Alonzo Herndon facts for kids
Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 – July 21, 1927) was an amazing African-American businessman. He was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia. Alonzo Herndon became one of the first African American millionaires in the United States.
He first found success by owning and running three big barber shops in Atlanta, Georgia. These shops served important white men. In 1905, he started the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life). This company grew to be one of the most successful African-American businesses in the United States.
Early Life and Hard Work
Alonzo Herndon was born in 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. He was born into slavery. His mother, Sophenie, was an enslaved woman. His father was likely a wealthy white man who owned enslaved people. Alonzo was one of 25 people enslaved by his father. His father never said he was his son.
In 1865, after the American Civil War, Alonzo was seven years old. He and his family became free. This included his mother, her parents, and his younger brother. They had nothing when they became free. From a very young age, Alonzo worked hard. He was a laborer and a peddler. He helped support his family. They worked mostly as sharecroppers on farms. These farms were near Social Circle, Georgia, east of Atlanta.
Building a Business Empire
In 1878, Herndon left Social Circle. He walked away with only eleven dollars saved. He had only about one year of formal schooling. He settled in Senoia, Georgia and worked on a farm. Here, he started learning to be a barber. Barbering was a good job back then. Many white men used African-American barbers.
Herndon later opened his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. His barber business did very well. He opened more shops over the years. In Atlanta, he owned three barbershops. One big shop was at 66 Peachtree Street. He made it very fancy with nice furniture. Important people like presidents, judges, and lawyers were his customers. During the 1906 Atlanta race riot, white rioters damaged one of his large barbershops.
Herndon also put his money into real estate. Then he started an insurance business. In 1905, he bought a small, struggling insurance group. The state of Georgia had made new rules for these businesses. Some community leaders asked him to buy the company. They wanted it to help the black community. He named it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association.
By 1916, the Association became a bigger company. It was called Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1922. It became one of the few African-American insurance companies to get special legal status. Atlanta Life grew a lot. They expanded their business to other states. These included Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.
Through his businesses, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. The Crisis Magazine featured Herndon in March 1921. They called him one of their “Men of the Month.” The article praised his skill and success as a businessman.
Family Life and Lasting Impact
In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil. She was a professor at Atlanta University. She helped him get a better education. They had one son, Norris B. Herndon. After Adrienne passed away in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie.
His son Norris went to Atlanta University and Harvard Business School. He then joined his father's company. Herndon and his family went to the First Congregational Church in Atlanta. Alonzo Herndon passed away in Atlanta on July 21, 1927. He was 69 years old. His son, Norris B. Herndon, became famous too. He made the insurance company even bigger.
- Herndon's old home in Atlanta is called Herndon Home. It was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2000. The Herndon Home was built in 1910. It is located at 587 University Place NW in the Vine City neighborhood. You can visit it on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Herndon Homes was a public housing project in Atlanta. It was named after Herndon but has since been taken down.
- Herndon Stadium at Morris Brown College was also named to honor him. It was used for field hockey during the 1996 Summer Olympics.
