Henry McNeal Turner was for many years the leading advocate of black migration to Africa a, Public Company In 1915, he ventured into Alabama, and the acquired another Georgia insurance company, Union Mutual, the largest black-owned insurer in the state. He was a member of W.E.B. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ Eventually he acquired more than 100 houses, a large block of commercial property on Auburn Avenue, and a large estate in Tavares, Florida. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. .footer-wrapper td{ In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. In 1910, the house was built. The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. 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 in 1905 herndon bought a failing 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. 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. 3. 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. 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. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) 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. .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ 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. 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. } Herndon studied barbering, and owned and managed a string of barbershops in downtown Atlanta after the Civil War, one of which was considered to be the most elegant in the . 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. By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. 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. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. font-size:14px; In 1905, Herndon bought the business, then named the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, and renamed it the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. ::selection{ The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was born, Facts about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who established the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. } 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. Birthdate: November 08, 1866. 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. }.footer-wrapper { .footer-wrapper h4{ Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. 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. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. 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. When Emancipation happened, 7-year-old Alonzo, his mother, her parents and brother one of 25 slaves on the Herndon estate struck out on their own with nothing but the shoes on their feet. border-color:#f4c85e; 2. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. 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). In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. Encyclopedia of World Biography. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. Finally in 1890 he opened his own place in the Markham Hotel, with five chairs. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; He was considered. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); See whats poppin in the ATL! 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Herndon said he did this to support and empower Black businesses and their workers. 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. His father was Frank Herndon, a white master. Historian Marcellus Barksdale describes the Crystal Palace as fitting its name. color:#dd9933; Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. It remained a segregated establishment until it closed in 1972. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. Herndon was born a slave on June 26, 1858, in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle. color:#fff;} As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. 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. 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. Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, } After a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in Clayton County. He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. 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. That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 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. line-height:48px; Alonzo is originated from United States. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. color:#999; The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. Eventually he established Atlanta Life, an insurance company. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. } At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. 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. 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 and Adrienne had a son, Norris. All Rights Reserved. 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 AboutPressCopyrightContact. 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. ::-moz-selection{ margin: ; background:#0e0e0e; He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. Guided in part by advice and information he picked up from his wealthy, influential clientele, Herndon invested the majority of his profits in real estate. 1890. Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. } In 1913, he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. However, the date of retrieval is often important. . color:#f4c85e; #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{ Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. Before long, he took up barbering and mens grooming, which afforded freed blacks a level of eliteness in a white world. .post_pagi a i:hover{ 1. [1] In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. Box 1615 His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. Atlanta, GA 30318 He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. background:#111; DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. Alonzo Herndon has been a part of the Entrepreneur list. His mother took him, his five-year-old brother, and a few quilts with her, and found work nearby as a day laborer. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. 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.". Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Because he possessed financial capital, Herndon was approached by two local ministers who asked him to help save their fledgling insurance company, the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association. An. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. 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. [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. Du Bois's ideas of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of Booker T. Washington. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; 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. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. "Alonzo Herndon." Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the . Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. Encyclopedia of World Biography. born into slavery, alonzo herndon would go on to build a company that is still around today. Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. 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