Azariah Boody

Philanthropist, business executive

• Born: April 21, 1815
• Birthplace: Stanstead County, Quebec
• Died: November 18, 1885
• Place of death: New York, New York

Contributions: Azariah Boody was a Canadian-born businessman who was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Rochester, which was founded in 1853. Boody donated eight acres of land to the university and later sold seventeen more to the institution. Boody was also nominated to the United States Congress, but did not fulfill his obligations and resigned before Congress ever convened. He then traveled to New York City to pursue business opportunities in railroad, canal, and bridge building.

Background

Azariah Boody was born on April 21, 1815, in Stanstead County, Province of Quebec, Canada. He moved with his family to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he attended school. In 1850, he moved to Rochester, New York, where he pursued a career in agriculture.

Soon after arriving in Rochester, Boody was named Rochester’s congressional Whig nominee in 1852. He received nearly one thousand votes and was elected to theUnited States Congress, beginning March 4, 1852. However, Boody resigned in October of the following year, before Congress even convened, stating that he had to attend to business matters.

University of Rochester

In 1853, Boody donated eight acres of land, known as Pitkins Woods and a cow pasture at the time, to be used as a campus. At the time, the pasture was covered with dandelions, and the flower was later adopted by the university as its school symbol. Additionally, he sold the university seventeen more acres of land.

The Memorial Art Gallery, Cutler Union, and Anderson Hall reside on the land that Boody donated and sold to the university. Boody’s memory also lives on in the school’s fight song, “The Dandelion Yellow,” which mentions Boody’s donation as the college’s beginning. Additionally, the Azariah Boody Society, a school spirit group, named itself after the original landowner.

Business Ventures

On October 5, 1853, Boody purchased two failed companies, the Lake Erie, Wabash, and St. Louis Railroad Company and the Toledo and Illinois Railroad Company, and merged them into one company, the Toledo and Wabash Railway Company. In 1855, he left Rochester and moved to New York City to construct railroads, canals, and bridges. He remained president of the Toledo and Wabash Railway Company until 1873, when someone else took over because of disagreements among the various companies.

Personal Life

In 1875, Boody retired but remained in New York City, where he died of pneumonia on November 18, 1885. He was survived by his wife, Ambia Corson Boody (1814–1902).

Bibliography

Barnes, Joseph W. “Rochester’s Congressmen Part 1 1789–1869: Azariah Boody.” Rochester History 41.3 (1979): 16–17. PDF file.

“Boody, Azariah.” American Reference Library—Biographies. N.p.:Western Standard, 2001. Print.

Morris, J. C. “The Year 1853.” Ohio Railway Report: Annual Report of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs. 31 Dec. 1902. Rails and Trails. Rails and Trails, n.d. Web. 26 July 2013.

Office of the Historian, Office of Art and Archives. “BOODY, Azariah, (1815–1885).” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–Present. Office of the Historian, Office of Art and Archives. n.d. Web. 29 July 2013.

“Pacific Railway Act.” Pacific Railway Act of 1862. MasterFILE Premier, 2009. Web. 26 July 2013.

RBH. “Boody, Azariah.” Our Campaigns. Our Campaigns, 13 Mar. 2011. Web. 26 July 2013.

U.S. National Archives & Records Administration. “Pacific Railway Act (1862).” OurDocuments.gov. U.S. National Archives & Records Administration, 26 July 2013. Web. 26 July 2013.

University Public Relations, University of Rochester. “Azriah Boody Society.” Rochester Review. University of Rochester, 1999–2002. Web. 26 July 2013.