Father of Larry Herndon; Roy V Herndon and Ora Herndon. It remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972. fbq('init', '213902435871547'); Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 6, 1858, in Social Circle, Georgia, which is located in Walton County. 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. He passed away on 21 July 1927. Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place Age AintWhat?! 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. He was the son of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie. With Herndon playing a pivotal role as president and chief stockholder, the small association expanded its assets from $5,000 in 1905 to more than $400,000 by 1922. 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. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. His home was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000. then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. Herndons business thrived. background: #f4c85e; .social-icon i.fa:hover{ } William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. When President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Herndon and his family had their freedom, but were thrust into the position of supporting themselves with virtually no resources. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a, (February 23, 2023). 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. } His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. ::-moz-selection{ She was the decorator. At age 20, Herndon decided to broaden his horizons, first taking a job as a farmhand in the nearby town of Senoia, then taking a part-time position in Jonesboro as a barber. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . In 1922, the name was changed to the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and expanded to several states in the south such as Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and other states. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. Worked Fields as a Child Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. Herndon didnt stop there; he continued to buy companies throughout the South, gobbling them until Atlanta Life became the largest insurance company owned and operated by African American in the nation. Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. 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. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. Later, in 1905, he joined WE.B. Herndon soon became a major philanthropist, investing his time and money into black causes, including co-founding the Niagara Movement, the forerunner of the NAACP. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. When he was strong enough, at age 13, his former masterand biological fatheroffered him a job on the plantation as a farmhand, a position he held for the next seven years. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ . .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. } Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. } document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. #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{ The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. Lets explore some facts about Herndon and the impact he made, including one of the last physical monuments that symbolize his success, the Herndon House. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. Today's Georgia Birthdays. Alonzo Herndon is a famous Entrepreneur. alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing 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). 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. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who 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. .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, header,.page header{ Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. Follow us onTwitter. Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. Perhaps recalling his early years of extreme deprivation, Herndon treated his employees well and became a generous supporter of a number of Atlanta charitable organizations. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. 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. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; 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. } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. Are you interested reading facts about Alonzo Herndon? (2004). line-height:48px; Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. line-height:22px; Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. In 1893, he was married to Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, an Atlanta University drama instructor, scion of one of the citys most important black families and widely regarded as a great beauty. In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. 3. With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 What Is The Herndon Foundation? BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. 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. .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{ .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. Do you know that he was born into slavery? fbq('track', 'PageView'); Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. 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. The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. AboutPressCopyrightContact. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921, where he was one of two blacks in his class. } }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} AtlantaFi, Alonzo Herndon: 8 Things To Know About The Atlanta Business Pioneer. Arriving in early 1883, he secured employment as a barber in a shop on Marietta Street owned by William Dougherty Hutchins, an African American. He gave generous support and resources to such local institutions and causes as the YMCA; Atlanta University; the Leonard Street, Carrie Steele, and Diana Pace orphanages; the Herndon Day Nursery; and the First Congregational Church. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. .header a#pull,.home .header a#pull,.header-wrapper header.smaller a#pull,.page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before{ Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin. #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ } The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. Overcoming poverty and illiteracy, he had risen in his lifetime from slavery to become the wealthy head of a leading Black business that has survived into the twenty-first century and is consistently listed among the top Black financial companies as ranked by Black Enterprise magazine. Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. letter-spacing:0.4px; On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. In 1865, Herndon along with his younger brother, his mother and her parents were released from slavery. color:#ddd; }@media screen and (max-width: 768px){body,p{ As his earnings grew, Herndon began to invest in real estate, purchasing more than 100 rental houses, commercial property along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, and a plantation near Tavares, Florida. margin: ; James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 2: fame As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. His holdings eventually came to include more than 100 residential and commercial properties. .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;} Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 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. He passed away on 21 July 1927. Got an event or know of something opening in and around 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. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. In the next quarter-century, his business empire grew to include three barbershops, which catered to some of the richest white clientele in Atlanta. 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. Learn more about the foundation. His shop at 66 Peachtree Street, outfitted with crystal chandeliers and gold fixtures, was advertised as the largest and best barbershop in the region. background:#111; The family entered freedom in destitution. 1858) represents an important piece of black history in Atlanta. With Herndon playing a pivotal role as president and chief stockholder, the small association expanded its assets from $5,000 in 1905 to more than $400,000 by 1922. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. He took over a company which had $5,000 in assets in 1905. But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream, specifically for African-Americans? Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. 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. After Adrienne died in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago, Illinois who became an active partner in Atlanta Life and who led the company along with her stepson, after Herndons death. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 1925. Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. 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. Facts about Elias Howe make us talk about the American inventor. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ 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. Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. color:#dd9933; When W. E. B. Biography. He was born, Facts about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who established the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Like BlackAmericaWeb.com onFacebook. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. Du Bois's ideas of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of Booker T. Washington. Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. 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. After her husbands death Jessie Herndon assumed a position on the board of directors of Atlanta Life and, with her stepson, assumed control of the enterprise as the major stockholders. Encyclopedia.com. margin-bottom: 10px; Clergyman, activist, author At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. 23 Feb. 2023 . 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. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. 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. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. 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. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. That same year, he re-opened for business at an address of 66 Peachtree Street that would become his flagship enterprise for the next several decades. line-height:48px; Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. ." He was known for being a Entrepreneur. He decided to open his barbershop here. They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. Employees: 32,000 } background:#f4c85e; Alexa Benson Henderson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990). .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ .flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ }} Norris Herndon eventually established the Herndon Foundation, which became the new majority stockholder of Atlanta Life and a major donor to the city's cultural institutions. } Henderson, Alexa. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Before, he purchased a small mutual aid association of 5 facts about alonzo herndon Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Delilah ;. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him invested real! In 1921, where he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Place AintWhat. 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