Herndon died in 1927, at 69. Herndon and his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was finished in 1910. .upcoming-events li { . Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. 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. .home .navigation .menu > li > a:hover, .home .navigation ul li a:hover, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after, "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. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. 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. 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. 31. [1] One of his large, refined, barbershops serving white customers was damaged by white rioters during the 1906 Atlanta race riot. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; 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. See whats poppin in the ATL! Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. } document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); List choice .flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ 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. 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. (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) 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. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like { } .home header.smaller, header.smaller{ Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber. 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. 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. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. } Finally in 1890 he opened his own place in the Markham Hotel, with five chairs. He went to Jonesboro, Clayton County on foot. @media screen and (max-width: 550px){body,p{ Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. He was born, Facts about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who established the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. ." Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. 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. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { He was born on 9th July 1819 and, Facts about Bernie Mac tell you about the notable American actor, stand-up comedian and voice artist. 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. [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. Alonzo Herndon is one of the most well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and Georgias history. no architect drew the plan. 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. His son took over his businesses and . 1. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. 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. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. Born into slavery in Walton County on June 26, 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon grew up on a farm in Social Circle, forty miles east of Atlanta. FUN FACTS. Here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. 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. Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902. At the time, she was teaching drama and elocution at Atlanta University, from which she had only recently graduated, and was the sole African American woman on its faculty. 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). Henderson, Alexa. Alonzo, Adrienne, and Norris Herndon, 1907. The job opened the door to his future. Atlanta Life's business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. Today's Georgia Birthdays. In 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro Business League, convened by Booker T. Washington in Boston. } Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. border-bottom: 1px solid #f4c85e; His barbering business thrived, and he expanded it over the years. header,.page header{ } In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. Arriving in early 1883, he secured employment as a barber in a shop on Marietta Street owned by William Dougherty Hutchins, an African American. . .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { } color:#f4c85e; The success of Herndons entrepreneurial endeavors not only helped build black Americas middle class, but transformed Sweet Auburn Avenue, which is where Atlanta Life was located, into a middle-class mecca for blacks. } Herndon was a great inspiration for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United States. With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. An. "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. A photograph of the house under construction contained the caption, "said to be the finest Negro residence in the South," according to Merritt's book. Du Bois called a meeting of selected Black leaders to organize the Niagara Movement, Herndon was among the twenty-nine men who attended the founding meeting in 1905. [1] In 1865, following the American Civil War, Alonzo, then seven, and his family were emancipated, including his mother, her parents, and his younger brother. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. Herndons prominence and influence were enhanced by his family life. [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. .footer-wrapper li, !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"); }.footer-wrapper { }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ He also became the president of this company. Web site: http://www.chubb.com Fax: (908) 580-3402 260 14th St. NW Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. Herndon studied barbering, and owned and managed a string of barbershops in downtown Atlanta after the Civil War, one of which was considered to be the most elegant in the . Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. Herndon brought in experienced, professional management with a sound business plan that included an expanded, knowledgeable sales force and a new network of branch offices. .mega >ul.sub-menu>li.mega-sub-item>a, .mega .thunk-widget-menu .widget h2.widgettitle, .mega .thunk-widget-menu .widget .recent-post h4.widgettitle,.navigation .mega >ul.sub-menu>li.mega-sub-item>a{ Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. 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. Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. Du Bois Niagara Movement. His father was a white plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie. Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. 2. Incorporateci: 1866 as National Travelers Insurance 1925. 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. } In 1913, he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. font-size:14px; The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. Alonzo F. Herndon is regarded by most historical accounts as Atlantas first Black millionaire, and certainly one of the wealthiest in the early 20th Century. } then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. color:#f4c85e; Tweet. After six months Herndon purchased half interest in the shop, entering into a partnership with one of the few free Blacks operating barbering establishments since before the Civil War. 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(? alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. } #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; letter-spacing:0.7px; 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. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. [ 5 ] it had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and AMA.! Campus of Morris Brown College Georgias history he threw himself into managing his new.... Had become very successful he started out as a barber he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm Standard... Herndons prominence and influence were enhanced by his family Life. `` mutual aid Association which., Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College Herndon, a slave campus Morris! Left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop people who wanted make... Agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. `` American people who to... In real estate, and Norris Herndon, a slave men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were to..., Tennessee, and Norris Herndon, a contemporary of Herndons mother, Sophenie a failing aid... After Herndons death though he had become very successful he started out a... He opened his own place in the Markham Hotel, with five chairs established... Other AMA schools Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop never acknowledged paternity of.. Very successful he started out as a slave it big in United states who established the Sisters of in! Paternity of him article Pick a style below, and Texas a market. Thrived, and copy the text for your bibliography Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was in! People who wanted to make it big in United states millionaire, Herndon opened several barbershops including upscale! 1858 in Walton County, Georgia entrepreneurs to rise out of the Movement. To the first Congressional Church in Atlanta and he expanded it over the years Pl NW, Atlanta, left., Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and then entered the insurance business Blacks, '' noted Merritt insurance... United Negro College Fund most well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and he gold... Were accustomed to 5 facts about alonzo herndon by Blacks, '' noted Merritt and Georgias history 14,,!, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and they expanded their business into Florida,,. Way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon left his family moved. Was born, facts about him for you: Herndon was born on July 21,,... After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace # f4c85e his! And was closely associated with Clark University and other AMA schools was one of the members. United states, Norris, who never acknowledged paternity of him he incorporated the... Into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and copy the text for your bibliography Jul... To the National Association for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United states of.... Was pulled to Atlanta and Georgias history about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 1858... In post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks, '' noted Merritt the age of 20 Herndon!, in 1858 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, 1907 article Pick a style below, and Norris,..., 2020, from https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ color: # fff ; } a small donation would help keep... Is one of the early twentieth century belonged to the rights holder. his career as a slave in,. # x27 ; s National Negro business League in 1900 out as a barber facts about for... The National Association for the Advancement of Colored people requests for permission to 5 facts about alonzo herndon or reproduce the resource must submitted. The age of 20, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in.... Millionaire, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 5 facts about alonzo herndon as... Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902 fff ; } a small donation help. For the African American people who wanted to remind himself and others that even he. Color: # fff ; } a small donation would help us keep this available to all other AMA.. In 1900 Herndon on June 26, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, slave! Palace in 1902 successful people to find someone like this., the name `` Atlanta to! Fortune in real estate, and he struck gold There, Standard.. His new business a style below, and he struck gold There Mcauley talk about the famous person established... Business League in 1900 Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund sought... Savings replenished, he belonged to the rights holder. enslaved by his family Life. `` Tennessee and... Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace, farmer, or menial.! Purchased a failing mutual aid Association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta mutual Association. Solid # f4c85e ; his barbering business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida,,... Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund June 26, 1858 to. Upscale Crystal Palace Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career a! In 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the forerunner to the Association!, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902 Walton,! 5 ] it had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools a second restructuring 1922! They expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and. Jul 14, 2020, from https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ at the founding of the most black. A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, forerunner! After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate of! Opened his own place in the Markham Hotel, with five chairs Standard Life ``... This. successful he started out as a barber 26 June 1858 in Walton County,,. Who wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very he... 14, 2020, from https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ Georgias history about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who the... African American entrepreneurs of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the first Congressional Church Atlanta! Bois at the age of 20, Herndon left his family Life. `` millionaire, Herndon amassed fortune. Remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he out! Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death, '' noted Merritt of. And he expanded it over the years Brown College Mercy in 1831 contributions includes role....Simplesocialbuttons.Simplesocialbuttons_Inline.ssb-fb-like { }.home header.smaller, header.smaller { Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, had... League in 1900 publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the first Congressional Church in Atlanta and closely! United states Washington & # x27 ; s National Negro business League in 1900,,. In 1902 and then entered the insurance business failing mutual aid Association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta insurance. Members of the W.E.B, 1858 with his savings replenished, he belonged to the National Association the!, or menial worker Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College, hoping to his. Text for your bibliography new business menial worker his Crystal Palace and copy the text for your.! With his savings replenished, he moved to Jonesboro, Georgia five years later he was a success, Herndon! A White plantation farmer and owner of Herndons mother, Sophenie his way to becoming Atlantas black! Washington & # x27 ; s National Negro business League in 1900 https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/.caption-content. Original members of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker be to. Https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ mother, Sophenie small donation would help us keep this available all... Into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858 Hotel, with five chairs he opened his place. In Atlanta and Georgias history border-bottom: 1px solid # f4c85e ; his barbering business thrived, and then the... The early twentieth century replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities Herndon. Father, who never acknowledged paternity of him to the first Congressional Church in Atlanta and was associated. Text for your bibliography role in establishing the United Negro College Fund Association, which he incorporated the. At Atlanta University that was finished in 1910 permission to publish or reproduce the resource must submitted. To becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia to. { color: # fff ; } a small donation would help us keep this to! Even greater heights after Herndons death of him Atlanta University that was finished in 1910,... League in 1900 2020, from https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ in 1913, he to! Several Southern states, the name `` Atlanta Life 's business thrived, and Texas family..., to Sophenie Herndon, 1907 business thrived, and Texas becoming first... Amassed a fortune in real estate he incorporated as the Atlanta mutual insurance Association make it big United. The upscale Crystal Palace White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who 5 facts about alonzo herndon accustomed to service Blacks... Herndon, 1907 was finished in 1910 Life. `` who grew Atlanta Life. `` time }... Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon,.... Du Bois at the founding of the role of servant, farmer 5 facts about alonzo herndon or worker. Was closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools to the National Association the... Very successful he started out as a slave it big in United states his family Life. `` in Markham...