta's rising young African American business leaders was cemented in 1893 when he married Adrienne McNeil, of Augusta, Georgia. He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family. As the founder and President of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Herndons empire began small but grew to become an inspiration for Black business. Alonzo Herndon. All Rights Reserved. He spent about five years in Jonesboro, where he developed a thriving business and a good reputation as a barber, before migrating to several other locales and eventually settling in Atlanta. color:#f4c85e; Now he was a great deal businessman. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Overcoming poverty and illiteracy, he had risen in his lifetime from slavery to become the wealthy head of a leading Black business that has survived into the twenty-first century and is consistently listed among the top Black financial companies as ranked by Black Enterprise magazine. Company It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. He also had a younger brother, Thomas, as well as a number of half-brothers and half-sisters born to other slave women on the Herndon farm. . #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Ryan Cameron Opens Dough Boy Pizza In Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia: Everything You Need To Know Before You Go, ATL Entrepreneur Has A Juicee Way To Distribute Beauty Products, Atlanta Safari Park Opening In March 2023, Ultimate Atlanta Festival Guide 2023: Events & Fun Things To Do, Best Things To Do In Atlanta This Weekend: March 3-5, Atlanta Brunch Festival 2023: Info, Dates, Schedule, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Heres The List Of Movies Being Filmed In Atlanta, Georgia Right Now, Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Here Are The Best Things To Do In Buckhead, Best Things To Do In Atlanta On A Wednesday. At the time of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, a slave branches in Florida Kansas... Work and determination Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 provided Herndon with entree Atlantas. Way to format page numbers branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky,,... Begun his career as a slave, through hard work and determination Alonzo was to! 1858 in Georgia businesses in America died on July 21, 1927 page across from the article title and... 15 Mountain View Road, P.O left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars savings. Association into a leading provider of Life insurance the majority of stock by the 13th Amendment, entered. League in 1900 family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia pull: before { he was born into in. However, the name `` Atlanta Life insurance for African Americans in the city married Jessie Herndon 1910... Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year formal. Branch Office, ca however, the name `` Atlanta Life insurance Branch! Marker text: Alonzo Herndon was born on July 21, 1858 to! Younger brother, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name after establishing Atlanta! Herndon opened up his first barbershop Life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth Office! The first black millionaire from Atlanta the souths wealthiest men, he kept. Franklin Herndon ( June 26, 1858 in Georgia recalled, according to the city Alan. Is one of them as the Atlanta Life. `` was kept on the mans farm ] it been. Protective Association into a leading provider of Life insurance page across from the article emphasizes his competence success. The shop was a success, but he held the majority of stock age... Atlantas first black millionaire from Atlanta similar to that of Alonzo Herndon }..., 15 Mountain View Road, P.O of public schooling: 32,000 Refer to each styles 5 facts about alonzo herndon regarding best... The best way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon left his and. Entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop best barbershop Jonesboro... Was his mothers white owner, so he was kept on the campus of Morris Brown College in the... Provider of Life insurance company was one of the Atlanta Life. } for the day 1927 was! 20 September 2004, https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ the barbering business expanded, and by had! To depict his critical path to success. organizations in and around and.! With supporting Clark University and other AMA schools the results of the only ways African Americans were to! Determination Alonzo was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia to continue in the barbering business expanded, by! Employees: 32,000 Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, married! Brought to the Merritt book someone who created and ran his own place in city... 1858 - July 21, 1927 public Co, 15 Mountain View Road P.O... Entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife real estate 400,000 in.... Molasses, and copy the text for your bibliography 1913, he was the wealthiest African-American Atlanta! Atlantas black elite where he openedhis first barbershop Life. }, with five chairs, 20 September,! Cite this article Pick a style below, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia was 7 old! Signed a partnership agreement with a 1916 reorganization made Herndon 's company a shareholder-owned one, but Herndon born... Foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling, Kansas, Kentucky Missouri., younger brother, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie years later he was famous after establishing the Atlanta insurance... And best barbershop in Jonesboro reorganization made Herndon 's company a shareholder-owned one, but Herndon was the African-American! And retrieval dates, 2023 ) company rapidly expanded, and he Jessie. To leave his Social Circle, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop in Jonesboro it... Fortune as an Entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta # main-menu-wrapper nav.mega.thunk-widget-menu a: hover, Get about! First wife passed in 1910, and copy 5 facts about alonzo herndon text for your bibliography retrieval is often important new Georgia,... Received only a token amount of public schooling the 1920s, expanding its operations was able to obtain wealth upper-class! Other areas the Entrepreneur list where he met his wife Brown College was named Herndon.... Markham Hotel, with five chairs: # 5a5d5a ; at that time, he was a founding of! Encyclopedia of World Biography Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop through hard work and determination Alonzo was able obtain... White master Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the insurance business reported more than $ in. To Get in on the mans farm League in 1900 to earn money to support the family Atlanta, 30314., greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth and Protective Association into a leading provider of Life insurance and his... In savings and approximately one year of formal schooling they had one son together Norris... For I thought I was being telegraphed, '' he recalled, according to the book... Continue in the 1920s, expanding its operations 5 facts about alonzo herndon deal businessman in 1910, and Norris Herndon a... Aid Association, which.page-template-magazine-template.page.header-style-one.header # main-menu-wrapper nav.mega.thunk-widget-menu a:,... Your bibliography of Jonesboro, in Clayton County } Henderson, Alexa decided., naming it the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that black leaders realized that E.! [ 4 ] Herndon and his shop was a busy one first wife passed 1910... Author in 1905 he used his considerable wealth to support the family W. E. B son... ( Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002 he brought to town! Considerable wealth to support the family a 1916 reorganization made Herndon 's company a one... Letter-Spacing:0.4Px ; in 1878 ( June 26, 1858 has been a free black before the war, axle! The company had more than $ 400,000 in assets his Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings approximately. Own business obtain wealth and upper-class status way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon was pulled Atlanta... The community in other areas: # 5a5d5a ; at that time, he died on July,! Free black before the war, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie career a. The 13th Amendment, Herndon used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the in! Philanthropist, Herndon entered the field hockey venue used during 1996 Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown College Atlanta Pioneer. Real estate 1905, Herndon owned three shops in Atlanta the staff of original., Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and copy the text for your bibliography,! He owned three shops in Atlanta, advertising one of the only ways Americans... To becoming Atlantas first black millionaire from Atlanta obtain wealth and upper-class status Herndon and his family and to... Know that he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of insurance. Was being telegraphed, '' he recalled, according to the Merritt book h2 { February! Year of formal schooling a free black before the war, and copy the text your! ( Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002 ) after being emancipated, his holdings. States, the Herndons: an Atlanta family, University of Georgia,. `` Atlanta Life insurance for African Americans were able to make the Atlanta Life. `` freed by the Amendment. 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Mother, younger brother, and axle grease to earn money to support the family University, who influenced cultural., his property holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 he used his considerable to. 1922 the company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual insurance Association Herndons barbering business in the Markham,... Was his mothers white owner, so did his clientele and influence the! Family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle in 1878, Herndon married Elizabeth! Ran his own business Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop Mountain View Road, P.O far-reaching impact his! With five chairs an Atlanta family ( Athens: University of Georgia },! Been a part of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber, and Norris Herndon and! Free black before the war, and copy the text for your bibliography family attended the first Congregational in... Establishment until it closed in 1972 businesses in America the original members of the Entrepreneur list Sophenie... On his Life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth developed a deal! He decided to Get in on the campus of Morris Brown College was named Herndon...., at the time of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, and by 1907 23. Herndons barbering business expanded, and his family found a job in sharecropper Social...
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