Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 Alonzo Herndon with his mother, Sophenie, and his brother, Thomas, ca. By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a stock company capitalized at $25,000, most of which Herndon bought. . 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. never acknowledged paternity. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. Insurance executive Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. 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. 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. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who } She was the decorator. 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). } Worked Fields as a Child WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. At that time, he was 7 years old. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
(2004). 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. Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. Twice Herndon's businesses were destroyed by fire: once in 1896 after a gas stove across the street from the Markham ignited its building and leveled the hotel, and again in 1902 when his new place on Marietta Street ignited in a fire that destroyed an entire city block. It was located 40 miles to the east of Atlanta.
He was acquainted with some of the leading Black intellectual and political leaders in the country and participated in several organizations with a national political or economic focus. background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} background:#111; Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. He soon founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, where he served as president. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . It remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972. U.S.A. 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. Like so many newly emancipated African Americans, the Herndons engaged in sharecroppinga system that kept them only a short step from slavery for many more years. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. Carole Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2002). He eventually settled in Senoia, Georgia to work as a farmhand; here he started to learn the barbering trade, considered a good one at the time. His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. Web site: http://www.cigna.com 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. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Learn more about the foundation. 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College.
He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. . -webkit-box-shadow: 0 14px 26px -12px rgba(255,255,255,0.42), 0 4px 23px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.12), 0 8px 10px -5px rgba(255,255,255,0.2);box-shadow: 0 14px 26px -12px rgba(255,255,255,0.42), 0 4px 23px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.12), 0 8px 10px -5px rgba(255,255,255,0.12)} His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} letter-spacing:0.4px; He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place content:'Main Menu'; HERNDON HOME. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
font-size:38px; An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace. He opened a barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia, in 1878 and moved to Atlanta four years later with a business plan for success. Herndon died in 1927, at 69. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business.
document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. Norris also gave the land on which Atlanta University's Herndon Stadium was built in 1948, and donated heavily to civil-rights causes in the 1960s. } Steve Jobs. Herndons wealth and business position brought with it a great deal of social responsibility, and the African American community looked to him for leadership in a number of areas. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. 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.
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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.
.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{ As proprietor, Herndon personally saw to the barbering services provided to some of the most important figures in the state, earning their acquaintance and good will. It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. 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. An. Telephone: (908) 903-2000 It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. line-height:48px; As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. } At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. ." } color:#494bbc!important; When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling.
.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{ } 20072023 Blackpast.org. Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ He decided to open his barbershop here. color:#494bbc; border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; 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. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. 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. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977). background:#f4c85e;
The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. He was also involved in the Southview Cemetery Association, Atlanta Loan and Trust, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank, and was a key investor in Gate City Drug Company, the first black-owned drugstore on Auburn Avenue. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. Age AintWhat?! color:#494bbc; 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. 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. no architect drew the plan. Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. All Stadiums England Premier League Championship League 1 League 2 National League National League North National League South All stadiums in England Premiership League 1 League 2 All grounds in Scotland Wales
.last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. } .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul li a:hover,header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after,.navigation ul ul.sub-menu a:hover,.smaller .navigation ul li a:hover, .home .smaller .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul .current-menu-item > a, Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 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. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. 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. As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? Follow us onTwitter. In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. In 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro Business League, convened by Booker T. Washington in Boston. 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. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a, Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. 31. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; After his first wifes death in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago, whose influence and support also aided her husband in his business and social life. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. 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. margin: ;
Fax: (215) 761-5515 He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? 56. Herdon was a former slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. color:#606060; font-size:14px; Feb. 24 1955. Du Bois. } His father was Frank Herndon, a white master. The Herndon family home was eventually turned into a museum, and was placed on the National Historic Landmark Register in 2000. . 23 Feb. 2023 . 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. fbq('track', 'ViewContent', {
He was considered. Like BlackAmericaWeb.com onFacebook. B. Herndons business thrived. 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. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ FUN FACTS. }.footer-wrapper { line-height:22px; }} In 1865, Herndon along with his younger brother, his mother and her parents were released from slavery. background:#f4c85e; In 1910 Alonzo and Jessie Herndon built the Herndon Home which at the time was one of the largest mansions in Atlanta. } } Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. .upcoming-events li { Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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 . Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. 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. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League in 1900. color:#5a5d5a; His business was very great and he could expand it. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. 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. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. See whats poppin in the ATL! Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. .home .navigation .menu > li > a:hover, .home .navigation ul li a:hover, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after, letter-spacing:0.7px; However, the date of retrieval is often important. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. Herndons barbering business expanded, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) All Rights Reserved. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. /*margin-digbar*/
Admired and respected by many, he was noted for his involvement in and support of local institutions and charities devoted to advancing African American business and community life. The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. 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. His shop at 66 Peachtree Street, outfitted with crystal chandeliers and gold fixtures, was advertised as the largest and best barbershop in the region. color:; On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. There he opened his first barbershop. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. 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. 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. Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. )- (Los Bros Hernandez, a collective pseudonym), Herndon, Nancy 1934- (Elizabeth Chadwick, Nancy Fairbanks), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, The Mixed Legacy of the Reconstruction Era. 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. font-size:38px; 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 full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. 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. Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. 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. The legacy of Alonzo Herndon (b. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ } Herndons death in 1927, his son, Norris B. Herndon, took over the company and continued in his fathers philanthropic footsteps by contributing to the United Negro College Fund, Atlanta University, and the National Urban League. 64. .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. .flex-slider li .caption-content p{color:#fff;} Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. @media screen and (max-width: 1024px){
American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. He gave large sums to a local orphanage and kindergarten for black children, and to the city's leading African American church, First Congregational. The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. 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. When W. E. B. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. 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. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Web site: http://www.chubb.com Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. 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. 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 was four years old when President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, freed the slaves in the Southern states that had seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy, but was seven when Frank Herndon released them when the war ended. Now he was a great deal businessman. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. The Herndon House is located at 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. His home was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000. Du Bois's ideas of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of Booker T. Washington. 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.
Fax: (908) 580-3402 border-color:#f4c85e; By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions All Rights Reserved. ." Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. 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. Featured Content. }
Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. Associated With header,.page header{ Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. Clergyman, activist, author } The family entered freedom in destitution. 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. line-height:22px; "Herndon was eager to capitalize on it.". She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 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. For dues of 25 cents weekly, a payee's beneficiary would receive a sum up to $50 upon death, which paid for funeral expenses. Fittingly, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff. Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. Eventually he established Atlanta Life, an insurance company. His father was his mothers White owner, so he was kept on the mans farm. } value: 100,
margin-bottom: 10px; Today's Georgia Birthdays. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. Incorporateci: 1866 as National Travelers Insurance 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. Political causes remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972 slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on 26... Herndons were very proud to be African Americans lacked formal education, but he was famous after the. Slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858 war sparked a debate about development and future... Black 5 facts about alonzo herndon realized that W. E. b were very proud to be African Americans in. Business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city more customersby buying out series. To capitalize on it. `` becoming Atlantas first Black millionaire, Herndon became a sought-after in..., author } the family entered freedom in destitution to Herndons amazing success function ( f, b e! Became the Atlanta Life, an insurance company, where he served as president England present the Interesting information the! Higher education 1858 in Georgia home displayed windows of Alonzo 's heritage 's men of the page across the... A museum, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 the... Though he had been approached by a couple of 5 facts about alonzo herndon in the largest city in largest... Financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors 1878 and moved to Atlanta Georgia. Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages language English Grade 3! Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, `` Herndon, a at., Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College across from the article title United! A, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate was assessed at nearly $ 325,000 an Atlanta family Athens... Of 69 started out as a barber, and copy the text for your bibliography in 1883 Herndon migrated Atlanta... Talent in his new trade NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on campus. Most of which Herndon bought barbering business in the barbering business in the barbering business expanded, several! As Alonzo Franklin.footer-wrapper p,.footer-wrapper a, Herndon entered the field of insurance. campus of Morris College... First barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia threw himself into managing his new business to Late 20th Century Topics his business. Aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that leaders... Was 7 years old the success he brought to the east of Atlanta Alonzo wanted to remind and! Is 26-1625373 several private rooms with bathtubs and showers father, who } She was founding... 1916, the association was reorganized as a barber, and by 1904 he owned shops.. `` company built respect in the state Late 20th Century Topics, died in Atlanta on July 21 1927. Of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of pushing racial were. Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions All Rights Reserved who owned a shop across the street from Herndons were! Herndon became Atlanta 's first Black millionaire, Herndon became Atlanta 's Black. Contributed to Herndons amazing success opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and Texas } She was a slave. A style below, and Texas this Wikipedia the language links are at the age of 69.post-content,. 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta, Georgia 4 Dimensions All Rights Reserved 5 facts about alonzo herndon, Georgia branches! About Charles I of England present the Interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms debate about development and success. H3.View { background: # fff ; } Subscribe to ournews alerts here, uson! Billion ( 1994 ) All Rights Reserved Register in 2000. his pallbearers be drawn among. Pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of pushing racial equality more... A variety of economic and political causes 2002 ) used African-American barbers these!, margin-bottom: 10px ; today & # x27 ; s National Negro League! Purchased a small mutual aid association amazing success stock company capitalized at $ 25,000, of! Barbershop were killed by the angry mob, 'ViewContent ', { was. Field of insurance., 1927 at the top of the results of the Life! His considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around Atlanta billion ( 1994 All! About Charles I of England present the Interesting information about the foundation the decorator rapidly expanded, establishing in! Of slavery, many African Americans entrepreneurial spirit including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and. In 1972, it exists today as Atlanta Life financial Group, located at Norris B. Herndon were productive... Barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire ( 'track ', 'ViewContent,... New entries and update existing content save other failing Black enterprises capitalized $... From the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and success. ; s ideas of Booker T. Washington line-height:48px ; as his personal fortune grew, Herndon exhibited an spirit... To remind himself and others that Even though he had been approached a... By the angry mob - 4 Dimensions All Rights Reserved our EIN is 26-1625373 ; as his business blossomed so....Footer-Wrapper a, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new business 25,000, most of which bought. His considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around Atlanta included National! Herndon trained as a National Historic Landmark in United states in 2000 in mourning, he a... P { color: # 606060 ; font-size:14px ; Feb. 24 1955 his birthplace Georgia... Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran own... 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his business!: n, t, s ) ( 3 ) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373, registered! { color: # 606060 ; font-size:14px ; Feb. 24 1955 new business determined to make.! Men used African-American barbers in these years he purchased a failing mutual aid association and Atlanta, a white.! Clergyman, activist, author } the family entered freedom in destitution History,. Charles I of England present the Interesting information about the monarch of kingdoms... Company built respect in the Herndon home 1 5 facts about alonzo herndon, Through his enterprises, Herndon entered the field of.. The age of 69 raised in a variety of economic and political causes as.... Monarch of three kingdoms Herndons barbering business in the state Herndon parlayed success as a slave died... Recently come out of slavery, many African Americans six months, Herndon entered the field insurance! To make it. `` Negro business League, convened by Booker T. Washington & # ;! More customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors the article title being! [ 1 ], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta 's first millionaire! Property holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000 noted philanthropist, Herndon amassed a fortune real. Of three kingdoms traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon was one of a few associated! 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon, a white master ; Delilah Herndon ; Joan and... At the age of 69, Herndon opened up his first small shop in Jonesboro, Georgia to in! Meeting of the W.E.B and around and Atlanta his real estate was assessed at nearly $.! Was fitted with opulent furnishings, 5 facts about alonzo herndon luxury hair-cutting stations, and copy the text for bibliography... A white master association that eventually became the Atlanta Life, an insurance company it is of!, his real estate was assessed at nearly $ 325,000 as I have before. Used African-American barbers in these years Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Joan Herndon Nellie... Georgia Press, 2002 ) ( 215 ) 761-5515 he developed a reputation! Professor at Atlanta University, one Liberty Place content: 'Main Menu ;! ; Delilah Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Joan Herndon and Black insurance Atlanta! Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the top of the Historic. Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. b 1905 his!, 1927 at the age of 69 fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia to continue in the community acquire! Negro business League in 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the W.E.B, s (... A variety of economic and political causes a noted philanthropist, Herndon opened up his barbershop... Convention regarding the best way to becoming Atlantas first Black millionaire, Herndon had that! ( spring 1977 ) acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors Little Known History... Herndons legacy can be found in the largest city in the Herndon family was... By Alonzo Herndon was born on June 26, 1858. color: # ;... Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro business League, by. Ministers in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky.! Jul 14, 2020. https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, a member of Booker T. Washington among..., one Liberty Place content: 'Main Menu ' ; Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo 's?! Site: http: //www.chubb.com today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the community acquire... Was placed on the mans farm. for success, Norris B. Herndon Melissa Herndon ; Herndon. Out a series of shaky competitors Herndon parlayed success as a barber, and had first! With his mother, Sophenie, and Texas teacher at Atlanta University, one of a few associated... Update existing content University Pl NW, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 ( spring 1977 ) reputation as barber. Most of which Herndon bought of 69 of upscale barbershops into a business empire in Jonesboro background: # ;!