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HENRY M. STREETER
No more worthy citizen has ever made his home in Riverside than the Hon. H. M. Streeter, who came to the colony
in November, 1875, and who has been Avery closely identified with its numerous interests ever since. He was born
in Heath, Mass., March 18, 1829, into the family of Charles and Rhoda (Rice) Streeter, both natives of that state,
where they spent their entire lives, dying at North Adams When their son was an infant of one year the family removed
to North Adams and here the lad grew to maturity and received his schooling in the common schools until the age
of eighteen years. Leaving school he learned the trade of tailor and worked at it for about ten years, when he
decided to make a change. Securing a position as express messenger and mail clerk with the Boston and Albany Railroad
he gave his entire time and attention to the duties of that position for the next ten years of his life. With money
which he had saved during this time he concluded to embark in business on his own account and accordingly he returned
to North Adams and purchased a hotel business which he conducted with moderate success until he came to California.
His decision to locate in Riverside was made to avoid the rigorous climate of New England, influenced by reading
the glowing accounts given by Nordhoff in his description of the country, also by the fact that Mrs. Streeter had
an invalid brother who had settled here the previous year, having come from Chicago on the advice of physicians
and being very well satisfied with local conditions. Upon locating here Mr. Streeter bought forty acres of land,
part of which he put in alfalfa and the rest in oranges. With all of the early settlers the fruit business was
purely experimental and likewise problemental and he met with the usual successes and failures that the others
had to contend with. However, he developed a valuable property, upon which he has since made his home. To perpetuate
his identity a street was named in his honor.
In Cairo, Ill., March 11, 1868, occurred the marriage of H. M. Streeter and Miss Amelia S. Noble, a native of Springfield,
Vt. No children have been born to them In politics Mr. Streeter has always been a Republican and soon after he
settled in the new colony, in 1879, he was persuaded to become a candidate for the state assembly, and although
the county was then strongly Democratic he was elected by a close vote. He served in the session of 1879 and again
he was a candidate for reelection for the full term in 1880; was elected and was very active in the session of
1880-81. In 1890 he was elected to the state senate from this district and served until January, 1895. He did valiant
service in the interests of his constituents in the creation of Riverside county. In 1886 he was elected a member
of the board of city trustees and was made chairman of that body, serving with E. W. Holmes, M. Hoover, W. H. Haight
and W P Russell. He was elected one of the presidential electors from this congressional district in 1888. In August,
1898, he was appointed postmaster of Riverside under the McKinley administration and served until April 1, 1903.
In all his public life he has ever been considerate of the interests intrusted to his care and his actions have
always been open to investigation.
Mr. Streeter and his wife have been members of the Congregational Church for many years. He has seen the city and
county of Riverside develop to its present prosperous condition, and in all uplifting measures he has been a participant.
Now in the evening of his days Mr. Streeter can look back upon a life well spent, and forward to the future without
fear, for he has lived his life according to the teachings of the "Golden Rule."
From:
History of Riverside County, California
With a Biographical Review
History by Elmer Wallace Holmes
And other well known writers
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California 1912
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