After experiencing no success, what trade did herndon pursue?

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. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Explanation:

the answer is solomon northrup. he was a free-born african american, abolitionist and professional violinist that was drugged, kidnapped and sold as slave in 1841 and remained in captivity until 1853 where he regained his freedom with the of the then-governor of new york, washington hunt. he wrote and published his memoirs "twelve years a slave" in 1853, and in this text, he tells the story of his escape thru one of louisiana's swamps (the great pacoudrie swamp) in which he ended up covered in green slime from crossing the surface of the dead water.