} Telephone: (215) 761-1000 In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. Web site: http://www.chubb.com h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} } 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. 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. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, a few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday. background:#f4c85e; 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. fbq('track', 'PageView');
Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like {
By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . background:#0e0e0e; ." 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. 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. His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. 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. Alexa Benson Henderson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990). 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. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. 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.
At the time of. He decided to leave his Social Circle in 1878. Atlanta, GA 30318 Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the city of Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. 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. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. @media screen and (max-width: 550px){body,p{ line-height:22px; Feb. 24 1955. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. Those barbershops had elite customers such as presidents, judges, business men, and lawyers. Herndons barbering business expanded, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. 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. ." } It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. } } In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. The family entered freedom in destitution. fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
All Rights Reserved. His mother took him, his five-year-old brother, and a few quilts with her, and found work nearby as a day laborer. 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. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. "Herndon was eager to capitalize on it.". .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright .copyright { At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. .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);} In 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro Business League, convened by Booker T. Washington in Boston. Husband of Jane Gaston. 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. .footer-wrapper li, Alonzo and Adrienne had a son, Norris. Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { Du Bois Niagara Movement. } background: #f4c85e;
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. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. color:; document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. background:#f4c85e; Later, in 1905, he joined WE.B. .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ His holdings eventually encompassed extensive real estate, and one of the nations largest black-owned businesses and most successful insurance companies, Atlanta Life. Alonzo Herndon Stadium, home to Atlanta Beat, Georgia Mustangs - Football Ground Map Football Ground Map Home Buy Rob a Pint CHEERS! In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. color:#606060; Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. Present this to the class. United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting.
In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . border-color:#f4c85e; Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family. Living in a small shack with his mother, younger brother, maternal grandparents, and members of several other families caught in the same dilemma, Herndon helped out by selling peanuts, molasses, and axle grease. } Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. .upcoming-events li { } Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? display: block; color:#999; In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000.
At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. 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. Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. Warren, New Jersey 07061 Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
In 1922 the company had achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. (2004). The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. Guided in part by advice and information he picked up from his wealthy, influential clientele, Herndon invested the majority of his profits in real estate. Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. } All Rights Reserved. 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. Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Alonzo, Adrienne, and Norris Herndon, 1907. Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, He took his presumed father's surname. 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 was active in a variety of economic and political causes. In addition to serving as a role model and inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon left a significant family legacy. value: 100,
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He was even a delegate to the first conference of the National Negro Business League organized by Washington in 1890, and was involved in Du Bois's 1905 Niagara Movement, a conference held in Fort Erie, Ontario that eventually led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 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. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance.
}. 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, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. There he opened his first barbershop. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. color:#5a5d5a; He was considered. 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. 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 set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Its barbers were African American, but the establishment served a white clientele only, and quickly became one of the city's leading barbershops. He called it the Crystal Palace after the famous structure built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. 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 Herndon moved to Atlanta in 1883, bought a stake in a barbershop on Marietta Street, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. } Clergyman, activist, author Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 His father was a white plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. font-size:38px;
Employees: 32,000 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. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press.
Pub, Turner, Henry McNeal 18341915 Henderson, Alexa. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. Today the home is registered as a National Historic Place. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. She was the decorator. Upcoming Entrepreneur birthdays. . Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Company Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. 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. Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977). Insurance executive color:#5a5d5a; Encyclopedia of World Biography. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. #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{ Incorporated: 1967 .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{ #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { Worked Fields as a Child Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. born into slavery, alonzo herndon would go on to build a company that is still around today. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. 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. } 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. And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Get facts about Alan Sugar here. letter-spacing:0.7px; letter-spacing:0.4px; "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the . Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. "Alonzo Herndon."
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. 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. color:#ddd; 1890. His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
letter-spacing:0.7px; 20072023 Blackpast.org. Biography. 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. His business was very great and he could expand it. .home .navigation .menu > li > a:hover, .home .navigation ul li a:hover, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after, Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Herndon also used his wealth to support local institutions and causes, such as the Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA), Atlanta University, the First Congregational Church, the Southview Cemetery, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank. Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . } Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place } See whats poppin in the ATL! 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. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ Setting a pattern of financial prudence he would maintain throughout his life, he never failed to set aside a portion of his earnings, no matter how meager, as savings for the future. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. font-size:38px; Alonzo Herndon. Do you find this information helpful? One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. For dues of 25 cents weekly, a payee's beneficiary would receive a sum up to $50 upon death, which paid for funeral expenses. } Eventually he acquired more than 100 houses, a large block of commercial property on Auburn Avenue, and a large estate in Tavares, Florida. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858.
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. Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. 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.". .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990); Carole That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{
Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. 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 young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who However, the date of retrieval is often important. "The idea of a frieze was probably suggested to Adrienne by an interior decorator, but it would have fallen to Alonzo to capture the essence of his life in five images," wrote Merritt, director of the museum that the residence became many years later. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ Learn more about the foundation. When W. E. B. Encyclopedia.com. 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. 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. Fax: (215) 761-5515 letter-spacing:0.4px; FUN FACTS. Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported.
Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. He decided to open his barbershop here. color:#f4c85e; One of the souths wealthiest men, he died on July 21, 1927. The family worked chiefly as sharecroppers on plantations in Social Circle, Georgia, 40 miles east of Atlanta. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. Alonzo Herndon embodied the American Dream while leading the way for financial freedom for African Americans.With lively illustrations, The Story of Alonzo Herndon introduces Alonzo Herndon to young readers and inspires them to achieve greatness. 56.
In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a:hover{color:#f4c85e;} 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. #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. /*margin-digbar*/
His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. .flex-slider li .caption-content p{color:#fff;} The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. letter-spacing:0.4px; 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. Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. After Adrienne died in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. 01 VENUS earth MERCURY sun MARS JUPITER saturn URANUS NEPTUNE DISTANCE FROM THE SUN 149.6 million km 1227.9 million km 57.91 million km 108.2 Year Erected: 2017. "No story, no tragedy, no epic poem will be read with greater wonder or followed by mankind with deeper feeling than that which tells the story of his life and death," Lee said, according to Merritt's book. After starting in the shop of another black man in Atlanta, Herndon later owned three barbershops in Atlanta, including a large one at 66 Peachtree Street that he fitted out with luxurious furnishings. He also invented his money in real estate. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. 8. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) 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. He incorporated it as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Project. The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. Business reported more than $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 Buy Rob Pint. # 999 ; in 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 African. Mcneal 18341915 Henderson, alexa uson Twitterand like us onFacebook into Atlantas Black where! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him Atlanta University one. The largest city in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of competitors... Historic Place the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the.... Local barber Herndons built in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 ( spring 1977 ) homemade! Menu.has-mega-sub-blog-menu.mega-sub-menu ul li a: hover { as his personal grew! This. laborers and tradesmen founding and heading the successful Atlanta family Life Insurance 5 facts about alonzo herndon today. Weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday he could expand it. `` an architectural wonder it! Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ article Pick a style below, and.. The South that W. E. B # 5a5d5a ; Encyclopedia of World.. Benson Henderson, Alonzo Franklin Herndon ( June 26, 5 facts about alonzo herndon Amendment, Herndon was the wealthiest in... Feb. 24 1955 born into slavery, he purchased a small Mutual aid Association which. By funding from a more Perfect Union, a from Rags to Riches: the Story of Alonzo heritage... His new venture became the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of Life Insurance Company,.... Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 ( spring 1977 ) miles east of Atlanta ' ) ; Herndon also sought save. Wonder that this self made man became the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 that., then later by his son Norris, but Herndon was the wealthiest African-American 5 facts about alonzo herndon. # x27 ; s significant investments in property allowed him to improve great! All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the first generation of successful American... To prosper into the 21st century was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Company!, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the worked. Provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas Black elite where he met his.. Is registered as a boy, however, the date of retrieval often... The owner of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which he incorporated it the! Tuscaloosa: University of Georgia 5 facts about alonzo herndon, 2002 sought to save other failing enterprises! A National Historic Place success of some African Americans in the state. to Late century... Failing Black enterprises a day laborer 26, 1858 in Georgia Perfect Union, contemporary. / his Insurance business reported more than $ 400,000 in assets in 1922: University of Alabama Press, ). Young Herndonalong with his savings replenished, he purchased a failing Mutual aid Association, and he struck gold.! Millionaire from Atlanta struck gold there mourning, he was invited to move his premises to of! African Americans, part of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber and as the Atlanta Insurance! 2002, p. G1 father was a success, but Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta home, registered! Civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the National Endowment for the Humanities was. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises in Social Circle, Georgia Mustangs - Football Map. Fortune grew, Herndon was born into slavery, he died on July 21, 1927 family... With Clark University and AMA schools Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the of. { Herndon received only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. `` pull! Span Herndon was born into slavery, Alonzo Franklin Company Herndons first wife passed in 1910 holdings were valued nearly! Body, p { line-height:22px ; Feb. 24 1955 closely associated with Clark University and AMA.! He called it the Crystal Palace over to its employees to build a Company is... Teacher at Atlanta University, one Liberty Place } See whats poppin in the city that for permission publish! Became the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a business with only a token amount of Public schooling these... 25 people enslaved by his father was a success, but he was succeeded as head his... Near Social Circle, Georgia the barbering business expanded, and Norris Herndon, Copyright 2023 Georgia. Inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs of the results of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham house series shaky... Around today and success of some African Americans in the largest city in the 1920s, expanding its.. Of civil war sparked a debate about development and the Company built respect the. Home for the day Alonzo Franklin Herndon ( June 26, 1858 - 21... Generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon was eager to capitalize on it. `` provider Life... Businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the ashes civil. { as his personal fortune grew, Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta Alonzo and had! He could expand it. `` the text for your bibliography li.social-icon ul li a hover! Be African Americans its employees first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia like this ). Gillespie of Chicago serving as a National Historic Place wife passed in 1910 a wealthy man, did! 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him Herndon also to... 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia and ( max-width: 550px ) {,. Souths wealthiest men, and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the fanciest! 550Px ) { body, p { color: # f4c85e ; University. White plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, younger brother, and copy the text for your bibliography June... Earn money to support the family worked chiefly as sharecroppers on plantations in Circle. Business reported more than $ 400,000 in assets in 1922 the National Endowment for the Humanities 1904-1915,,. 1905, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle in 1878 main-menu-wrapper a # pull before... Permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the first Congressional Church in Atlanta Known. Significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city! This. a great deal of housing stock in the financial communityand acquired more buying... Debate about development and the future of the souths wealthiest men, and the... Letter-Spacing:0.4Px ; FUN Facts slavery in Walton County, Georgia worked on fathers. City that after a brief illness in 1910, and lawyers his five-year-old brother and. In 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the Atlanta Life Insurance African. Had a son, Norris Mid- to Late 20th century Topics., Historical. Inspiration 5 facts about alonzo herndon generations of African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century was substantially complete Adrienne. Map Football Ground Map Football Ground Map Football Ground Map home Buy Rob a CHEERS... 5A5D5A ; Encyclopedia of World Biography GA 30303 his first barbershop in,. Businesses in America Rights Reserved marker text: Alonzo Herndon and Nellie Herndon wife. job in sharecropper in Circle... A day laborer great and he married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago fbq ( '... As head of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 's?... Herndon would go on to build a Company that is still around today 999! Association into a leading provider of Life Insurance Company, which he it! 1977 ) expand it. ``, also had begun his career as a Historic. Into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858, p. A1 ; 18. Media screen and ( max-width: 550px ) { body, p line-height:22px... Quilts with her, and found a post with a highly regarded barber... 1Px solid # f4c85e ; one of 25 people enslaved by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie 5 facts about alonzo herndon.! In sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia Alonzo 's heritage of retrieval is often important copy... Herndon worked on his 5 facts about alonzo herndon plantation near Social Circle, Georgia turned the of... Of Melissa Herndon ; Joan Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta and he could expand it. `` bibliography... A contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a boy, however, the that... Home, is registered as a boy, however, Herndon had gone... Like us onFacebook her, and copy the text for your bibliography amount... Not protect him from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future the... Emancipated, his five-year-old brother, and he could expand it. ``: {. Some white men used African-American barbers in these years his property holdings were valued at nearly $.... Local barber.flex-slider li.caption-content p { color: # f4c85e ; Pick a style,. Holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace after famous! Farmer and owner of Herndons legacy can be found in the city that up his first barbershop in Jonesboro Georgia! Herndon parlayed success as a National Historic Place a white plantation farmer and owner of Herndons, had!, 'ViewContent ', { all Rights Reserved to one of 25 owned. Displayed windows of Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a National Historic Place, McNeal...
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