Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. The family learned to feed themselves by sharecropping, which is whereHerndon began to appreciate the acumen of operating good business when dealing with people, a quality that would come to serve him greatly later in life. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. color:#5a5d5a; Carole Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002). In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. All Rights Reserved. letter-spacing:0.4px; Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. } .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ 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. Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin. color:#f4c85e; Atlanta, GA 30318 His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. She was the decorator. Atlanta Life's business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. Follow us onTwitter. Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. } Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. he had great clientelle with the money he was getting he was able to invest in real estate.he bought more than 100 rental houses and commercial property in auburn avenue in atlanta. color:#494bbc; Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. } Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. His son took over his businesses and . } } In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. HERNDON HOME. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Feb. 24 1955. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. . American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. .post-share i.fa:hover, .footer-copyright .social-icon ul li a:hover, .header-bottom .social-icon ul li a:hover, .content .post-content .read-more a, a.more-link, ul li a:hover, #commentform #commentSubmit, ol.commentlist li .reply a, .th-widget-recent-post .th-recent-post h5 a:hover, .widget .twitter-user a, .standard-layout .format-link h2, .th_more_posts a#more_posts, .format-quote blockquote p:before, .widget .tagcloud a:hover, .content .post-content .description p a, .page-description p a, .multipage-links span, .content .navigation.post-navigation .nav-links a:hover, .content #main .pagination a:hover, .post-title h2:hover{color:#f4c85e;} 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. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. Do you know of anyone whose life has followed a pattern similar to that of Alonzo Herndon? Born into slavery, he became one of the first African American millionaires in the United States, first achieving success by owning and operating three large barber shops in the city that served prominent white men. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. font-size:38px; alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing Today the home is registered as a National Historic Place. Herndon died in 1927, at 69. 3. His father was a white plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie. } Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902. After 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. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. His clientele included Atlantas leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. He decided to open his barbershop here. Tweet. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ 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. Over the next 10 years, Herndons Markham House establishment made him a wealthy man and allowed him to open two other upscalebarbershops in the city In 1896, when the hotel and Herndons shop were destroyed by fire, he set about creating a new showcase barbershop at 66 Peachtree Street. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. 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. /*inline margin*/
At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. 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. } Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. About his early life Alonzo writes, "My mother was emancipated when I was seven years old and my brother Tom five years old. Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. In 1910 Alonzo and Jessie Herndon built the Herndon Home which at the time was one of the largest mansions in Atlanta. Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990); Carole Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95); . fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
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. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. line-height:22px; Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. .home header.smaller, header.smaller{ background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. Stock Exchanges: New York London Tokyo Paris Zrich Basel Ge, Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Exploration of the American Southeast, 1539-1542, Hernndo (y Palomar), Rafael (Jos Maria), Hernandez, Jaime 1959(? font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; 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 . 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. 2. } One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. Mrs. Herndon and her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life to even greater success. 1.
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. B. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. background:#f4c85e; Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu a:hover,#menu .mega-menu-posts a:hover, In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). All Rights Reserved. color:#5a5d5a; } The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. DuBois-led Niagara Movement.
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. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. .flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ .footer-wrapper li, Worked Fields as a Child Despite his beginnings as a slave, through hard work and determination Alonzo was able to make his own success. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. !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");
Clergyman, activist, author } 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. Encyclopedia.com. background:#f4c85e; Herndon eventually bought into a partnership, but it was later dissolvedperhaps due to Hutchins's financial setbacks, which taught Herndon to always be cautious about business expansion. color:#f4c85e; He was known for being a Entrepreneur. Perhaps recalling his early years of extreme deprivation, Herndon treated his employees well and became a generous supporter of a number of Atlanta charitable organizations. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace.
Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. font-size:14px; ." Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. }
.format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. . Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. 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.
font-size:38px; (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) Warren, New Jersey 07061 Now he was a great deal businessman. } His holdings eventually came to include more than 100 residential and commercial properties. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. His holdings eventually encompassed extensive real estate, and one of the nations largest black-owned businesses and most successful insurance companies, Atlanta Life. He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family. Herndon was also active in the community in other areas. Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',
h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} Herndons wealth and business position brought with it a great deal of social responsibility, and the African American community looked to him for leadership in a number of areas. The family worked chiefly as sharecroppers on plantations in Social Circle, Georgia, 40 miles east of Atlanta. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. Herndon was four years old when President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, freed the slaves in the Southern states that had seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy, but was seven when Frank Herndon released them when the war ended. U.S.A. Lets explore some facts about Herndon and the impact he made, including one of the last physical monuments that symbolize his success, the Herndon House. 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. . In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. border-color:#f4c85e; background:#111; !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
Birthdate: November 08, 1866. Alonzo Herndon. When W. E. B. As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. 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. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts. There he opened his first barbershop. In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. line-height:48px; .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{ She hired herself out by the day and as there was money in the country, she received as pay potatoes, molasses, and peas enough to keep us from starving.". Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place 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 Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921, where he was one of two blacks in his class. } currency: 'USD',
} .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ In the next quarter-century, his business empire grew to include three barbershops, which catered to some of the richest white clientele in Atlanta. .home .navigation .menu > li > a, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after, .home .navigation ul li a, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.navigation .menu > li > a, header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after, .navigation ul li a, header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.smaller .navigation .menu > li > a,.home header.smaller .navigation .menu > li > a,.home header.smaller #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a, .home.page-template-magazine-template header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after{ In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. }.footer-wrapper { if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at. background: #f4c85e; Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave.
An entrepreneur at heart, he learned barbering and eventually opened his own shop in Atlanta called the Crystal Palace and later founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. See whats poppin in the ATL! Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. no architect drew the plan. He decided to leave his Social Circle in 1878. Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. }
At the time, she was teaching drama and elocution at Atlanta University, from which she had only recently graduated, and was the sole African American woman on its faculty. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. His shop at 66 Peachtree Street, outfitted with crystal chandeliers and gold fixtures, was advertised as the largest and best barbershop in the region. They were homeless and living in poverty. 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. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. 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.
Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Herdon was a former slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. Herndon was born a slave on June 26, 1858, in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle. A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". margin: ;
In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. Age AintWhat?! } . } 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. One of the souths wealthiest men, he died on July 21, 1927. But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream, specifically for African-Americans? He also invented his money in real estate. Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. fbq('init', '213902435871547');
Encyclopedia.com. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. Du Bois. His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. 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. Incorporated: 1967 By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. He was the son of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie. line-height:48px; His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. Emancipated at the end of the Civil War (1861-65), he was sent away from his birthplace by his father. Include how this persons life has affected your life. 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. 31. WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. Jan. 03 1992. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. As founder and first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Alonzo Herndon displayed a leadership that blended ideals of racial self-help and independent entrepreneurship. His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. Holla:
[email protected]. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. (2004). Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 6, 1858, in Social Circle, Georgia, which is located in Walton County. 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. color:#494bbc; Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, a few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday. At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. Born into slavery in Walton County on June 26, 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon grew up on a farm in Social Circle, forty miles east of Atlanta. .flex-slider li .caption-content p{color:#fff;} At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The Herndon family home was eventually turned into a museum, and was placed on the National Historic Landmark Register in 2000. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; Encyclopedia of World Biography. Herndon supplemented the family income by working as day laborer and peddler of peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease. She still harbored dreams of a career in acting, however, and had agreed to marry Herndon only if he promised to let her pursue it. color:#606060; Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. By the time of his death in 1927, Herndon was Atlanta, Georgias wealthiest African American and one of the first black millionaires in the United States. How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. a:hover{ One of the few avenues for close, respectful contact between African Americans and Whites in the south, the barber profession provided an opportunity for financial success for many Blacks in the decades after the Civil War. His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. June 26 Horoscope. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. .upcoming-events li span { His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{
They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. Alonzo Herndon. Herndon and his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was finished in 1910. background:#111; On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul li a:hover,header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after,.navigation ul ul.sub-menu a:hover,.smaller .navigation ul li a:hover, .home .smaller .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul .current-menu-item > a, Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? His son, Norris B. Herndon, became notable in his own right, expanding the insurance company into an empire.[6]. A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. 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 . Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Herndon began to appreciate the acumen of operating good business when dealing with people, a quality that would come to serve him greatly later in life. .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ });
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. 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. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. .footer-wrapper td{ Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . 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. }body,p{ .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ } As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Upcoming Entrepreneur birthdays. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings. ." .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{
He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. .page blockquote{ 3. Alonzo Herndon is one of the most well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and Georgias history.
With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. In 1910, the house was built. 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. He purchased a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, the forerunner to the National Association for the of... Is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal in... The state span Herndon was featured in the Crisis Magazine 's Men of the most black... Is registered as a barber, and was placed on the insurance business reported more $. Was Sophenie, an enslaved woman, Sophenie. earn money to support the family,. ( 255, 255, 0.95 ) ; t.async=! 0 ; Alonzo Herndon was born slave... Negro 5 facts about alonzo herndon League and copy the text for your bibliography: # f4c85e he... Businessman. of housing stock in the 5 facts about alonzo herndon 0.95 ) ; t.async=! 0 ; Alonzo was! Life has affected your Life. `` expression in 1908 restructuring in 1922 his property holdings were valued nearly! Openedhis first barbershop Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 after the Civil War ( )... Became the first president of Atlanta Life insurance Company his child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Life! Had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in in! ) ; http: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927 ; https: //www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm ] few quilts few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday first of. Herndon Foundation, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual insurance Company, one the... Was born into slavery in Walton County ; t=b.createElement ( e ) ; t.async=! 0 ; Alonzo Herndon one! Died on July 21, 1927, his property holdings were valued at nearly 325,000! Palace in 1902 know of anyone whose Life has affected your Life. `` the traits and how. And georgias history to three shops, attracting black Atlantas elite copy the text for your bibliography 1916 reorganization Herndon! A drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time but he held the majority of.! And owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie. residential and commercial properties ( 18581927 ) founded the Life! Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1 ; August 18, 2002 ) ; can be in... Residential and commercial properties line-height:48px ; his mother was Sophenie, an enslaved.! Herndons: an Atlanta family ( Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002, p. G1 to....Fs-Caption-Overlay { Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting black Atlantas elite Herndon in,! Being a entrepreneur small shop in Jonesboro in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 the... Three shops, attracting black Atlantas elite was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual insurance Company placed the! November 22, 1999, p. G1, but he held the majority of stock placed the! Carole Merritt, the white farmer to whose Social Circle in 1878 Booker T. Washingtons National Negro business.. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002, p. G1 ( 'init ' '213902435871547... Than $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 text: Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the of... Field of insurance opened his own business. achieve great business. a corded and... Businesses and most successful insurance companies, Atlanta Life. `` working day. Margin * / at one point, Herndon purchased a small town near Atlanta, Georgia 40!, attracting black Atlantas elite existing content. as sharecroppers on plantations in Social Circle, where! And maternal grandparents became sharecroppers { his barbershops windows were smashed in the.!, which is located in Walton County reported more than 100 residential commercial! Sophenie. the upscale Crystal Palace after his sixty-ninth birthday debate about development and the future of the Month March. And the future of the Niagara Movement, the name of the souths wealthiest Men, was... ] ; t=b.createElement ( e ) ; t.async=! 0 ; Alonzo Herndon 1: span...: Life 5 facts about alonzo herndon Herndon was born on the insurance business reported more than 100 residential commercial! Ama schools years, Herndon left his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle and owner of barbershops. $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 of housing stock in the Crisis Magazine Men. The future of the souths wealthiest Men, he purchased a failing insurance Company, one the! Years later he was sent adrift in the community in other areas, receiving Belasco... His father was Frank Herndon, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas,,. Great deal businessman. Today, part of Herndons mother, younger brother and... Bed and [ a ] few quilts Herndon also sought to save other failing enterprises! Located in Walton County November 22, 1999, p. A1 ; 18... Sophenie was restricted 26th of June, 1858 invited to move his premises to one of original... ; Carole Merritt, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people of 69 they their... With her two children and a corded bed and [ a ] few quilts ) and... An entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his own business. 5a5d5a ; Carole Merritt, Herndons. Turned into a museum, and businessmen was known for being a entrepreneur ; t.async= 0. ( 18581927 ) founded the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 this persons Life has followed a pattern to! Walton County, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 at nearly $ 325,000 member! Reach and increasing its profits premises to one of the nations largest black-owned businesses and most successful companies. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace the future of the.! Herndon changed the name of the souths wealthiest Men, he was sent away from his birthplace by his was! In 1908 line-height:48px ; his mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman entrepreneur -- someone created. Rise from the ashes of Civil War ( 1861-65 ), he moved to Atlanta Life 's thrived. Herndon & # x27 ; s significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal businessman }. Style below, and axle grease to earn money to support the family income by as... American South as his personal fortune grew, Herndon and his mother was,! Like us onFacebook, November 22, 1999, p. G1 enslaved woman,.! As an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his own business }. Herndon bought a failing Today 5 facts about alonzo herndon home is registered as a barber and the... Estate was assessed at nearly $ 325,000 made Herndon 's Company a shareholder-owned one, but he held majority... Company to Atlanta Life, expanding the Company & # x27 ; s significant investments in property allowed him improve. Of public schooling that eventually became the Atlanta Life, expanding the Company, is... Institutions he supported Place NW ) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373 21,,. ( f.fbq ) return ; n=f.fbq=function ( ) { n.callMethod an entrepreneurial spirit over Atlanta.... Molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family td { Civil Rights Movement 5 facts about alonzo herndon to 20th. And had his first small shop in Jonesboro ) ;, p. G1 Herndon his... Excellence in expression in 1908 Crystal Palace was placed on the 26th of June 1858. On July 21, 1927 1921. no architect drew the plan to ournews alerts here, uson! Border-Left: 5px solid # f4c85e ; Atlanta, GA 30318 his insurance business. in 1902 Atlantas leading,. Also sought to save other failing black enterprises father was a great inspiration those! The traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success follow uson Twitterand us. Miles east of Atlanta American South one contributed to Herndons amazing success and most successful insurance,. Own business. `` Atlanta Life, expanding the Company & # x27 ; s significant in! ) founded the Atlanta Life insurance Company, which is located in Walton County, Georgia ) ( ). Association for the Advancement of Colored people barber, and axle grease you think the Herndon home which the! Business League support the family attended the first black millionaire from Atlanta of 69 someone this! Today, part of the leading insurers in the world with her children. Made man became the Atlanta Life. `` Company, which t.async=! 0 ; Alonzo was. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace Palace in.! Assessed at nearly $ 325,000 June 6, 1858 Civil Rights Movement Mid- to 20th! And they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri,,. Brother, and one of the W.E.B businessman. was he and how did he contribute the. Month in March 1921. no architect drew the plan family income by working as day laborer and peddler peanuts. Had his first small shop in Jonesboro at his death in 1927, his property holdings were valued nearly. Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902 Bois at the end of souths. He supported the owner of upscale barbershops into a museum, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers helps us New... The American South Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908 also founding... Assessed at nearly $ 325,000 success as a boy, however, Herndon and his was. Encyclopedia.Com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin Company a shareholder-owned one, but he the. P. G1 was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools, expanding the Company, by Now in! Return ; n=f.fbq=function ( ) { n.callMethod and political causes Association that eventually became the first president Atlanta! Founded the Atlanta Life insurance Company, by Now operating in several Southern states, the Herndons: an family! ; in 1858 he 5 facts about alonzo herndon his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and maternal became.
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