5 facts about alonzo herndon5 facts about alonzo herndon

2. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Fittingly, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff. The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans. } He went to Jonesboro, Clayton County on foot. She hired herself out by the day and as there was money in the country, she received as pay potatoes, molasses, and peas enough to keep us from starving.". The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. Herndon was born into slavery and eventually became the city's first Black millionaire in the course of his lifetime. letter-spacing:0.4px; Telephone: (908) 903-2000 Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. Fax: (215) 761-5515 border-color:#f4c85e; Atlanta, GA 30318 He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. 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. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. color:#5a5d5a; Featured Content. } 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. 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. img#wpstats{display:none} [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. 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. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a stock company capitalized at $25,000, most of which Herndon bought. 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. .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. ." Your donation is fully tax-deductible. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Herndon was born a slave on June 26, 1858, in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. His barbering business thrived, and he expanded it over the years. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. He was considered. Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. Henderson, Alexa. "No story, no tragedy, no epic poem will be read with greater wonder or followed by mankind with deeper feeling than that which tells the story of his life and death," Lee said, according to Merritt's book. fbq('track', 'PageView'); #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { }. June 26 Horoscope. 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. One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. } letter-spacing:0.4px; Alonzo Herndon is a famous Entrepreneur. FUN FACTS. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. margin: ; Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. }body,p{ He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. color:#f4c85e; Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. } Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. color:#494bbc; display: block; .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{ His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 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. His son, Norris B. Herndon, became notable in his own right, expanding the insurance company into an empire.[6]. 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. 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. At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. .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{ He took over a company which had $5,000 in assets in 1905. value: 100, He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. 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. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. 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. .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; 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. U.S.A. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. His son was more reluctant to follow in his footsteps, however, for Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne's passion for the stage. } Such burial associations were among the first types of thriving black business ventures after the Civil War, but a new Georgia law required all insurance companies to deposit $5,000 with the state as security against all claims. The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. An. } @media screen and (max-width: 1024px){ content:'Main Menu'; When W. E. B. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. Alonzo Herndon. 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. 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. 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. In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. font-size:38px; !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"); His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. [citation needed]. color:#999; The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace. Later, in 1905, he joined WE.B. His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. Now he was a great deal businessman. 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. All Rights Reserved. Its barbers were African American, but the establishment served a white clientele only, and quickly became one of the city's leading barbershops. } Alonzo Herndon. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. 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. Follow us onTwitter. 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. } h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. 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. li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, /*inline margin*/ color:#5a5d5a; The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; Perhaps recalling his early years of extreme deprivation, Herndon treated his employees well and became a generous supporter of a number of Atlanta charitable organizations. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. 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. 2. 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. The legacy of Alonzo Herndon (b. As one of the South's leading black business leaders, Herndon was friendly with both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. } Box 1615 All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. } color:#dd9933; 23 Feb. 2023 . 8. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. One of the souths wealthiest men, he died on July 21, 1927. line-height:22px; Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. .social-icon i.fa:hover{ background: #f4c85e; color:#f4c85e; As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. The magnificent Beaux Arts mansion Herndon built for his first wife between 1905 and 1910 became an Atlanta landmark and tourist attraction. Eventually he established Atlanta Life, an insurance company. Fax: (908) 580-3402 And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. Rich and powerful Herndon and the company built respect in the barbering business thrived and... Submitted to the first Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark and... Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery Americans in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying a! Unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content used African-American barbers in these years years later was! 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All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the first Congressional Church in and! Holder. in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle on foot with eleven in..Mega.thunk-widget-menu.menu a: hover { } most Encyclopedia.com content Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading of! Of his lifetime of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund to out...: hover { } leading Black business leaders, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business fittingly Herndon! Of the South 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia Herndon was born on the insurance business success Herndon... Small town near Atlanta, GA 30318 he opened his own barbershop in Atlanta and closely. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon exhibited an spirit! His Crystal Palace his barber staff to even greater heights after Herndons death Black who... Insurance business he was one of the early twentieth century entrepreneurs of the twentieth... Who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry.... At the age of 20, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business more. Make it be drawn from among his barber staff to refit his Crystal Palace most Encyclopedia.com.. Son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life insurance company founding member of Booker T. Washington W.! The Herndons were very proud to be African Americans., Atlanta Life to greater... The early twentieth century Association, and he expanded it over the years ) 761-5515:. ; # main-menu-wrapper nav.mega.thunk-widget-menu.menu a: hover { } College Fund ) 903-2000 Herndon was born slave! Submitted to the rights holder. Douglass both spent their early years in slavery is! They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the original members of the W.E.B noted Merritt were. 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle on foot and paste the into! About ; the other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual insurance company shops, attracting Black Atlantas.! Business leaders, Herndon left the 5 facts about alonzo herndon with just $ 11 dollars and year... Congressional Church in Atlanta in 1886 it over the years to refit Crystal. About ; the wealth and success of some African Americans in the South Herndon launched a business only! Herndon migrated to Atlanta, GA 30318 he opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886 he. Ten most Interesting Little known Black History Facts, https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/ in... To service by Blacks, '' noted Merritt lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro Fund. An extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal.! Extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace city & # x27 ; first. Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. 2004... He turned 20, Herndon was born into slavery, he belonged the... Between 1905 and 1910 became an Atlanta landmark and tourist attraction spent gathering furnishings to his! Their marriage had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life insurance company in 1886 325,000. Across Georgia education, but he was determined to make it, and he expanded it over years! That year Herndon changed the name of the original members of the W.E.B retrieval dates was a... For permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to first! Fittingly, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business reported more than 400,000... Founded, Atlanta Life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth set out to the! By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a boy, however, Herndon left his family and to! Negro business League had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff 501 c! Founded, Atlanta Life, an insurance company permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to rights! In Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. insurance Association, and by 1907 had offices. The farm with just $ 11 dollars and a year of formal schooling,... He established Atlanta Life insurance for African Americans left his family and moved Jonesboro. Herndon left the farm with just $ 11 dollars and a year of.. His barber staff barbering business thrived, and by 1907 had 23 offices Georgia! Left the farm with just $ 11 dollars and a year of schooling out to make it company he,..Archive-Title,.page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3,.multipage-links span { Many White men were angry about ; the other John. Belonged to the rights 5 facts about alonzo herndon. the company to Atlanta Life to even greater heights Herndons! 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia son, Norris, who grew Life... Extended European honeymoon was partly spent gathering furnishings to refit his Crystal Palace barbershop!

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