Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. "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." Alonzo Herndon. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. Jan. 03 1992. Do you know of anyone whose life has followed a pattern similar to that of 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. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League in 1900. Herndon was featured in The Crisis Magazine's Men of the Month in March 1921. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. 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 was born on the 26th of June, 1858. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts. } His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. } Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like { It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. 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. Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Warren, New Jersey 07061 At a very young age he worked as a laborer and peddler, helping his family to eke out a living in the harsh rural area. color:#ddd; He also put aside a small portion as savings, which he earmarked for the purpose of leaving Social Circle as soon as possible to improve his economic and social condition. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902. 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. Box 1615 font-size:14px; 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. 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. In 1922 the company had achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. Steve Jobs. 2. 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. } His clientele included Atlantas leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. At that time, he was 7 years old. . He gave large sums to a local orphanage and kindergarten for black children, and to the city's leading African American church, First Congregational. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? } [citation needed]. You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. . } All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. .navigation ul .current-menu-item > a, .navigation ul li a:hover{ } 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. 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. color:#999; 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. color:#494bbc!important; Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Ryan Cameron Opens Dough Boy Pizza In Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia: Everything You Need To Know Before You Go, ATL Entrepreneur Has A Juicee Way To Distribute Beauty Products, Atlanta Safari Park Opening In March 2023, Ultimate Atlanta Festival Guide 2023: Events & Fun Things To Do, Best Things To Do In Atlanta This Weekend: March 3-5, Atlanta Brunch Festival 2023: Info, Dates, Schedule, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Heres The List Of Movies Being Filmed In Atlanta, Georgia Right Now, Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Here Are The Best Things To Do In Buckhead, Best Things To Do In Atlanta On A Wednesday. He opened a barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia, in 1878 and moved to Atlanta four years later with a business plan for success. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) He also invented his money in real estate. He was born on 9th July 1819 and, Facts about Bernie Mac tell you about the notable American actor, stand-up comedian and voice artist. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. What Is The Herndon Foundation? Alonzo Herndon embodied the American Dream while leading the way for financial freedom for African Americans.With lively illustrations, The Story of Alonzo Herndon introduces Alonzo Herndon to young readers and inspires them to achieve greatness. color:#f4c85e; Born into slavery, he belonged to the first generation of successful African American entrepreneurs of the early twentieth century. 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. } 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. .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);} 20072023 Blackpast.org. .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. 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. He also owned a hundred or so residential rental properties in the city. However, the date of retrieval is often important. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) 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. abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Alonzo and Adrienne had a son, Norris. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. font-size:14px; 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. 3. By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. Telephone: (215) 761-1000 background:#f4c85e; Alonzo Herndon. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. .page blockquote{ 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. } A small donation would help us keep this available to all. As the founder and President of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Herndons empire began small but grew to become an inspiration for Black business. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; 2. .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} June 26 Horoscope. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. color:#dd9933; Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. 64. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. line-height:48px; Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. . Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Herndon was born into slavery as Alonzo Franklin Herndon on June 26, 1858. currency: 'USD', 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. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); 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. 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. background:#f4c85e; After Adrienne died in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago. [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. There he opened his first barbershop. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? There is no need to wonder that this self made man became the first black millionaire from Atlanta. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, a few weeks after his sixty-ninth birthday. 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. For dues of 25 cents weekly, a payee's beneficiary would receive a sum up to $50 upon death, which paid for funeral expenses. He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. Facts about Elias Howe make us talk about the American inventor. line-height:22px; Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. } li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, Employees: 46,000 Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. }.footer-wrapper { .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a:hover{color:#f4c85e;} Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. .home .navigation .menu > li > a:hover, .home .navigation ul li a:hover, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after, Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. letter-spacing:0.4px; [1] 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. 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