Progressive Men of the State of Montana (about 1901)
Page 132
William Decker - A large majority of the early settlers of Montana
became permanent residents of the beautiful Gallatin valley, and among
those noted for well-spent lives of honor and usefulness, who have
passed away in the fullness of years and secure in the esteem of his
fellow men, William Decker's name will long be remembered. He was a
native of the state of Illinois, born April 15, 1823, a son of Moses and
Christina Decker, natives of Wabash county, Ind. Mr. Decker was reared
on the old homestead farm in Illinois, and had such educational
advantages as were afforded by the primitive schools of that early
period. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until May 16,
1864, when he set forth with an ox team on the long journey which gave
him title to being one of Montana's pioneers, coming by way of the North
Platte river. At a point where he had stopped for dinner one day a
second train of emigrants stopped for the night and were attacked by the
Indians, a number being killed and many of the mules captured by the
savages. At Rosebud the survivors overtook the train of which Mr. Decker
was a member, and thus augmented the company was sufficiently large to
insure immunity from attack. Mr. Decker arrived in Virginia City
September 1, 1864, remaining about a fortnight, and started for Gallatin
valley, his intention being to engage in farming. He and his family
stopped for a short time on West Gallatin river, and there his son Abner
was born, September 18, 1864, probably the first white child born in
Gallatin valley. Thence they moved to East Gallatin located a tract of
land upon which they lived one year, and then moved six miles further
down the valley, where Mr. Decker had found better land. He there
permanently located and engaged in farming until his death, which
occurred August 11, 1900, having attained the age of seventy-seven
years. Mrs. Decker still retains her residence on the old homestead, now
managed by her son William, the ranch being located ten miles north of
Bozeman, their postoffice address. It is valuable property, devoted to
general farming and is under a high state of cultivation, with many most
excellent and permanent improvements. In politics Mr. Decker gave his
support to the Democratic party. He was a man of strong mentality and
high integrity, charitable in his judgment of his fellow men, whose high
regard came to him in recognition of his sterling character.
On February 19, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Decker to Miss
Clarissa Whitten, who was born in Kinderhook, Ill., a daughter of Bridge
Whitten, who died when she was a mere child. To Mr. and Mrs. Decker ten
children were born, namely: Moses, a rancher on the East Gallatin;
Harrison, who is similarly engaged at Columbia Falls, Mont.; Christina
is the wife of John Milton, a farmer of Gallatin valley; Sarah is the
wife of John Wise, of Columbia Falls; Abner, Perry and John are ranchers
in Judith Basin; Anna died when nine years of age, and Clara and William
are still at home.
Source: Progressive Men of the State of Montana; Chicago: A. W. Bowen &
Co., 1901 or 1902.
Retrieved online March 22, 2008 from Mansfield Library, The University
of Montana-Missoula
[http://www.lib.umt.edu/]
Progressive Men of the State
of Montana (about 1901)
Page 599
George H. Decker - This
genial, cultivated gentleman, hustling business man and generally
esteemed citizen of Butte, was born at Chicago, Ill., on November 3,
1858. His parents were Gerard J. and Helena (D'Opinghaus) Decker,
the former a native of Saxony, Germany, where he was born in 1817, and
the latter of Austria, a descendent of the royal house of the Hapsburg.
They came to America early in the 'fifties and settled at Chicago, where
the father died in 1898 and the mother in 1899.
Mr. Decker received his early
education in the Chicago public schools, after which he pursued a
three-years course of instruction in a Jesuit college, "Stella Matutiua"
at Vorallberg, Tyrol, Switzerland. On his return to Chicago after
the great fire in 1870 he entered the wholesale grocery establishment of
Sibley, Dudley & Co., as a clerk, and remained with the firm twelve
years, rising by rapid promotion to the position of manager of the
business. After their failure in 1883, he followed his adopted
vocation of expert accountant. While residing in Chicago, he
became acquainted with the late Marcs Daly, and at his solicitation came
to Butte, Mont., in 1886, where he has since been connected with the
Washoe Copper Company. He is a member of the Royal League, holding
membership in the organization at Chicago. In 1878 he was united
in marriage with Miss Sierra Nevada Streator, a member of the well-known
Streater family of Illinois, prominent in public affairs, both state and
national, for generations. Her father, Allen D. Streator, was a
noted surgeon in the Union army during the Civil war, and died at Pilot
Knob, MO., while on active duty there in 1863. He was a native of
Allegany county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have a pleasant home
where they dispense an agreeable hospitality to their hosts of friends.
Source: Progressive Men of
the State of Montana; Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1901 or 1902.
Retrieved online March 22, 2008 from Mansfield Library, The University
of Montana-Missoula
[http://www.lib.umt.edu/]
