1907 History of Allegan County, Michigan Illustrated Compiled under the Editorial Supervison of Dr. Henry F. Thomas Allegan Lewis Publishing Company Transcribed by Sue Baroski

Thomas E. Streeter, Sr.

No history of Allegan county would be complete without mention of Thomas E. Streeter. His residence in the village covers a longer period than any other citizen, while his interest in public life and his enterprise in business have constituted an important factor in the substantial upbuilding and improvement of this portion of the state. Wherever he is known his honored and his is best liked where best known.

He was born in Rochester, New York, July 9, 1832. His father, Elias Streeter, was a native of Phelps township, Cattaraugus county, New York, where his parents, Thomas and Ruth Streeter, spent a number of years. His early life was passed uneventfully. He had good home training which developed those qualitative of fortitude and perseverance which enabled him in later life to fill so successfully the role of a pioneer. He early engaged in lumbering pursuits in the Empire sta! te and while still a resident of the east he was married. It was in 1825 that he wedded Miss Julia Ann Bowen, of Springville, Cattaraugus county, New York. He first came to Michigan in the interests of the Boston Company as its representative in the lumber business and he was also actively connected with building operations and in furthering the interests of the village of Allegan in many substantial ways. He arrived here in 1835 when the county was largely a wilderness, which had been punctured to only a slight degree by the white settlers who had come to the west to plant the seeds of civilization in a region which had hitherto been under the domain of the red race. Mr. Streeter co-operated in many movements for the public good and he left the impress of his individuality upon the general up building and development. He was likewise known as a representative and enterprising business man and was an expert in building dams, constructing many of them in the county during the years! of his active business career here. His wife was identified with the Society of Friends or Quakers and was lady who exemplified in her life the spirit of kindliness and gentleness inculcated by the religious sect. In the family of this worthy couple were five sons and five daughters, but only four of the family are now living: Thomas E., of this review; Mrs. Jane Currie, of Ohio: and Mrs. Nellie Davis and Mrs. Mary Fosdick, twins. The father died in Allegan, July 22, 1868, and thus passed away one of the representative pioneer settlers of the county.

Mr. Thomas E. Streeter was only three years of age when brought by his parents to Michigan, at which time there was but one house in the village of Allegan. Mr. Streeter is without exception the oldest resident of the village, his connection therewith antedating that of any other settler by ten years. He has watched the transformation of this part of the state from a wilderness into rich farming district and has seen the v! illage developed from a tiny hamlet into a thriving town. There were Indians living in Allegan county at the time of his arrival and there were many wild animals that roamed through the forest, while various kinds of wild game, including deer, and many fowls were to be had in abundance. It was amid such environments and surroundings that Thomas E. Streeter spent his boyhood days, sharing with the family in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and also enjoying many pleasures that are unknown in this day. He acquired his early education in the first school established in Allegan, it being located on what is now Brady street just north of the City Hotel, the first teacher being a Mr. Warner. Mr. Streeter continued to attend the schools of his time until he reached the of seventeen years. After coming to young manhood he worked in a sawmill and later, when his financial resources had become sufficiently large, he made purchase of a farm which is now within the villa! ge limits. For some time he was thus actively connected with general agricultural pursuits and later he engaged in the hotel business, conducting first the old Exchange Hotel, which he afterward sold and purchased the Allegan House, which he owned for sixteen years, carrying on the business there during most of that time.

In 1859 Mr. Streeter with two companions, furnished an outfit consisting of a team and a saddle horse, which they shipped across the lake to Chicago, and from that point proceeded overland to Denver, Colorado going by way of the Platte river to Fort Kearney, Wyoming, and thence to their destination. On arriving Denver their joint capital consisted of one dollar and a quarter. They disposed of their saddle horse for barrel of whiskey and some plug tobacco and, having tents, they located there and erected a shanty for a store, after which they sold the goods for which they made the trade. Subsequently Mr. Streeter engaged in building operations the! re and built many of the crude houses of the early day in Denver, residing for two years. He wad very successful in his business undertakings in the west. He returned to Allegan, where he has since lived. He tells of many exciting experiences in the west with the Indians and relates many events connected with establishment of the now prosperous and beautiful city of Denver. He conducted the first trial ever held in Denver, he being instrumental in securing the judge, prosecuting attorney and jury, while he acted as counsel for the defense who was charged with theft of a gun.. Through Mr. Streeter’s efforts he was acquitted. This proceeding was conducted strictly in keeping with pioneer and frontier conditions, and came to pass before the days of the vigilance committed, In 1863 he entered the army as a sutler and so continued for about a year. In all that undertook he met with success and his prosperity is attributable in large measure to the fact of his ready recognition and util! ization of opportunities.

He has been particularly prominent in the improvement of the village both through private business interests and also furthering any movement instituted for the general good. In 1884 he built the Allegan Opera House, which he still owns while his son, Thomas E, Streeter Jr., is now acting as manager. He also has about forty acres of land on Miner Lake in Allegan township, which he has converted into a fine summer resort. He has there a number of boats, also sheds for horses and all conveniences for the entertainment of large or small parties who desire to spend the day there. He is likewise building at this place at the present time a summer residence of cement blocks thirty by thirty two feet, and containing seven rooms, to be occupied by his family during the summer months.

Mr. Streeter is recognized as one of the most influential and substantial residents in the county and village of Allegan and has long been recognized as a lea! der in those movements which have had direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of the county.. His fellow townsmen also called him to number of local offices. Prior to the Civil war he was constable of the village of Allegan and also deputy sheriff under Sheriff Benjamin Pratt and Sheriff Jacob Grover. He was likewise marshal of the village of Allegan for different terms. On January 24, 1864, in Allegan , was celebrated the marriage of Thomas E. Streeter and Miss Eliza M. Streeter, a daughter of William and Sarah R. (Bullard) Streeter of New York. They had three children, of who two are living, Jennie having died in early girlhood. The sons are Thomas E. and Horace V. The former, born in Allegan, married Nellie Hinton, of Salem township, this county, while Horace V., also a native of Allegan, wedded Jennie Cary, of Mendon, Michigan, who died leaving three children, Faith, Violette E, and Paul H. Mr. Streeter has from time to time invested in property ! here, making judicious sales also, and has always owned more or less real estate. In his business interest he has been usually successful. No man has been more closely associated with history of the county, and from among the ranks of quite, persevering yet prominent citizens- prominent on account of what he has accomplished - there is no man more deserving of mention in a volume of this character. His acquaintance is very wide and he numbers his friends among young and old, rich and poor, for his social nature and a genial disposition have made him popular.






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