Amzi Barber

Amzi Barber
Amzi L. Barber (c. 1902)
Born	Amzi Lorenzo Barber June 22, 1843 Saxtons River, Vermont, U.S.
Died	April 17, 1909 (aged 65) Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Residence	Nuits, Irvington, New York
Alma mater	Oberlin College Columbian University
Board member of	Washington Loan and Trust
Spouse(s)	Celia M. Bradley (m. 1868; her death 1870) Julia Louise Langdon (m. 1871; his death 1909)
Children	4
Parent(s)	Amzi Doolittle Barber
Relatives	John J. Albright (brother-in-law)

Amzi Lorenzo Barber (1843 – April 17, 1909) was a pioneer of the asphalt industry in the United States, and an early participant in the automobile industry as well. He laid many of the roads in Westchester County, New York and was known as "The Asphalt King".

Amzi Barber was born on June 22, 1843 in Saxtons River, Windham County, Vermont. He was the son of Amzi Doolittle Barber (1810–1901), the pastor of the Congregationalist Church there, and Nancy Irene Bailey (1813–1887). He grew up in Ohio and attended Oberlin College, graduating in 1867.

After graduating from college, he briefly considered following his father's vocation in the ministry, but instead took a teaching position at Howard University. At Howard, he was "Principal of Normal and Preparatory Department" as well as Professor of Natural Philosophy and Acting Professor of Mathematics until his resignation in 1873. He graduated from Columbian University in Washington, DC in 1877.

In late August 1902, the newly formed Consolidated National Bank elected Amzi L. Barker (possibly Amzi L. Barber], Lyman G. Bloomingdale, and James G. Newcomb as directors.

In 1873, abandoning teaching, Barber developed LeDroit Park, a neighborhood adjacent to Howard University with his brother-in-law, Andrew Langdon (d. 1919). He named the neighborhood after his father-in-law, LeDroict Langdon, but left out the (c) in his name.

It was one of the first suburbs of Washington, and was developed and marketed as a "romantic" neighborhood with narrow tree-lined streets that bore the same names as the trees that shaded them, differing from the street names used in the rest of the city. Extensive focus was placed on the landscaping of this neighborhood, as developers spent a large sum of money to plant flower beds and trees to attract high-profile professionals from the city. It was originally a whites-only neighborhood and was gated with guards to promote the security for its residents. In July 1888, students tore down the fences that separated the neighborhood in protest of its discriminating policies.