Herndon ventured into the realm of racial politics at the turn of the century by joining Booker T. Washington in establishing the National Negro Business League. Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. . "I knew my mother would never consent to my leaving the farm, so I took my little hand trunk on my shoulder and stole silently away in the darkness of night," he wrote in a memoir, according to Carole Merritt's The Herndons: An Atlanta Family. } Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. 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. font-size:38px; border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. } Your donation is fully tax-deductible. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Dreams Never Realized: The Strike of 1914-15, A Phoenix Reconsumed: The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, Beyond the Cookies: The Girl Scouts of America, Rebecca Latimer Felton: Senator for a Day, The Empire of Pink Morton: Turn of the Century African-American Mogul, The Mother of the Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low, Welcome South, Brother: Georgia's First Radio Station. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) . Do you find this information helpful? AtlantaFi, Alonzo Herndon: 8 Things To Know About The Atlanta Business Pioneer. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. He began by buying a failing mutual aid association in 1905, when the state of Georgia increased capital requirements for such businesses. With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. #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{ letter-spacing:0.4px; 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. (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',
font-size:38px; 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. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Telephone: (215) 761-1000 His son took over his businesses and . 1. In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. } Henry McNeal Turner was for many years the leading advocate of black migration to Africa a, Public Company border: 1px solid #f4c85e; [citation needed].
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The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. 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. The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". }
letter-spacing:0.7px; 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). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. 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. Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. Tweet. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. The family entered freedom in destitution. He also became the president of this company. And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. ." U.S.A. } Today's Georgia Birthdays. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . 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. Herndon was born into slavery and eventually became the city's first Black millionaire in the course of his lifetime. As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. An. margin: ;
1925. HERNDON HOME. Do you know that he was born into slavery? Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ ::-moz-selection{ Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts.
background:#494bbc; Learn more about the foundation. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. 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. background:#f4c85e; header,.page header{ As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin .upcoming-events li { In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. 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.
Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. In 1915, he ventured into Alabama, and the acquired another Georgia insurance company, Union Mutual, the largest black-owned insurer in the state. He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. 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 . Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ 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. margin-bottom: 10px; Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. "My aim," he explained in a speech that year delivered at the Tuskegee Institute and quoted in the Merritt book, "has been for several years to try to get as many of our people together to cooperate in business and along all other lines. The great trouble in establishing insurance companies among our people is that it is difficult for our people to understand the advantage of pulling together for the common and for their own good." Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Web site: http://www.chubb.com
Such burial associations were among the first types of thriving black business ventures after the Civil War, but a new Georgia law required all insurance companies to deposit $5,000 with the state as security against all claims. 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. 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. He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family.
background:#0e0e0e; } .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, } 3. Alonzo Herndon with his mother, Sophenie, and his brother, Thomas, ca. Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. The article emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman. color:#f4c85e; content:'Main Menu'; He went to Jonesboro, Clayton County on foot. Herndon was also active in the community in other areas. B. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Encyclopedia of World Biography. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 2: fame As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Featured Content. Now he was a great deal businessman. 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. 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.
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. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. His father was a white plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie. 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. Public Co, 15 Mountain View Road, P.O. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. 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. 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. .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);} He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. 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. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910.
Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990); Carole margin: ;
In the next quarter-century, his business empire grew to include three barbershops, which catered to some of the richest white clientele in Atlanta. Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire.
Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. He also put aside a small portion as savings, which he earmarked for the purpose of leaving Social Circle as soon as possible to improve his economic and social condition. Year Erected: 2017. 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. "Alonzo Herndon." color:#dd9933; Get facts about Alan Sugar here. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. 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 . It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. 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. By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. 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. They were homeless and living in poverty. As the founder and President of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Herndons empire began small but grew to become an inspiration for Black business. Herndon soon opened his first business, a barbershop, in Jonesboro. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright .copyright { He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. letter-spacing:0.4px; 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. 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). It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. } One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. display: block; His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. .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;} #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ }
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. 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. 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. Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ 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. Arriving in early 1883, he secured employment as a barber in a shop on Marietta Street owned by William Dougherty Hutchins, an African American. At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. 260 14th St. NW 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. He took over a company which had $5,000 in assets in 1905. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. @media screen and (max-width: 550px){body,p{ In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. The job opened the door to his future. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; .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{ Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. FUN FACTS. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. } 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. 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. (2004). } Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. .page blockquote{ 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 WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. Associated With his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. Atlanta, GA 30318 [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. He took his presumed father's surname. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. Alonzo Herndon was born in Georgia. 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. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. The staff of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Branch Office, ca. 23 Feb. 2023 . 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. color:#606060; 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. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. Atlanta Haps Newsletter
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. Herndon's early life and family history represent a fascinating microcosm of black American life in the pre-and post-Civil War South. He also supported commercial activities, including the Southview Cemetery Association and the Atlanta State Savings Bank. Present this to the class. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is Alonzo Herndon Stadium, an old 15,011-seat stadium that was once used for sports events at the school. .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, AboutPressCopyrightContact. a:hover{ Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. font-size:14px; At a very young age he worked as a laborer and peddler, helping his family to eke out a living in the harsh rural area. His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. 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. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. font-size:14px; 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. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life), "Alonzo Herndon, pioneering businessman | African American Registry", Who left what behind: wills of famous blacks; while some left millions, others left nothing but legal problems |, The New Georgia Encyclopedia; Alonzo Herndon, National Park Service--Register of Historic Places; Herndon Home, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alonzo_Herndon&oldid=1114544299, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 October 2022, at 01:36. Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success on foot with eleven dollars in and! 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