Samuel Street, Jr.

Samuel Street, also known as Samuel Street Jr, (March 14, 1775 – August 21, 1844) was a Canadian businessman and government official in Upper Canada who became one of the richest men in Upper Canada. Born in Farmington, Connecticut, he moved to Chippawa, Upper Canada, after his father was murdered. In Chippawa he lived with his uncle, Samuel Street, who introduced him to the local business community. In the early 1800s, he entered into various partnerships with other businessmen and purchased mills in the Niagara region. His most prominent partnership was with Thomas Clark, and together they used the profits from the mills to lend money (and charge interest) to various people in Upper Canada, further increasing their wealth. They also purchased property throughout Upper Canada, employing agents to help with the purchases, and lending money to local officials in exchange for notification of property that was to be cheaply sold. He bought shares in banks and transportation companies and held debentures with the Upper Canadian government and regional governments. He was a prominent member of the Niagara business elite and was hired to be an executor for other prominent members. He was also a military commander of the 3rd Lincoln Militia, become a colonel of the militia in 1839. He died in Port Robinson, Upper Canada, and his estate was given to his son, Thomas Clark Street, and four daughters.

Early life and family

Street was born in Farmington, Connecticut on March 14, 1775. He was the eldest son of Nehemiah Street and Thankful Moody. His father was murdered in Cold Spring, New York, and in 1787 Samuel Street moved to Chippawa, Upper Canada, to live with his uncle Samuel Street. Street Jr was introduced to the mercantile community in the Niagara region by his uncle and worked in his uncle's shipping business. In October 1796, Street Jr was granted 600 acres by the British government because he was the son of a loyalist. That year he also became a magistrate and he was also the deputy-registrar for the Niagara region. By 1801 he was also the deputy lieutenant of the militia in Lincoln county. He insisted that religious sects who paid a fine rather than join the militia, such as Quakers, Mennonites, and members of the Old German Baptist Brethren, attend the militia's musters with proof of their fine payment. He threatened to arrest and prosecute those who did not attend the muster.

Business career

Early career and milling operations

The first records of Street's business activities are from 1797, when he received a shipment of goods. He formed a partnership with Thomas Clark in May 1798, but the partnership ended the following year. By 1803 Street was part of the milling business at Niagara Falls and in August he became a clerk for Bridgewater Mills in Chippawa, a milling complex. In 1804 he entered into a partnership with James Durand and in 1807 he purchased a milling complex named Falls Mills from Clark. Falls Mills was rebuilt and turned into a woolen mill, while Bridewater Mills was never rebuilt. In 1822, Street was promoted to be the lieutenant-colonel of the 3rd Lincoln Militia. Other citizens in the Niagara region would hire Street to act as their agent concerning business concerns. He was an executor for prominent people in Niagara to settle estates and disperse land. In 1839 he was promoted to colonel in the 3rd Lincoln Militia.