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the Decker Journey

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Biographies of Deckers living in Mecosta County, Michigan (1883)

Richard S. Decker

James N. Decker

Gilbert A. Decker

John D. Decker

Peter S. Decker

Biography of Richard S. Decker, Mecosta County, Michigan

Title: Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... [and] a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.
Publication Info: Chicago : Chapman brothers, 1883.
Page 418-419
Retrieved 4/1/2009 from http://quod.lib.umich.edu

Richard S. Decker, farmer on sec. 2, Millbrook Tp., was born in Delaware Co., N.Y., Sept. 10, 1825. In 1833 his parents moved to Canada, and Mr. Decker remained there until he was 33 years old, when the family went to Illinois and settled in Kane County. In the fall of 1860 he came to Mecosta County and entered a claim of 40 acres of land under the Swamp Land act in Millbrook Tp., then attached to Hinton. Mr. Decker was a laborer from the age of four years until he became a farmer in Michigan. Previous to his 30th year, he was employed at intervals in a machine shop, alternating with farm work and as a carpenter. Two years before going to Illinois he was variously occupied, and in that State he was employed nearly three years as a carpenter. Reverses in Canada swept away all he had accumulated, and on coming to Mecosta County he began life anew. The township had no independent organization until 1865, and at the date of Mr. Decker's settlement this
 section was mostly in a state of nature, the first permanent inhabitants of the township having been resident but a year. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Decker entered upon the work of a pioneer; built a log house for his family and set about clearing his land. The year following he bought another tract of 40 acres of land and has since added 40 acres more, aggregating 120 acres in all of which he has been the owner. His home farm now contains 76 acres of his original estate, and nearly all of this is well improved. In 1870 the pioneer home gave place to its modern representative-a good frame house, but the days of struggle and privation are still honored in the memory of those who had the fortitude voluntarily to confront them and the forethought to look beyond to the years of fruition sure to follow honest, persistent endeavor.
 
Mr. Decker was married Feb. 26, 1851, to Ellen, second daughter of Lorenzo and Fanny (Fisher) Aldrich. Her parents were natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively, and she was born in Lower Canada, Dec. 26, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have had seven children. The eldest, Danforth D., born Jan. 11, 1853, died a month after birth. Those surviving were born in the order named: Mary C., May 23, 1854; Ida M., March 11, 1856; Hiram S., May 22, 1858; Leonard H., May 3, 1863; Darwin D., Aug. 6, 1867; Addie J., Oct. 19, 1869.
 
In politics Mr. Decker is a Republican, as his record shows. He has served his township two terms as Supervisor, four terms as Treasurer, and has been Constable one year. While acting as custodian of the municipal finances he became involved in difficulties that caused serious trouble and considerable litigation. The safe where the moneys belonging to the township were deposited for security, was broken open and $8oo abstracted; but Mr. Decker claims exoneration from responsibility in the affair.
 
He was drafted in 1864 and served in the Union army until the close of the war. His regiment was attached to the command of General Sherman, and Mr. Decker was in most of the engagements of tha memorable campaign. Himself and wife are Adventists in religious belief. As one of the leading agriculturists and a prominent citizen of the county, we present Mr. Decker's portrait in this Album.

Biography of James N. Decker, Mecosta County, Michigan

Title: Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... [and] a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.
Publication Info: Chicago : Chapman brothers, 1883.
Page 316-318
Retrieved 4/1/2009 from http://quod.lib.umich.edu

James N. Decker, farmer, sec. 10, Hinton Tp., is one of the pioneer settlers of Mecosta County, and was born in Greene Co., N. Y., Sept. 8, 1819. He is the eldest son of Gilbert D. and Mary (Stanley) Decker, both natives of New York, who moved to Canada in the fall of 1833, where the mother died. The father came to Michigan to pass the closing years of his life with his children, and died at the home of his son, Edward S., in Millbrook, Sept. 20, 1869.
 
Mr. Decker passed his youth in the care of his parents, and while in Canada was engaged in farming. In the summer of 1865 he came to Michigan, and bought 160 acres of land, principally in an uncultivated state, paying therefor $750. Its value and. appearance have been so enhanced by cultivation and improvements, that it is held now to be worth $10,000. The convenient and suitable buildings lately erected are a great ornament to the place. After the purchase of the land he returned to Canada, and passed the winter of 1865-6; and in the following spring he came back with his son, built a log house, and made such improvements as were possible, clearing about seven acres of land, which was sown with wheat. He brought his family in the fall of the same year, and before winter, was finally settled in the Peninsular State. Mr. Decker relates graphically his pioneer experiences, and the clearness of his remembrance, with the interesting character of the
 numberless incidents, entirely divest the recital of uniformity and tameness, though the tale is one oft repeated.
 
Mr. Decker shipped the first wheat from Mecosta County over the G. R. & I. Railroad, and in 1873,: harvested the heaviest crop ever raised in the county - 500 bushels from 10 acres. He has been Township Clerk two years, Highway Commissioner three years, Justice of the Peace 11 years, Township Treasurer one year, and was elected Drain Commissioner in the spring of 1883, to serve two years. In politics he is a Republican.
 
Our subject was married in the township of Hope, Canada, Nov. 4, 1840, to Catherine, daughter of James and Mary (Walker) Flanagan, born July 20, 1818, in Canada. Her parents were of Irish nativity, and settled in Canada in its pioneer period, and died there many years ago.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Decker have buried three of eight children: Nelson, born Sept. 26, 1841, died Oct, 23, 1870; Elizabeth, born Sept. 2, 1843, died Nov. 20, 1870; Catherine, born Nov. 23, 1851, died Nov. 12, 1881. The loss of their children has had telling effect upon the parents. All had reached mature years, and their lives were full of promise. The living children are: Eliza, born June 2, 1845; Hester A., June 23, 1847; Matilda, April 12, 1849; Mary J., Jan. 25, 1854; Amelia R., July 9, 1858. Mr. Decker's father has about 112 living descendants, principally in this country.
 
As one of the leading agriculturists of this County, and a gentleman altogether worthy the position, we present the portrait of Mr. Decker in connection with this sketch.

Biography of Gilbert A. Decker, Mecosta County, Michigan

Title: Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... [and] a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.
Publication Info: Chicago : Chapman brothers, 1883.
Page 406
Retrieved 4/1/2009 from http://quod.lib.umich.edu

Gilbert A. Decker, saddler, Millbrook village, was born July 16, 1958 in Kane Co., Ill.  His parents, Peter S. and Caroline Decker, reside in Millbrook Tp.  At the age of 20 Gilbert A. went to the village of Millbrook to learn the trade of harness-maker, and was under the instructions of Charles Clements five months, when he bought the stock in trade of that gentleman and embarked in business independently.  In the summer of 1879 he disposed of his interests and went to Morley to work at his trade; but illness compelled him to abandon his employment for the time being, and after his recovery he worked in different places until the spring of 1883, when he again became the proprietor by purchase of the stock owned by J.A. Tory, to whom he made his sale in 1879.  He is now doing a prosperous business and monopolizes his line of trade in the village of Millbrook.  His stock represents a value of $1,000.
 
Mr. Decker was married in Ottawa Co., Mich., June 27, 1883, to Henrietta, daughter of V.J. Seymour, a native of the State of New York.  Mr. Decker is a Republican.
 

 

Biography of John D. Decker, Mecosta County, Michigan

Title: Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... [and] a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.
Publication Info: Chicago : Chapman brothers, 1883.
Page 344
Retrieved 4/1/2009 from http://quod.lib.umich.edu

  
John D. Decker, farmer, sec. 14, Millbrook Tp., was born in the State of New York, March 11, 1828.  He is a son of Gilbert and Mary (Stanley) Decker, and was reared under the care of his parents, living at home until he was 22 years old, and occupied briefly with farming.  His father removed with his family to Canada when Mr. Decker was about six years old, who remained there until he reached the age of 24 years, going thence to Illinois.  After residing there seven years, engaged meanwhile in farming, he came in the autumn of 1866 to Mecosta County, and bought 80 acres of wild land in Millbrook Tp.  He has since bought 40 acres more, and of the aggregate 120 acres has 40 acres under cultivation
 
He was married in Canada, Feb. 10, 1851 to Harriet R., daughter of David and Lena (Mirkley) Welch, the former a native of New England, the latter of Canada.  She was born in Upper Canada Nov. 30, 1829.  Mr. and Mrs. Decker have had nine children, of whom eight survive:  Louisa H., born Jan. 25, 1852; Eva J., Oct. 25, 1856; Howard E., Feb. 25, 1859; Adella M., Jan. 21, 1862; William A., April 16, 1864; James E. C., March 12, 1868; Mary L., Dec. 29, 1871; Alberta E., Feb. 9, 1875; Edward H., born Feb. 7, 1854, died Jan. 17, 1856.
 
 

Biography of Peter S. Decker, Mecosta County, Michigan

Title: Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... [and] a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.
Publication Info: Chicago : Chapman brothers, 1883.
Page 527-528
Retrieved 4/1/2009 from http://quod.lib.umich.edu

 
Peter S. Decker, farmer, sec. 12, Millbrook Tp., was born in New York, July 30, 1830, and is a son of Gilbert and Mary (Stanley) Decker.
 
He left home at 20 years of age, and for two years thereafter was variously occupied, and the year following was employed in a mill.  His next occupation was in a machine shop at Newcastle, Canada, where he remained four years.  In the spring of 1858 he went to Illinois and settled in Kane County, where he worked a farm on shares nearly three years.  In the fall of 1860 he bought 80 acres of land in Millbrook Tp., on which he has since resided.  He afterward bought 180 acres additional, sold 80 acres, and deeded 50 acres to his son.  His farm now comprised 170 acres of land, with 100 acres under the best class of improvements.  The humble, unpretentious log house built by Mr. Decker on his farm in the first year of his occupancy, gave place a few years ago to as fine a residence as can be found in the township.
 
He was married in Clark, Canada, May 27, 1852, to Caroline, third daughter of Lorenzo and Fanny (Fisher) Aldrich.  Her parents were natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, who settle in Canada.  Mrs. Decker was born in the Dominion, Dec. 21, 1835.  Of her marriage to Mr. Decker nine children have been born as follows: Lourena J., May 24, 1853: Lorenzo D., April 21, 1855; Gilbert A., July 16, 1858 (see sketch); Rosetta A., Jan. 24, 1861 (first female child born in the township); Richard S., Sept. 11, 1864; Hazen A., April 13, 1867, Mary E., June 2,1869; Charlotte E., April 25, 1871, and Mabel E., June 24, 1879.
 
Millbrook township was organized in 1865, and Mr. Decker was elected the first Supervisor at the meeting of organization, an office he has held six years.  He has been Justice of the Peace six years, and District Assessor nine years.  He is a Republican in political sentiment.  He and his wife are members of the denomination known as the "Church of God."