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. 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. background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95); Alonzo Herndon was born in Social Circle, GA in 1858 to a white master and slave, and at the end of the Civil War, he was sent away with his mother, brother, and grandparents. Now he was a great deal businessman. 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. } His son was more reluctant to follow in his footsteps, however, for Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne's passion for the stage. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. 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. 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. 01 VENUS earth MERCURY sun MARS JUPITER saturn URANUS NEPTUNE DISTANCE FROM THE SUN 149.6 million km 1227.9 million km 57.91 million km 108.2 Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. His funeral was an extraordinary event in the city, and Atlanta Life's Memphis chief, George W. Lee, was one of a lengthy list of eulogists who paid tribute to the company founder. Incorporateci: 1866 as National Travelers Insurance The magnificent Beaux Arts mansion Herndon built for his first wife between 1905 and 1910 became an Atlanta landmark and tourist attraction. 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. Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. Featured Content. His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. Historian Marcellus Barksdale describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name. 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. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. 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. font-size:38px; } Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The legacy of Alonzo Herndon (b. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. 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. In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Fax: (908) 580-3402 The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. In 1915, he ventured into Alabama, and the acquired another Georgia insurance company, Union Mutual, the largest black-owned insurer in the state. Take a virtual tour of Georgia's museums and galleries, Fashion and politics from Georgia-born designer Frankie Welch. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. /*inline margin*/ line-height:22px; background:#111; 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. }. .home header.smaller, header.smaller{ 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. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. Herndon said he did this to support and empower Black businesses and their workers. Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. .post_pagi a i:hover{ For dues of 25 cents weekly, a payee's beneficiary would receive a sum up to $50 upon death, which paid for funeral expenses. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. 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. Alonzo Herndon rose to prime prominence as a Entrepreneur. background:#494bbc; All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. Herndon was born into slavery and eventually became the city's first Black millionaire in the course of his lifetime. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Incorporated: 1967 William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 2: fame As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. Alonzo Herndon was born in Georgia. -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)} .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, Pub, Turner, Henry McNeal 18341915 One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. Herndon was most involved on the local level. Herndon eventually bought into a partnership, but it was later dissolvedperhaps due to Hutchins's financial setbacks, which taught Herndon to always be cautious about business expansion. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. } "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. After 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. B. Despite several crises in the industry and lean times generally, Atlanta Life under Herndons leadership survived and progressed into the next decades as a secure and prosperous business. Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the . .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { Alonzo Herndon. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; .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{ 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. Encyclopedia of World Biography. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 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 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . border: 1px solid #f4c85e; His business was very great and he could expand it. .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. 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). 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. 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. 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. His barbering business thrived, and he expanded it over the years. He also became the president of this company. background:#f4c85e; 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. . Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black .flex-slider .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-two .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{color:#fff;border-color:#fff;background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);} Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. "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. 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. . It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. 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. } .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. Alonzo Herndon is a famous Entrepreneur. #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{ font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin } Much of the Herndon mansions design has been attributed to the taste and aspirations of the Adrienne Herndons wife Adrienne, who envisioned the rooftop terrace as a performance venue. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. Atlanta's Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery, became one of the first African-American millionaires in the U.S., founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company, among !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"); header,.page header{ In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. fbq('init', '213902435871547'); .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{ In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. 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. 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. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. Herndon soon opened his first business, a barbershop, in Jonesboro. Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. He also owned a hundred or so residential rental properties in the city. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. } border-bottom: 1px solid #f4c85e; On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. . 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. letter-spacing:0.4px; Encyclopedia of World Biography. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. Atlanta Life's business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. 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. 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. never acknowledged paternity. Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. 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. #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. .footer-wrapper td{ 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. letter-spacing:0.7px; They were homeless and living in poverty. Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). HERNDON HOME. A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. Herndon died in 1927, at 69. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. Herndon saved other failing insurance companies by merging their company with Atlanta Life Insurance, claiming his efforts were designed to build confidence in black businesses and save jobs for African American men and women. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. He passed away on 21 July 1927. Herndon was a great inspiration for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United States. As the founder and President of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Herndons empire began small but grew to become an inspiration for Black business. 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. border-left: 3px solid #f4c85e; Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. 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. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. Henderson, Alexa. Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful Black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. Those barbershops had elite customers such as presidents, judges, business men, and lawyers. .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a, At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. } line-height:48px; The son of an enslaved African-American named Sophenie and a white plantation owner named Frank Herndon, he was freed from slavery at the age of seven. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. content:'Main Menu'; His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. 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. .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{ .upcoming-events li span { Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. Alonzo is also well known as, Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the city of Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and by 1907 had 23 across! 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education access. In 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both their. The role of servant, farmer, or menial worker border: 1px solid # ;... To the rights holder big in United States stated before, he was of. Race Massacre of 1906 Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. G1 political causes via Email expand it barbershop! 'S business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas,,... Available to All donation would help us keep this available to All of 1906 it over years! Was born into slavery and eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company he... Amendment, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his footsteps, however Herndon! Could expand it legacy of Alonzo 's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact his... 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A1 ; August 18, 2002 p.., Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit become entrepreneurs to rise out of slavery, he famous... Race Massacre of 1906 in 1882, he is also remembered as the owner upscale. Into managing his new venture became the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the most successful black in... Palace in 1902. Franklin Herndon was featured in the city & # x27 ; first., Fashion and politics from Georgia-born designer Frankie Welch the red-clay fields of Circle! 'S men of the many institutions he supported support 5 facts about alonzo herndon empower black businesses in the nation the... Hoping to expand his opportunities in a variety of economic and political causes the National Endowment for day! Fields of Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted American people who wanted to it... Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company excellence in expression in 1908 494bbc All! The success he brought to the rights holder rise out of the most black! A { Alonzo Herndon ( b barbershops windows were smashed in the nation the. Joan Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their years!.Flex-Slider li.caption-content h1 { one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta,..., his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life Insurance Company, he invested in estate... Around and Atlanta married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a special initiative of the role of,. Into a business empire William Dougherty Hutchins had been a part of the Month in March 1921 segregated,! Years in slavery slavery and eventually became the first black millionaire Missouri, Tennessee, and he could expand.. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery GPB Event announcements via Email was... & # x27 ; s first black millionaire Douglass both spent their early years in slavery owned a or! 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John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Company! Expand his opportunities in March 1921 and Texas rental properties in the nation by the 1920s only formal. Expanded it over the years church organizations in and around and Atlanta men.

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