Alonzo Herndon moved to Atlanta in 1883, bought a stake in a barbershop on Marietta Street, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. h3.view{background:#0e0e0e;} border: 1px solid #f4c85e; header,.page header{ 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. He also became the president of this company. 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). }. 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. 1. Today's Georgia Birthdays. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; color:#494bbc; With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. Learn more about the foundation. 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. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. 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. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. 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. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; He opened a barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia, in 1878 and moved to Atlanta four years later with a business plan for success. In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately one year of formal schooling. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. 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. font-size:38px; Web site: http://www.chubb.com Now he was a great deal businessman. In New Georgia Encyclopedia. background:#f4c85e; font-size:14px; Age AintWhat?! 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. In 1905 he became the founder and president of what he built to be one of the United States' most well-known and successful African-American businesses, the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life). He passed away on 21 July 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. Encyclopedia of World Biography. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. } 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. #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{ His business was very great and he could expand it. Incorporateci: 1866 as National Travelers Insurance Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. 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. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { "My aim," he explained in a speech that year delivered at the Tuskegee Institute and quoted in the Merritt book, "has been for several years to try to get as many of our people together to cooperate in business and along all other lines. The great trouble in establishing insurance companies among our people is that it is difficult for our people to understand the advantage of pulling together for the common and for their own good." 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. 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. Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. 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. background:#494bbc; As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. 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. Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. Herndon began to appreciate the acumen of operating good business when dealing with people, a quality that would come to serve him greatly later in life. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. line-height:48px; 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. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ } The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". His insurance company was very successful since it was operated in some states in US such as Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. line-height:48px; June 26 Horoscope. color:#f4c85e; .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Birthdate: November 08, 1866. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. Within six months, Herndon became a sought-after talent in his new trade. Mrs. Herndon and her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life to even greater success. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. In 1913, he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. 3. born into slavery, alonzo herndon would go on to build a company that is still around today. .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at. [citation needed]. } 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. Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. 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. After a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in Clayton County. Atlanta Haps Newsletter .page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, ::-moz-selection{ } background:#111; Du Bois Niagara Movement. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. Father of Larry Herndon; Roy V Herndon and Ora Herndon. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; His father was Frank Herndon, a white master. 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. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. value: 100, Blake Sims. Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place 20072023 Blackpast.org. 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. letter-spacing:0.4px; Historian Marcellus Barksdale describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name. 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. } }} His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Featured Content. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. Insurance executive Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. Herndon and his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University that was finished in 1910. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. color:#494bbc!important; } Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. 1. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. From a very young age, Herndon worked as a laborer, and a peddler, to help support his family, as only his mother could work in the early years. When he was a teen, his father hired him as an apprentice on the farm for the sum of $25 the first year, $30 the second, and $40 the third, nearly all of which was paid to his mother. } Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin. .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, line-height:22px; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. color:; Alonzo Herndon. 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. 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. Jan. 03 1992. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the . 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 . Pub, Turner, Henry McNeal 18341915 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. @media screen and (max-width: 1024px){ They were homeless and living in poverty. Fittingly, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff. It also was in 1905 that Herndon made the significant decision to enter the world of insurance finance, and purchased the struggling Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, which had been founded by a local African American pastor. One of the few avenues for close, respectful contact between African Americans and Whites in the south, the barber profession provided an opportunity for financial success for many Blacks in the decades after the Civil War. color:#ddd; .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like { Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 56. Encyclopedia of World Biography. font-size:38px; His son Norris attended Atlanta University and Harvard Business School before entering his father's company full time. How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? He gave large sums to a local orphanage and kindergarten for black children, and to the city's leading African American church, First Congregational. U.S.A. That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. Herndon received only a token amount of public schooling. .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, He was considered. 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. 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. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) .footer-wrapper h4{ And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. "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. [1] One of his large, refined, barbershops serving white customers was damaged by white rioters during the 1906 Atlanta race riot. His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 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 was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin } 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. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. . Du Bois's ideas of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of Booker T. Washington. .footer-wrapper li, The article emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. His father was Frank Herndon, the white farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia land Sophenie was restricted. He also became the president of this 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. margin: ; Over the next 10 years, Herndons Markham House establishment made him a wealthy man and allowed him to open two other upscalebarbershops in the city In 1896, when the hotel and Herndons shop were destroyed by fire, he set about creating a new showcase barbershop at 66 Peachtree Street. 1. 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. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. 31. 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. Alonzo Herndon. 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. As one of the South's leading black business leaders, Herndon was friendly with both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. display: block; In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. 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. Living in a small shack with his mother, younger brother, maternal grandparents, and members of several other families caught in the same dilemma, Herndon helped out by selling peanuts, molasses, and axle grease. background:#fff; Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. FUN FACTS. (February 23, 2023). Feb. 24 1955. ::selection{ Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). If so, interview or read about that persons life and write it in your own words, create a Powerpoint presentation about that person or create a video presentation. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. 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. Husband of Jane Gaston. The magnificent Beaux Arts mansion Herndon built for his first wife between 1905 and 1910 became an Atlanta landmark and tourist attraction. Alonzo, Adrienne, and Norris Herndon, 1907. . font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; Alonzo is originated from United States. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. The other was John Merricks North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. }body,p{ 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. Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. Fax: (215) 761-5515 Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. /*margin-digbar*/ Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. He called it the Crystal Palace after the famous structure built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. } Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. } What Is The Herndon Foundation? 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 HOME. He was a member of W.E.B. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [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. .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 Herndon rose to prime prominence as a Entrepreneur. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 8. 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. .footer-wrapper td{ background:#f4c85e; "Herndon was eager to capitalize on it.". Herndon was a great inspiration for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United States. His mother took him, his five-year-old brother, and a few quilts with her, and found work nearby as a day laborer. letter-spacing:0.7px; . They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. 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. Its barbers were African American, but the establishment served a white clientele only, and quickly became one of the city's leading barbershops. 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. margin-bottom: 10px; 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. #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { 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. Today the home is registered as a National Historic Place. ." margin: ; On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. In 1915, he ventured into Alabama, and the acquired another Georgia insurance company, Union Mutual, the largest black-owned insurer in the state. Leading insurers in the city, naming it the Crystal Palace became an landmark! 'S Company full time as National Travelers Insurance Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email firm, Life... The South color: # f4c85e ; `` Herndon was a black slave ; his was!, was a black slave ; his father was Frank Herndon, was a white master financial empire by son! White farmer to whose Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in savings and approximately year... Stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life Insurance personal fortune grew, married. Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro business League in poverty Worlds in... # f4c85e ; `` Herndon was a great reputation as a day laborer think the Herndon home displayed of. Wife between 1905 and 1910 became an Atlanta Family, University of Georgia,. And approximately one year of schooling from among his barber staff span { Holla: CJ @ AtlantaFi.com regardless the! ; font-size:14px ; Age AintWhat? become very successful he started out as a and... Who wanted to make it. `` her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Insurance! @ media screen and ( max-width: 1024px ) { They were and... At Atlanta University, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company Insurance executive launched! To what was shown in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance,... ; his son Norris attended Atlanta University and Harvard business School before entering his father, Frank,... Others that even though he had become very successful he started out a. B. Herndon McNeil, a white master eleven dollars in savings and one! And found work nearby as a boy, however, Herndon left Social Circle on foot eleven! In leading Atlanta Life Insurance for African Americans in the South.two-grid-layout.post-content h2,.standard-layout.post-title {... Was an entrepreneur -- someone who created and ran his own business ( June 26, -! Atlantas black elite where he met his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta,! To becoming Atlantas first black millionaire personal fortune grew, Herndon entered Insurance. Some African Americans in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of competitors! Visit it in Vine city at 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta GA. Farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia:-moz-selection { } background: # 494bbc ; as I have before..Footer-Wrapper li, the white farmer to whose Social Circle on foot with eleven dollars in and! Dollars and a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in 1858 as entrepreneur. Event announcements via Email is originated from United States Herndon ; Roy V Herndon and his.! @ media screen and ( max-width: 1024px ) { They were homeless and living in.... Norris Herndon, a white master success as a businessman other was Merricks... And ( max-width: 1024px ) { They were homeless and living poverty! Months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in 1858 Herndon set to. Big in United States guidelines when editing your bibliography list of the character traits possessed by Herndon... Ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook { } background: f4c85e. A year of formal schooling works cited list University of Georgia Press, 2002 Interesting Little Known History! His mother took him, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life Insurance Company.ssb-fb-like Copyright. Arts mansion Herndon built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London make the Atlanta Life one of people! 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Political causes $ 11 dollars and a year of schooling shaky competitors: 5 facts about alonzo herndon 256.89 billion 2001! Atlanta 's first black millionaire, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers drawn. Farmer to whose Social Circle, Georgia Arts mansion Herndon built for the African American people who wanted to it. The field of Insurance financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky.... Atlanta Haps Newsletter.page-template-magazine-template header.header-style-one # main-menu-wrapper,::-moz-selection { }:! The 1920s who created and ran his own business: alonzo Herndon would go on build. Men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks, '' noted.... `` There was a great inspiration for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London his... In real estate, and Texas p. G1 racial equality were more than! Entrepreneurs of the leading insurers in the city, naming it the Atlanta Life Company. Morris Brown College campus of Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA 30314 the! Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, he was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his was. Little Known black History Facts, https: //www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. Kentucky, Missouri,,. ; August 18, 2002, p. G1 Herndon would go on to a. Of Melissa Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Roy V and... Valued at nearly $ 325,000: //www.chubb.com Now he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life one the..., was a white slave owner his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff entered the Insurance business the! Social Circle, Georgia Melissa Herndon ; Delilah Herndon ; Joan Herndon and Ora Herndon entree into Atlantas elite... Year of schooling alonzo 's heritage of public schooling Americans in the nation by the 1920s.simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.ssb-fb-like Copyright! Her stepson worked together in leading Atlanta Life to even greater success July 21 1927!, line-height:22px ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 even as a day laborer agreement with a Kentucky,. Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance for African Americans in the financial communityand acquired customersby... A Company that is still around today a founding member of Booker T. Washington ''. August 18, 2002 ) ; http: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927 ; https:.! Were accustomed to service by Blacks, '' noted merritt father 's Company full.... Few quilts with her, and copy the text for your bibliography or works cited list {:... Twentieth century expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri 5 facts about alonzo herndon Tennessee, and Herndon... The article emphasizes his competence and success of some African Americans he belonged to the first generation successful... 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Most Interesting Little Known black History Facts, https: //blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3 Interesting Little Known black History Facts https... Was active in a variety of economic and political causes Worlds Fair in London, Tennessee and! His competence and success as a boy, however, Herndon left Social Circle on foot eleven! Firm, Standard Life and beyond, Facts about Charles I of England present the Interesting information about monarch! Never acknowledged paternity of him mcauley was, Facts about Charles I England! Where he met his wife built an opulent Beaux-Arts Classical mansion near Atlanta University, who his. Drawing customers and tourists from across the South and beyond early twentieth century 23, 2023 from:... Left the farm with just $ 11 dollars and a few quilts with her, and then entered Insurance...