This sounds like Alonzo Herndon.
Alonzo Herndon (1858 - 1927) was born into slavery in Georgia, and was emancipated following the end of the American Civil War. He worked a series of difficult physical jobs with his family but set aside some savings to use in the future. In 1878, with $11 in savings and only a year of formal education, Herndon moved to Coweta County and learned to be a barber. A few months later he opened his first barbershop in Jonesboro. His barbershop earned a good reputation and in 1883, Herndon moved to Atlanta after finding a job at a barbershop there.
By 1904, Herndon owned 3 barbershops in Atlanta, all very well regarded. With his money, he began investing in real estate. He ended up purchasing more than 100 houses, as well as a block of commercial real estate; at the time of his death, his real estate's total value was $325,000.
Herndon was also a responsible local leader who involved himself a lot with the community. He was a generous philanthropist as well.