5 facts about alonzo herndon

Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. /*margin-digbar*/ 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. Herdon was a former slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War. "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. 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. color:#999; Norris also gave the land on which Atlanta University's Herndon Stadium was built in 1948, and donated heavily to civil-rights causes in the 1960s. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. Atlanta Haps Newsletter He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. He was born, Facts about Catherine Mcauley talk about the famous person who established the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. "Alonzo Herndon." .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a, 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. June 26 Horoscope. #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ "Alonzo Herndon." Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 } Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{ At his death in 1927, his real estate was assessed at nearly $325,000. 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. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Project. He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. 1. Warren, New Jersey 07061 Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. She eventually went back to work on the Herndon farm, living in a one-room log cabin with four other former slave families and being paid pitifully meager wages. margin: ; 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. background: #f4c85e; .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. See whats poppin in the ATL! Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. .home header.smaller, header.smaller{ display: block; 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. 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. "Significantly, Alonzo chose field labor rather than barbering to depict his critical path to success." With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} value: 100, Father of Larry Herndon; Roy V Herndon and Ora Herndon. 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. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 6, 1858, in Social Circle, Georgia, which is located in Walton County. 2. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; Notify me of follow-up comments by email. into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. letter-spacing:0.4px; . The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. header,.page header{ he had great clientelle with the money he was getting he was able to invest in real estate.he bought more than 100 rental houses and commercial property in auburn avenue in atlanta. Box 1615 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. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. .upcoming-events li span { Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. 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. .flex-slider .read-more.read-more-slider a,.flex-slider.button-two .read-more.read-more-slider a,.flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a{color:#fff;border-color:#fff;background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);} A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. 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 Alonzo's marriage to Adrienne had a far-reaching impact on his life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. Herndon was born a slave on June 26, 1858, in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle. 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. Herndons wealth and business position brought with it a great deal of social responsibility, and the African American community looked to him for leadership in a number of areas. 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. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); List choice Another structure on Morris Browns campus is. Do you find this information helpful? Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. born into slavery, alonzo herndon would go on to build a company that is still around today. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. 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. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. 1858) represents an important piece of black history in Atlanta. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; Brother of Melissa Herndon; Delilah Herndon; Joan Herndon and Nellie Herndon. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. The job opened the door to his future. 3. Alonzo and Adrienne had a son, Norris. Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. 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. .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { font-size:14px; line-height:48px; abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. 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. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. He called it the Crystal Palace after the famous structure built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. line-height:22px; Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1915, he ventured into Alabama, and the acquired another Georgia insurance company, Union Mutual, the largest black-owned insurer in the state. Employees: 32,000 He was considered. 23 Feb. 2023 . .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} } } fbq('track', 'PageView'); background:#fff; He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. 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. His business was very great and he could expand it. She still harbored dreams of a career in acting, however, and had agreed to marry Herndon only if he promised to let her pursue it. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. } font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; 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. .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ He began by buying a failing mutual aid association in 1905, when the state of Georgia increased capital requirements for such businesses. Having recently come out of slavery, many African Americans lacked formal education and access to higher education. Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Husband of Jane Gaston. [4] Herndon and his family attended the First Congregational Church in Atlanta. A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. font-size:14px; 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. All Rights Reserved. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. His home was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000. alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ U.S.A. 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. [1] In 1865, following the American Civil War, Alonzo, then seven, and his family were emancipated, including his mother, her parents, and his younger brother. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. 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. 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. Herndons prominence and influence were enhanced by his family life. The staff of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company Branch Office, ca. .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);} .upcoming-events li { .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, Upcoming Entrepreneur birthdays. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. font-size:14px; Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Encyclopedia.com. never acknowledged paternity. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. 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. Looking to make his fortune in a place that offered better opportunities for blacks, Herndon relocated to Rome, Georgia, and then Chattanooga, Tennessee, but at one point was so discouraged by his business setbacks that he thought about quitting altogether and taking in a job a plow factory.

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5 facts about alonzo herndon