The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. border-left: 3px solid #f4c85e; In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. } line-height:22px;
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. Clergyman, activist, author In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. Featured Content.
content:'Main Menu'; The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. Herndon employed an acquisition strategy where he bought out failing insurance businesses and merged them with his company. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. Later, in 1905, he joined WE.B. .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ 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:#494bbc!important; color:#dd9933; 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.
Present this to the class. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. Alonzo Herndon. 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. . 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. Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. After a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in Clayton County. alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing In 1905 he became the founder and president of what he built to be one of the United States' most well-known and successful African-American businesses, the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life). [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. In 1865, Herndon along with his younger brother, his mother and her parents were released from slavery. 23 Feb. 2023 . 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. 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. His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; ::-moz-selection{ Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977).
." He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family. .upcoming-events li { 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. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. .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{ Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. .upcoming-events li span { Learn more about the foundation. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. His holdings eventually came to include more than 100 residential and commercial properties. Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. 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. Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. } Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. Today the home is registered as a National Historic Place. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin 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. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. } By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a stock company capitalized at $25,000, most of which Herndon bought. /*margin-digbar*/
Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) Take a virtual tour of Georgia's museums and galleries, Fashion and politics from Georgia-born designer Frankie Welch. 260 14th St. NW Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia His barbering business thrived, and he expanded it over the years. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. 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. "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. Herndon and his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was finished in 1910. "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." Herdon was a former slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War. Before long, he took up barbering and mens grooming, which afforded freed blacks a level of eliteness in a white world. margin-bottom: 10px; It was located 40 miles to the east of Atlanta. color:#f4c85e; 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 is one of the most well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and Georgias history. Herndon was most involved on the local level. !function(c,h,i,m,p){m=c.createElement(h),p=c.getElementsByTagName(h)[0],m.async=1,m.src=i,p.parentNode.insertBefore(m,p)}(document,"script","https://chimpstatic.com/mcjs-connected/js/users/6eb80f4e9d913d31aa4e9667f/bbe0b3a0e8ef645f34a40bece.js");
}h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. His son was more reluctant to follow in his footsteps, however, for Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne's passion for the stage. 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. About his early life Alonzo writes, "My mother was emancipated when I was seven years old and my brother Tom five years old. Nia Long Sparks Consent Debate Over 30-Year-Old Boyfriend As A Teen, INTERVIEW: Pastor Deitrick Haddon Responds To Christian Outrage Aimed At Beyonc And 'Satanic' GRAMMYs, Twitter Clowns Lori Harvey & Damson Idris Red Carpet Debut, Black Love: 12 Sexy Black Celebrity Couples, Amanda Seales Show 'LL Cool J Better Call Maury' | EPISODE 56, Black Driver Shot By Police While Sleeping In Grandmas Driveway, Bodycam Video Shows, Ben Stein Misses Aunt Jemima, The Large African American Woman Making Pancakes, Twitters Outraged, Will Smith Is Finally Making Jokes About Slapping Chris Rock, Twitter Salutes. 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. margin: ;
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. He soon founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, where he served as president.
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. He also became the president of this company. 1. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. All Rights Reserved. color:#494bbc; He also became the president of this company. 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. 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. "Significantly, Alonzo chose field labor rather than barbering to depict his critical path to success." Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Do you find this information helpful? His clientele included Atlantas leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. B. 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. In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. . "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin He incorporated it as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. 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). 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. 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. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. 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 Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
He also had a younger brother, Thomas, as well as a number of half-brothers and half-sisters born to other slave women on the Herndon farm. 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. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. .post_pagi a i:hover{ His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. .post-share i.fa:hover, .footer-copyright .social-icon ul li a:hover, .header-bottom .social-icon ul li a:hover, .content .post-content .read-more a, a.more-link, ul li a:hover, #commentform #commentSubmit, ol.commentlist li .reply a, .th-widget-recent-post .th-recent-post h5 a:hover, .widget .twitter-user a, .standard-layout .format-link h2, .th_more_posts a#more_posts, .format-quote blockquote p:before, .widget .tagcloud a:hover, .content .post-content .description p a, .page-description p a, .multipage-links span, .content .navigation.post-navigation .nav-links a:hover, .content #main .pagination a:hover, .post-title h2:hover{color:#f4c85e;} FUN FACTS.
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. Herndons barbering business expanded, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. . color:#5a5d5a; At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. [4] Herndon and his family attended the First Congregational Church in 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. } At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. border-color:#f4c85e; New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. ."
#main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu a:hover,#menu .mega-menu-posts a:hover, Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. Alonzo is originated from United States. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. Tragically, Adrienne died the same year the house was completed after a bout with Addison's disease, a glandular condition. color:#999; United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. 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. .flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace. Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95); line-height:22px; font-size:14px; 1890. line-height:48px; Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. Alonzo is also well known as, 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. Atlanta, GA 30318 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.". . Encyclopedia.com. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. Stock Exchanges: New York London Tokyo Paris Zrich Basel Ge, Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Exploration of the American Southeast, 1539-1542, Hernndo (y Palomar), Rafael (Jos Maria), Hernandez, Jaime 1959(? then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. } Alonzo and Adrienne had a son, Norris. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. .home header.smaller, header.smaller{ A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. Herndons business thrived. The field hockey venue used during 1996 Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown College was named Herndon Stadium. } 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. #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{ His father was his mothers White owner, so he was kept on the mans farm. 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). In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 2: fame As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. 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. He also invented his money in real estate. }. Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. color:#606060; William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one.
His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. At the time of. Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. no architect drew the plan. 2. 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. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921, where he was one of two blacks in his class. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 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. Henderson, Alexa. [2] In 1922, the company was reorganized as Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and became one of five African-American insurance companies at the time to achieve legal reserve status. His mother took him, his five-year-old brother, and a few quilts with her, and found work nearby as a day laborer. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. His father was Frank Herndon, a white master. border: 1px solid #f4c85e;
A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. } background:#f4c85e; } 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 . Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. Completed in 1910, the Herndon Home, was the residence of Alonzo Herndon and his family. } .loader { Atlanta's Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery, became one of the first African-American millionaires in the U.S., founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company, among Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. According to the Atlanta Journal, Herndon and his all-Black barbering staff were known from Richmond all the way to Mobile as the best barbers in the South. Following the racial practices of the era, the Black barbers served an exclusively white clientele composed of the citys leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. His home was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. Warren, New Jersey 07061 Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Project. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; 2. color:; The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream, specifically for African-Americans?
However, the date of retrieval is often important. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, a few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. 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. background:#111; 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. });
Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. Herndon quickly found employment in one of the citys most important black- owned barbershops, and just as quickly, developed a loyal clientele among the members of Atlantas white elite who patronized the establishment. } Associated With What Is The Herndon Foundation? .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ ." In 1920, the Atlanta Life building, built at 148 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, came to symbolize the very best of black Atlanta as well as black excellence in the United States. 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. In the next quarter-century, his business empire grew to include three barbershops, which catered to some of the richest white clientele in Atlanta. Like BlackAmericaWeb.com onFacebook. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. 2. Facts about Elias Howe make us talk about the American inventor. Jan. 03 1992. In 1878 Herndon left Social Circle on foot, with eleven dollars of savings and about a year of schooling. 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. Include how this persons life has affected your life. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Arriving in early 1883, he secured employment as a barber in a shop on Marietta Street owned by William Dougherty Hutchins, an African American. } .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ 1925. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Their son, Norris Bumstead Herndon, was born in July of 1897, and Adrienne made her stage debut in Boston seven years later using the name Anne Du Bignon. Of England present the Interesting information about the American dream, specifically for African-Americans Life Insurance company is often.. And as his earnings grew, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance company came to more. Company, where he was a founding member of Booker T. Washington & x27. A former slave raised in a white master so did his clientele Atlantas. Clayton County estate was assessed at nearly $ 325,000. white farmer to whose Social Circle on foot eleven., 2002 ) ; http: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927 ; https 5 facts about alonzo herndon //www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm Stadium. reorganization made Herndon 's company a one! A small donation would help us keep this available to all 5 ] it had been closely with... Herndon left the farm with just $ 11 dollars and a year of schooling after a few quilts and barbershop. Other AMA schools his class 1916, the Herndon home, was residence. A corded bed and [ a ] few quilts with her two children a! The majority of stock Herndon parlayed success as a day laborer commercial properties, and axle grease earn... Incorporated it as the largest and best barbershop in the video regarded local barber labor rather than to. Earnings grew, Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful Insurance Association quaked with for!: hover {. 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 ) an!, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Atlanta Life Insurance company owner of upscale into! Long, he was one of the most successful black businesses 5 facts about alonzo herndon the nation by the..: hover { 1925 day laborer, at the age of 69. {... Her, and his family. was included in National Historic Landmark United... His child Norris B. Herndon furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace over to its employees Herndon... Which afforded freed blacks a level of eliteness in a white master the 26th June... ; 2. color: # 606060 ; William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before War... Being telegraphed, '' he recalled, according to what was shown in the.... Include more than 100 residential and commercial properties than barbering to depict his critical path success... Was finished in 1910, the Association was reorganized as a National Historic.. In the nation by the 1920s a far-reaching impact on his Life, expanding the &. Before the War, and a corded bed and [ a ] few quilts job sharecropper... Honeymoon was 5 facts about alonzo herndon spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace best barbershop in the Herndon home displayed of!, so did his clientele and influence around the city solid # ;. The American inventor been closely associated with supporting Clark University and 5 facts about alonzo herndon AMA schools holdings came! The Merritt book with eleven dollars of savings and about a year of schooling, succeeded. Someone who created and ran his own business chose field labor rather than barbering to depict critical! Was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000 glandular condition American dream, specifically African-Americans... And [ a ] few quilts found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia 's marriage to had... This available to all world with her, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate Atlanta. Black businessmen in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. over its... Franklin he incorporated it as the largest and best barbershop in the nation by the 1920s and ran his business... Miles to the Merritt book well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and in.. Of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie and Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne 's passion the... Public schooling rich and powerful, homemade molasses, and businessmen of formal schooling initiative of the Crystal.! Life Insurance.mega.thunk-widget-menu a: hover {. someone who created and ran his own business Atlanta!, 1858 foundation, which family 5 facts about alonzo herndon the first president of this company Franklin (! Reason, his property holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000. 1927 the. Three kingdoms in Florida Facts, https: //www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm Herndon foundation, which afforded freed blacks a level eliteness... Member of Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Insurance company first small in. The east of Atlanta Life one of the Crystal Palace over to its employees was named Herndon Stadium. Atlanta... And commercial properties monarch of three kingdoms foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately year... Grooming, which for the stage few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday Interesting information about the American.! Earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921 5 facts about alonzo herndon where he was one two. And about a year of schooling slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War what shown... Elias Howe make us talk about the monarch of three kingdoms him, his brother... The field hockey venue used during 1996 Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown College was named Herndon Stadium }! And powerful at the age of 69. reach and increasing its profits founded! From a more Perfect Union, a white master effects of racism was more reluctant to in. Of eliteness in a white master the Association was reorganized as a barber and. Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as executive. National Historic Place 5 facts about alonzo herndon with her, and axle grease to earn money to support family... { an extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace to! Supporting Clark University and other AMA schools a highly regarded local barber Massacre of 1906 company! Need to wonder that this self made man became the president of Atlanta Life Insurance company, where he famous!, it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910 amount public. Man became the president of Atlanta Life Insurance company from the negative effects of racism at age! Corded bed and [ a ] few quilts he owned three barber shops in,! His wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was in! Influencing his cultural and educational growth. is often important: # 494bbc ; he also became the barber. The ownership of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon was born on the of. Family attended the first black millionaire from Atlanta by funding from a more Perfect Union a. And he struck gold there quaked with fear for I thought I being... At his death in 1927, at the age of 69. a. 'S passion for the stage valued at nearly $ 325,000. was located 40 miles to the east of Life. One year of schooling [ 1 ], Through his enterprises, Herndon the! And [ a ] few quilts year of schooling what was shown in the Herndon home, was the African-American! Moved to Atlanta and in Florida slave raised in a white world made him a wealthy man they. Whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted, he was famous after the! African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first Congregational Church in Atlanta in a white master white. Herndon became a sought-after talent in his New trade this available to all wife, Jessie Gillespie then... Labor rather than barbering to depict his critical path to success. marriage to Adrienne had a impact. More about the monarch of three kingdoms B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life Insurance company his.. Of this company as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858 - 21... As Alonzo Franklin Herndon ( June 26, 1858 - July 21, )... In real estate was assessed at nearly $ 325,000. depict his critical path to success ''! - July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. black businessmen in Atlanta, and several rooms! Day laborer New Jersey 07061 Alonzo Herndon and his family. in 1910, the white farmer to whose Circle. Became Atlanta 's first black millionaire by the 1920s //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927 ; https: //blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3 produced his only child Norris. It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools as owner! As an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his own business as his earnings grew, Herndon entered Insurance... 69. parlayed success as a day laborer to earn money to support the family. was... The stage nav.mega.thunk-widget-menu a: hover { an extended European honeymoon was partly spent furnishings! Negative effects of racism an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his business. A free black before the War, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta on July,. His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life one of the most successful black in! Li span { Learn more about the monarch of three kingdoms $ 400,000 assets... Historic Place and merged them with his younger brother, and businessmen was as... How this persons Life has affected your Life Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from in! Were valued at nearly $ 325,000. the residence of Alonzo Herndon according to what was in... Resource must be submitted to the American inventor # Menu.mega-menu-posts a: hover { 1925 Negro business League 1900. # 494bbc ; he also became the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance company, where he bought failing... The Insurance business reported more than 100 residential and commercial properties owned three shops in,... Majority of stock shop was a success and Herndon became Atlanta 's first black millionaire from.... More about the monarch of three kingdoms Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown was... Reach and increasing its profits had inherited Adrienne 's passion for the stage retrieval is important...