264 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



WILLIAM STREETER 

 (Read before the Academy, December 18, 1916.) 



In the death of Major William Streeter the Academy of Science 

 lost its oldest member, both in years and in length of service, and 

 one to whom the Society owes a great debt of gratitude. 



Major Streeter was born at Whitingham, Vermont, October 11, 

 1834. His early life was spent on a farm. At the outbreak of the 

 civil war he enlisted in the ranks, and belonged to the Tenth Massa- 

 chusetts, a fighting regiment. He participated in eighteen engage- 

 ments but escaped with only one wound. His rank as Major came 

 by successive promotions, and it is said that he declined the pro- 

 motion to Colonel, in favor of another officer. 



Of the years following the civil war we have no record. Com- 

 ing to Rochester in 1868 he engaged in business as a lock manu- 

 facturer, but soon entered the employ of the Sargent & Green- 

 leaf Company as Superintendent ; which position he held for almost 

 50 years. His unusual mental and physical vigor was shown by 

 his ability to carry on his work until within four months of his 

 death. 



He was one of the original members of the Rochester Micro- 

 scopical Society, organized in 1879, from which developed the Roch- 

 ester Academy of Science. He was one of the incorporators of 

 the Academy, in 1881, of whom only four are now living, H. F. 

 Atwood, Adelbert Cronise, H. C. Maine and Cyrus F. Paine. 



In the section of Astronomy, in the early days of the Academy, 

 he was a very active member, having a fine telescope mounted in 

 an observatory on the roof of his house. He was also an active 

 member in the Section of Microscopy, and always retained his in- 

 terest in microscopic work. His collection of microscopic objects 

 and appliances was probably the largest and best in Rochester. 

 He was always most generous in his services to all who needed 

 expert help in study or identification of microscopic forms. 



Major Streeter retained his membership in the Academy from its 

 beginning until his death, in December, 1916. But his diffidence 

 and modesty prevented him from taking an active part in the gen- 

 eral meetings. The only offices which he ever consented to accept 



