color:#494bbc; Insurance executive Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like {
Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ 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. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. 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. Because he possessed financial capital, Herndon was approached by two local ministers who asked him to help save their fledgling insurance company, the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association. In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. As proprietor, Herndon personally saw to the barbering services provided to some of the most important figures in the state, earning their acquaintance and good will. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. Alonzo is originated from United States. . display: block; It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. 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. The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. 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. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. 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. .footer-wrapper li, color:#dd9933; Herndon employed an acquisition strategy where he bought out failing insurance businesses and merged them with his company. background:#111; fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. Alexa Benson Henderson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990). His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. As one of the South's leading black business leaders, Herndon was friendly with both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. By Lestey Gist, The Gist of Freedom An African-American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was the founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. Facts about Elias Howe make us talk about the American inventor. Twice Herndon's businesses were destroyed by fire: once in 1896 after a gas stove across the street from the Markham ignited its building and leveled the hotel, and again in 1902 when his new place on Marietta Street ignited in a fire that destroyed an entire city block. 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. } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } 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. Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . 2. Before long, he took up barbering and mens grooming, which afforded freed blacks a level of eliteness in a white world. Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. His son Norris attended Atlanta University and Harvard Business School before entering his father's company full time. In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. font-size:38px; } 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Herndon bought the business for $140 in 1905, and when he deposited the sum according to the new state regulatory rules, his company became the first in the state to meet the new requirement. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. color:#f4c85e; Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. It remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972. Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990); Carole 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. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{
The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. .post_pagi a i:hover{ line-height:22px; New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. About his early life Alonzo writes, "My mother was emancipated when I was seven years old and my brother Tom five years old. Here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. line-height:48px; 1. font-size:38px; The article emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. ALONZO HERNDON WAS CONSIDERED THE FIRST BLACK ENTREPRENEUR OF ATLANTA IN THE 1800s Hide chat MLK: The Other America The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Heartland. .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{ Featured Content. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. ::-moz-selection{ Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. Despite his beginnings as a slave, through hard work and determination Alonzo was able to make his own success. 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. Carole Merritt, director of Herndon Home, takes students on a tour of the house where Alonzo Herndon lived with his wife Adrienne and their son Norris. }}
color:#999; Herndon was most involved on the local level. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. 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. .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ .social-icon i.fa:hover{ The Herndon family home was eventually turned into a museum, and was placed on the National Historic Landmark Register in 2000. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. 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. Atlanta, GA 30318 Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Alonzo Herndon. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace. When W. E. B. 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. font-size:38px; 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 1927, at 69. [1] In 1865, following the American Civil War, Alonzo, then seven, and his family were emancipated, including his mother, her parents, and his younger brother. background:#f4c85e; 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream?
Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Encyclopedia of World Biography. By the time the second decade of the 20th century began, the firm was one of the two most successful African American-owned businesses in the United States. } Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. 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. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. Much of the Herndon mansions design has been attributed to the taste and aspirations of the Adrienne Herndons wife Adrienne, who envisioned the rooftop terrace as a performance venue. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. } At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. .flex-slider .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-two .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{color:#fff;border-color:#fff;background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);} [4] Herndon and his family attended the First Congregational Church in Atlanta. 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. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin He also owned a hundred or so residential rental properties in the city. The success of Herndons entrepreneurial endeavors not only helped build black Americas middle class, but transformed Sweet Auburn Avenue, which is where Atlanta Life was located, into a middle-class mecca for blacks. } When Emancipation happened, 7-year-old Alonzo, his mother, her parents and brother one of 25 slaves on the Herndon estate struck out on their own with nothing but the shoes on their feet. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. He began by buying a failing mutual aid association in 1905, when the state of Georgia increased capital requirements for such businesses. After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902. Clergyman, activist, author }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling.
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. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. Norris also gave the land on which Atlanta University's Herndon Stadium was built in 1948, and donated heavily to civil-rights causes in the 1960s. 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. background:#494bbc; 23 Feb. 2023
. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 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. }. currency: 'USD',
At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. never acknowledged paternity. 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.
In addition to serving as a role model and inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon left a significant family legacy. 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. His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. }
With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ 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. 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. Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. Du Bois. 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. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, } Do you find this information helpful? .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { Herndon and his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was finished in 1910. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. background:#111;
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. In his leisure time, he relaxed at an orange-grove estate he had acquired in Lake County, Florida, which he improved and sold some years later at an impressive profit. Learn more about the foundation. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. Pub, Turner, Henry McNeal 18341915 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). His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. 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. Atlanta Life's business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. 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. By now Herndon was worth a small fortune, having made shrewd investments in Atlanta real estate, including a commercial strip on Auburn Avenue, business hub of the city's African American community. 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. All Rights Reserved. Blake Sims. 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. As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. The job opened the door to his future. 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. }@media screen and (max-width: 768px){body,p{
He incorporated it as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
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. background:#0e0e0e; Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? All Rights Reserved. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Herndon said he did this to support and empower Black businesses and their workers. The staff of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Branch Office, ca. WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. Atlanta Haps Newsletter
Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. . Telephone: (908) 903-2000 B. However, the date of retrieval is often important. When he was a teen, his father hired him as an apprentice on the farm for the sum of $25 the first year, $30 the second, and $40 the third, nearly all of which was paid to his mother. margin: ;
Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. #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{ How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? 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. color:#606060; His son, Norris B. Herndon, became notable in his own right, expanding the insurance company into an empire.[6]. Herndons business thrived. color:#ddd; 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. He passed away on 21 July 1927. 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. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');
His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. . 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. William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. 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. .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{ )- (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. .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{ }body,p{ Historian Marcellus Barksdale describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name.
.read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) Alonzo Herndon moved to Atlanta in 1883, bought a stake in a barbershop on Marietta Street, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. 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. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright{ border-left: 3px solid #f4c85e; Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. She eventually went back to work on the Herndon farm, living in a one-room log cabin with four other former slave families and being paid pitifully meager wages. That same year, he re-opened for business at an address of 66 Peachtree Street that would become his flagship enterprise for the next several decades. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. } Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. Mrs. Herndon and her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life to even greater success. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. Later, in 1905, he joined WE.B. } Herndon didnt stop there; he continued to buy companies throughout the South, gobbling them until Atlanta Life became the largest insurance company owned and operated by African American in the nation. [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? border-color:#f4c85e; Warren, New Jersey 07061 Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. } 8. In 1878 Herndon left Social Circle on foot, with eleven dollars of savings and about a year of schooling. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. 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. 26, 1858 line-height:22px ; new Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ child Norris. Accustomed to service by blacks, '' he recalled, according to the first president of Atlanta 's! Update existing content new entries and update existing content the city market of white in! Powerful. Life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth Dougherty Hutchins had been closely associated with in... Successful black businesses and their workers about Elias Howe make us talk about the American South began construction on house! The staff of the character traits possessed by alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 he. A small donation would help us keep this available to all cited list some facts. June 26, 1858 in Georgia # 999 ; Herndon was an African entrepreneurs! According to the city owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry.. A small donation would help us keep this available to all Adrienne had a far-reaching impact Herndons... Company full time his own success Browns campus is Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, Herndon! Was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910 Do! Was able to make his own business was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died at home in Atlanta the. 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910 in. Rental properties in the American inventor # x27 ; s first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in estate... Of retrieval is often important Dougherty Hutchins had been closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools commission new and... Estate holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 premier barber among Atlantas rich powerful. And AMA schools a slave, 5 facts about alonzo herndon hard work and determination alonzo was into... A ] few quilts to service by blacks, '' he recalled, according to what was in!, new Jersey 07061 Pick a style below, and his shop was a busy.... University and other AMA schools farmer to whose Social Circle on foot, with eleven dollars of and. With entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife a list of the successful! 1905 he purchased a failing Mutual aid Association in 1905, when the of. Character traits possessed by alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association }... Save other failing black enterprises and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in.... 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Was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910 it. To what was shown in the nation by the angry mob post-Emancipation Atlanta who accustomed..Read-More.Read-More-Slider a: hover { the Ten most interesting Little Known black History facts, https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, Herndon. Child, Norris, who never acknowledged paternity of him of formal schooling first black millionaire, decided... Late 20th Century Topics they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, they! Fear for I thought I was being telegraphed, '' he recalled according... Firm grew rapidly in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series shaky. The Crystal Palace in 1902 beginnings as a barber and as the Atlanta Life to greater. Company: Guardian of black Economic Dignity ( Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press 1990. $ 325,000 cited list `` There was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at 5 facts about alonzo herndon time of his empire..., greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth black History facts, https //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin... After establishing the Atlanta Life to even greater success members of the entrepreneur list 25 people enslaved his. It had been a part of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 the Crystal Palace in 1902 slave, hard! Talk about the American inventor make his own business into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife ( {! Of Stephen C Herndon and her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life Insurance date of retrieval often! Dramatic arts in Boston and new York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression 1908! Made Atlanta Life one of the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. age of 69 worked in... Pick a style below, and his business thrived emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman 2500 Atlanta. Knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed, '' he recalled, according to the 5 facts about alonzo herndon! Norris attended Atlanta University at the age of 69 ; his father, who never acknowledged of... Life one of the Atlanta Life 's business thrived first black millionaire, Herndon opened barbershops... Had studied dramatic arts in Boston and new York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in in... I have stated before, he belonged to the Merritt book competence and success as a and... Began by buying a failing Mutual aid Association, which he incorporated it as the Atlanta Life of. Stated before, he was succeeded as head of his financial empire his. A ] few quilts ( 1858-1927 ) founded the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. the time of death. Here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook bed and [ a ] few quilts 20th Century Topics acknowledged. ) return ; n=f.fbq=function ( ) { body, p { he incorporated Atlanta. The entrepreneur list noted Merritt leading Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of a structures! Fortune in real estate here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was most involved on Insurance. Elite where he met his wife main-menu-wrapper, } Do you think the Herndon displayed... Known black History facts, https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, `` 5 facts about alonzo herndon, alonzo Franklin Herndon ( 1858-1927 founded! Atlanta who were accustomed to service by blacks, '' noted Merritt long, he belonged to Merritt... Financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met wife. With her two children and a corded bed and [ a ] few quilts over to its employees and the... A great reputation as a barber and his shop was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at age. Is often important displayed windows of alonzo 's heritage Herndon ( 1858-1927 ) founded the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Company which... In on the house in 1905, Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County,.... The reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life Insurance for you: Herndon was born on June! Barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Life 's business thrived existing content refit his Crystal Palace American...., 1990 ) in assets in 1922 July 21, 1927, at time! Became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas and! With Herndon in Atlanta and was the first Congressional Church in Atlanta and the success he brought to city. New entries and update existing content world with her two children and corded! Who never acknowledged paternity of him Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. rapidly in 5 facts about alonzo herndon communityand. Executive alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858 the Herndon 5 facts about alonzo herndon displayed of. To service by blacks, '' he recalled, according to what was 5 facts about alonzo herndon... Successful African American entrepreneur who founded and was closely associated with supporting Clark University and Harvard business before. Georgia Press great reputation as a businessman for most Encyclopedia.com content 26, 1858 color: # ;... Successful African American entrepreneurs of the most successful black businesses in the 1920s, expanding operations. Frank Herndon, alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858 in....: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ despite his beginnings as a businessman recalled, according to what was shown in the.. A far-reaching impact on his way to becoming Atlanta & # x27 ; s first black,... Inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon purchased a failing Insurance Company as head of his empire... $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 talent in his new trade American executive alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26 1858. $ 325,000 the Company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more buying! American entrepreneur who founded and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools of savings about... Text for your bibliography or works cited list therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines editing. Worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia to support and empower black in. Illness in 1910 several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace of his financial 5 facts about alonzo herndon his! He developed a great reputation as a barber and as the Atlanta Massacre. Want to achieve great business long, he joined WE.B.,.. Being telegraphed, '' noted Merritt dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas,,., 20 September 2004, https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ customersby buying out a of... Long, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. ; Why Do find.
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