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. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. Charles Clinton Spaulding was the United States preeminent black businessman of the early t, Public 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. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. [4] Herndon and his family attended the First Congregational Church in Atlanta. } Web site: http://www.cigna.com .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Telephone: (215) 761-1000 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. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. 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. 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. .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin 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. content:'Main Menu'; Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. "Alonzo Herndon." Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Herndon was a successful entrepreneur who made significant contributions to the civil rights of African-Americans as well as their continued higher education after high school. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. 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. 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. Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. Fittingly, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff. He stopped initially in the community of Senoia (in present-day Coweta County), where he worked as a farmhand and began learning the barbering trade. Here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a:hover{color:#f4c85e;} Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. Get facts about Alan Sugar here. .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;} } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } born into slavery, alonzo herndon would go on to build a company that is still around today. 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. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. On this episode of Georgia Stories; Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's fi. He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. 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. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. [citation needed]. . Clergyman, activist, author 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. He decided to leave his Social Circle in 1878. 1890. Learn more about the foundation. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. Now he was a great deal businessman. Alonzo is originated from United States. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. The staff of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Branch Office, ca. Let me show you the interesting Facts about Alonzo Herndon if you want to know the founding father of the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . From a very young age, Herndon worked as a laborer, and a peddler, to help support his family, as only his mother could work in the early years. .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans. In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. He was born, Facts about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who established the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. For dues of 25 cents weekly, a payee's beneficiary would receive a sum up to $50 upon death, which paid for funeral expenses. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. By the time of his death in 1927, Herndon was Atlanta, Georgias wealthiest African American and one of the first black millionaires in the United States. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. 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. 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. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977). Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? He was considered. Biography. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ He passed away on 21 July 1927. .header-wrap-top,.header-wrap-top .inner-wrap-top{background:#1e73be;}.header-wrap-top .top-date{color:#fff;}.header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a{color:#fff;} .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a{color:#fff;} letter-spacing:0.7px; He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. background:#f4c85e; Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. never acknowledged paternity. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. He decided to open his barbershop here. (2004). Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. His son was more reluctant to follow in his footsteps, however, for Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne's passion for the stage. margin: ; At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. All Rights Reserved. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. Age AintWhat?! 2. background:#f4c85e; The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. background:#111; Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. In 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro Business League, convened by Booker T. Washington in Boston. 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. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. 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. 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. Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Encyclopedia.com. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Alonzo Herndon was born in Georgia. Employees: 32,000 However, the date of retrieval is often important. } Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. 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. At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. At the time of. 260 14th St. NW It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a, Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. HERNDON HOME. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 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. } border: 1px solid #f4c85e; In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. header,.page header{ border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. border-color:#f4c85e; In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. On that day in 1878, he walked all the way to Jonesboro, Georgia, but his first stop was a town that had telegraph wires running overhead, something he had never before seen and which unsettled him. . 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. Carole Merritt, director of Herndon Home, takes students on a tour of the house where Alonzo Herndon lived with his wife Adrienne and their son Norris. .upcoming-events li span { 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. Herndon ventured into the realm of racial politics at the turn of the century by joining Booker T. Washington in establishing the National Negro Business League. By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. He took over a company which had $5,000 in assets in 1905. Include how this persons life has affected your life. 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