As a pioneer of the city of Flint, Mr. Decker is entitled to a
special mention; as a
business man, he was among the early merchants and lumbermen;
in the church he was one of the founders of S. Paul’s
Episcopal church;
upon the organization of the city of Flint, he was chosen its first
mayor.
Mr. Decker was formerly from
New Jersey, his ancestors locating in the village of
Deckertown before the
Revolution. There he was born,
February 4,
1814.
In 1824 his father moved to
Western New York, where Mr. Decker was reared to manhood. In
1838 he was married to
Miss Elizabeth Stevens.
In 1839 he came to Flint, and engaged in the mercantile and
lumbering business with two of his brothers-in-law, A. C. and
Sherman Stevens. This firm continued a few years when it was
dissolved, and Mr. Decker continued in business alone or with other
partners. Since that time he, with Artemas Thayer, built a large
flouring-mill, which was subsequently destroyed by fire. Mr. Decker
has been particularly unfortunate from fires; eight times has he
suffered serious loss by this element, and although the aggregate of
his loss has been many thousand dollars, he has always paid on
hundred cents on the dollar, and at this time is carrying on an
extensive manufacturing business with his son-in-law, H. C. Hascall.
Mr. Decker’s first wife died in 1844. He was again married, to Mrs.
Julia I Clark, formerly
Miss Julia I. Fenton.
He has reared a family of six children, - five daughters and one
son. The son enlisted in the 5th Michigan Cavalry and served in the
war of the Rebellion; was taken prisoner at
Gettysburg,
and died in
Andersonville prison.
On all questions of morality or Christianity, Mr. Decker has ever
thrown his influence upon the side of right and justice. He was
vestryman of St. Paul’s church, of Flint, more than
thirty years,
and has served for many years and to the present time as senior
warden of that organization.
