Decker Genealogy

Descendants of Jan Gerritse(n) Decker

Generation No. 1

1. JAN GERRITSE(N)1 DECKER was born Abt. 1640 in Heerden, Gilderland, Holland, (Netherlands), and died Bef. February 23, 1709, in Ulster Co., NY. He married GRIETJE HENDRISCKSE WESTERCAMP March 23, 1664, in Kingston (Wiltwyck) Reform Dutch Church, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY, daughter of HENDRICK WESTERCAMP and FEMMETJE ALBERTS. She was born Bet. 1642 - 1644 in New Amsterdam (New York), NY.

Notes for JAN GERRITSE(N) DECKER:

Decker family info from " 'The Original Gedcom' of genealogical research for early Ulster County, New York": Lorraine Luke's web site "My Families of Early Ulster County, New York" found at the RootsWeb.com site; e-mail: lorraine.luke at concast.net;

Additional Decker family info from Decker researcher Thomas P. Oberst, New York, at <http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/o/b/e/Thomas-P-Oberst/Gene12-0003.html>, who reproduces Richard Schermerhorn, Jr.'s compilation "Decker Families in America," 1945, 138 pages, presented to the Holland Society of New York;

Also the Minisink Valley Historical Society;

Kingston in Ulster Co., NY, also named Wiltwyck, Dutch for wild wood; and Esopus, after branch of Delaware tribe from which land was purchased; and 'Sopus;

More About JAN GERRITSE(N) DECKER:

Fact 1: 1688 witness to baptism in Kingston Reformed Church; earlier "Jan Gerritse" or"Jan Gerritsen";

Fact 3: 1703 trustees meeting Rochester; 1709 tax list of Ulster Co.,

Fact 4: 1663 taken prisoner with wife and three children;

Fact 5: 1661 on muster roll of garrison at Wiltwyck (Kingston);

Fact 6: 1688, 1697, 1701 in Kingston Church records;

Fact 7: in Sylvester's "History of Ulster County, NY 1880" for town of Rochester;

Fact 8: also in Richard Schermerhorn, Jr.'s "The Decker Family" 1945;

Fact 9: meaning of word 'decker' is roofer, slater, builder of decks;

Fact 10: owned land in Mombaccus, Ulster Co., NY; purchased in 1685;

Fact 11: traveled back and forth from Holland to America, according to historian Charles Stanley;

Fact 12: from naming practice of the Dutch/Scandanavian, Jan's father would be Gerrit (Gerritsen=Gerrit's son);

the American colonies at left; Kingston along the Hudson River in Ulster Co., NY at right;

More About GRIETJE HENDRISCKSE WESTERCAMP:

Fact 1: at marriage "Est nec virgo nec vidua" = She is neither virgin nor widowed.

Fact 2: Grietje sued Peter Jacobsen 1662 for "ruining" her;

Fact 3: Peter in turn sued her asking for release so that he could marry someone else;

Fact 4: 1663 court ordered him to pay her for "services in having 'lain' with him";

Fact 5: asked "to have honor restored"; Peter denied child was his;

Fact 6: baptismal entry in Kingston Church indicates child was illegitimate;

Fact 7: NY historical manuscript "Dutch, Kingston Papers" (court records 1661-7)

Fact 8: from Tom Oberst, " Our Grietje appears in many places in these court records-what a character she must have been!"

Children of JAN DECKER and GRIETJE WESTERCAMP are:

2. i. HENDRICK JANSEN2 DECKER, b. Abt. 1667, Accord (Kingston), Rochester Twp., Ulster Co., NY; d. 1757.

3. ii. GERRIT (GERARD) JANSE DECKER, b. 1665.

4. iii. JACOB JANS DECKER, b. Bet. 1669 - 1673.

5. iv. HERMANUS DECKER, b. 1671.

v. JAN DECKER, b. Bet. 1675 - 1685; m. ELLETJE QUICK; b. 1688.

 

Generation No. 2

 

2. HENDRICK JANSEN2 DECKER (JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born Abt. 1667 in Accord (Kingston), Rochester Twp., Ulster Co., NY, and died 1757. He married (1) JANNETJEN KORTRIGHT. He married (2) ANTJE (HANNAH) GEERTJE QUICK December 18, 1696 in Kingston Reformed Dutch Church, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY, daughter of THOMAS QUICK and RYMERICK WESTVALL. She was born Bet. 1668 - 1674 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY, and died Abt. 1717 in Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

Notes for HENDRICK JANSEN DECKER:

marriage record in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY.

In 1652, Dutch settlers from Holland moved from Albany, NY, to the Esopus Creek, in the Hudson River Valley, named for the Esopus branch of the Delaware tribe. The settlers bought the area in 1653 from the Esopus, built a village on a promontory which they named "Esopus." The village was later called Wiltwyck (Dutch for "wild woods"). In 1664, Wiltwyck was renamed Kingston after the British took over control of the former Dutch colony.

listed in "Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston...," transcribed and edited by Roswell Randall Hoes, 1891, NY:

       "parents, Henrik Dekker and Hanna Quick, child Thomas, date Sept. 3, (1704), witnesses Jan Dekker and Marrytje Du Puis";

More About HENDRICK JANSEN DECKER:

Fact 1: 1696 received license "to purchase unimproved land in Minisink Co., PA;

Fact 2: in "History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania"

Fact 3: moved with brothers to Minisink before 1712;

Fact 4: lived in Rochester Twp., Ulster Co., 1696;

Fact 5: 1709-1712 tax list for Ulster Co., NY;

Fact 6: heirs mentioned in deed to brother John, 1717;

Children of HENDRICK DECKER and JANNETJEN KORTRIGHT are:

i. ELIZABETH3 DECKER.

ii. ABRAHAM DECKER, b. 1720.

iii. MAGDALENA DECKER, b. 1728.

Children of HENDRICK DECKER and ANTJE QUICK are:

6. iv. THOMAS3 DECKER, b. Abt. 1704, Ulster Co., NY; d. 1780, prob. Port Jervis, Deerpark, (Minisink & Machackemeck), Orange Co., NY.

v. GEERTJE DECKER, b. 1697; m. KRYN OOSTERHOUT, JR.; b. 1701.

vi. FEMMETJE DECKER, b. Bet. 1699 - 1700; d. Abt. 1780; m. PIETER VAN KUYKENDALL; b. April 1698; d. Abt. 1778.

vii. MARGREITJE DECKER, b. Bet. 1707 - 1708; m. HENDRICK HENDRICKSE CORTRIGHT; b. 1706.

viii. SARAH DECKER, b. 1709; d. 1747; m. JACOB ROSENCRANS; b. 1706.

ix. JOHANNES DECKER, b. 1712; m. (1) ELISABETH DEWITT; b. 1714; m. (2) DEBORA VAN VLIET; b. 1735.

7. x. PIETER DECKER, b. April 01, 1711, Marbletown, Ulster Co., NY; d. September 1773, Deckertown, Schuyler Co., NY.

8. xi. HENDRICK DECKER.

 

3. GERRIT (GERARD) JANSE2 DECKER (JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1665. He married MARGARET GRIETIJE JANSZ. She was born August 1664.

Children of GERRIT DECKER and MARGARET JANSZ are:

i. HEYLTJE GERRITSE3 DECKER, b. 1686; m. HENDRICK SCHOONMAKER; b. 1683.

ii. JAN GERRITS DECKER, b. 1688; m. BARBARA DEWITT; b. 1692.

iii. MARGARET DECKER, b. 1695.

iv. ARIANTJE DECKER, b. 1698; d. Bef. 1739; m. TJERK DEWITT; b. 1698; d. 1764.

 

4. JACOB JANS2 DECKER (JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born Bet. 1669 - 1673. He married ANNETJE HENDRICKS. She was born 1675.

Children of JACOB DECKER and ANNETJE HENDRICKS are:

i. HENRICK3 DECKER, b. 1698.

ii. MARGARET GRIETJE DECKER, b. 1700; m. BERNARDUS SWARTWOUT; b. 1697.

iii. CATHERINE DECKER, b. 1702; m. GYSBERT BOGART.

iv. GEERTJE DECKER, b. 1704.

v. JACOBUS DECKER, b. 1706; m. NEELTJE TIETSORT; b. 1709.

vi. JOHANNES DECKER, b. 1708.

vii. SARA DECKER, b. 1711; m. WILLIAM TIETSOORT; b. Abt. 1694; d. March 04, 1791.

viii. BEJAMIN DECKER, b. 1712; m. MAGDELENA CORTRIGHT; b. 1706.

ix. FEMMETJEN DECKER, b. 1714; m. ISAAC MIDDAGH; b. 1721.

x. LEA DECKER, b. 1717; m. SOLOMON DAVIS, JR..

xi. ELIZABETH DECKER, b. 1719.

xii. SOLOMON DECKER, b. 1721; m. HELENA QUICK; d. February 19, 1849.

 

5. HERMANUS2 DECKER (JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1671. He married RACHEL DE LA MONTAGNE. She was born 1674.

Children of HERMANUS DECKER and RACHEL LA MONTAGNE are:

i. MARGARET3 DECKER, b. 1696.

ii. WILHELMUS DECKER, b. 1698.

iii. ELEANOR DECKER, b. 1699.

iv. JAN DECKER, b. 1701.

v. WILLIAM DECKER, b. 1708.

vi. JOHANNA DECKER, b. 1705.

vii. HERMANUS DECKER, b. 1706.

viii. MARIA DECKER, b. 1712.

ix. RACHEL DECKER, b. 1714.

x. HENDRICK DECKER, b. 1716.

xi. BENJAMIN DECKER, b. 1719.

 

Generation No. 3

 

6. THOMAS3 DECKER (HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born Abt. 1704 in Ulster Co., NY, and died 1780 in prob. Port Jervis, Deerpark, (Minisink & Machackemeck), Orange Co., NY. He married JANNETJE (NIMWEGEN) VAN INWEGEN Aft. June 04, 1727 in Kingston Reformed Dutch Church, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY, daughter of HERMANDUS VAN INWEGAN and JANNETJE COBES. She was born Abt. 1706 in Port Jervis, Deerpark, (also named Minisink & Machackemeck) Orange Co., NY.

Notes for THOMAS DECKER:

from "Settlement of Orange County" (NY), <http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/orange/history/set1.htm>:

       "An old family by the name of Decker were the pioneers in that direction [south] which is now very numerous, and from them Deckertown has its name."

listed in "Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston...," transcribed and edited by Roswell Randall Hoes, 1891, NY:

       "parents, Henrik Dekker and Hanna Quick, child Thomas, date Sept. 3, (1704), witnesses Jan Dekker and Marrytje Du Puis";

More About THOMAS DECKER:

Burial: prop. Magagkemack Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery, Port Jervis, Orange Co., NY

Fact 1: lived in Minisink Precinct 1727; on tax rolls 1739;

Fact 2: deacon Machachemek Reformed Dutch Church; 1752 Elder;

Fact 3: 1755 mentioned as "respected elder";

Notes for JANNETJE (NIMWEGEN) VAN INWEGEN:

Deerpark was formerly known as Minisink and Machackemeck.

Children of THOMAS DECKER and JANNETJE VAN INWEGEN are:

9. i. GEORGE/JORIS W.4 DECKER, b. 1740, "near New Jersey line," Orange County, NY; d. November 29, 1842, Pulaski County, KY.

ii. HENDRICK DECKER, b. 1728.

iii. ANNATJE DECKER, b. 1730, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY; d. January 30, 1821, Owasco, Cayuga Co., NY; m. ANTHONY VAN ETTEN, August 03, 1750; b. 1726, Ulster Co., NY; d. November 25, 1778, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

iv. DANIEL DECKER, b. 1737, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY; m. BLANDINA BREDENBURGH; b. 1738, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

More About DANIEL DECKER:

Burial: prob. Machackemeck Dutch Reformed Cemetery, Orange Co., NY

 

 

 

v. PETRUS DECKER, b. Bet. 1742 - 1747, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

vi. HULDA DECKER, b. 1744, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY; m. JACOB DEWITT GUMAER; b. December 12, 1739.

vii. BENJAMIN DECKER, b. 1743, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

viii. JOHANNES DECKER, b. 1735, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY; m. MARGARET GUMAER; b. May 12, 1736, Port Jervis, Deerpark, Orange Co., NY.

 

7. PIETER3 DECKER (HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born April 01, 1711 in Marbletown, Ulster Co., NY, and died September 1773 in Deckertown, Schuyler Co., NY. He married MAGDALENA OOSTERHOUT. She was born November 12, 1710 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY.

Children of PIETER DECKER and MAGDALENA OOSTERHOUT are:

10. i. MARTINUS4 DECKER, b. November 20, 1733, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; d. April 24, 1802.

ii. MARIA DECKER, b. 1736.

iii. CATHARINA DECKER, b. 1738.

iv. JOSIAS DECKER, b. 1740.

v. HENDRICKUS DECKER, b. 1743.

vi. ANNATJE DECKER, b. 1745.

vii. SAMUEL DECKER, b. 1749.

viii. JOSEPH DECKER, b. 1751.

 

8. HENDRICK3 DECKER (HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) He married (1) ANNA (HANNA/ANNATJE) TIETSORT. She was born 1704.

Child of HENDRICK DECKER is:

i. JACOB4 DECKER, b. 1718.

 

Generation No. 4

 

9. GEORGE/JORIS W.4 DECKER (THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1740  "near New Jersey line," Orange County, NY, and died November 29, 1842, in Pulaski County, KY. He married SALLY/"AILSEY" 1776 in New Goshen, NY. She was born Abt. 1745 in New York, and died Aft. 1800 in Wayne Co., KY.

Notes for GEORGE/JORIS W. DECKER:

recorded in the Richard Schermerhorn, Jr., book "Decker Family," 1945, presented to the Holland Society of New York; specifically states that Joris Decker was baptized June 17, 1740, at the Machachemack (Port Jervis) Reformed Dutch Church, sponsors: Joris Davids and Naomi Koettebek;

listed as Revolutionary soldier in "A Century of Wayne County, Kentucky 1800-1900" by Augusta Phillips Johnson, p. 6:
'Many men who had given service in the Revolution came to what in 1800 became Wayne County...
'The pension list of the War Department gives the following names of Revolutionary soldiers who emigrated to Wayne County:
'Under Act of 1818, Died in Kentucky: ...George Decker, Virginia, born 1740...'

also listed in "New York in the Revolution--Enlisted Men": Abraham Decker, Benjamin Decker, Conrad Decker, George Decker, Isaac Decker, Jacob Decker, Jacob C. Decker, John Decker, Lawrence L. Decker;

additional info from Decker descendent Dot Allen;

from Martha Crowhorn, descendent and Decker researcher; also researched by Decker genealogist Pat Spurling:

letter from Rev. War vet. and pensioner George/Joris Decker--

        "We were first marched to Delaware River on the frontiers in New York, thence to North River to Stony Point, thence with their main army and was discharged in the fall not far from Stony Point.

       "But have lost my discharge for my tour of 8 months.

       "Shortly after my return I got married and about 4 or 5 months before the Battle of Long Island, I was again drafted for 9 months tour in my said county; its name not recollected and served the full term of 9 months as a private under Capt. Wood, Lieut. Jackson, his Christian name not recollected, but a brother to ...my former captain, and Sergeant Forkiner. We marched toward the North River; we took shipping and landed in the city of New York.

at right, Battle of Long Island, NY, August 27, 1776; General George Washington vs. Major General Howe;

       "Then to White Plains between North and East River. We then marched back to the city of New York. I took sick and was taken to the hospital. When I got well, I was in the Battle of Long Island commanded by General Washington. About one o'clock in the night after the battle, we retreated off the island to the city of New York and remained there a short time and had some small engagements and we then retreated up North River near King's Bridge and stayed until we were discharged. The precise time not recollected before the snow at the time was up to my shoulders.

       "I lived and was born in the state of New York, near Goshen, the county seat for about 35 years, afterwards in Rockbridge County, VA, 3 years, then in North Carolina Iredell County, 4 years, then in Holston, Washington County, VA, 4 years, then I moved back to North Carolina, the same place I left, then back to Holston, the same place I left, then to Kentucky, first in Pulaski County, KY, then to Cumberland County, KY, and then into Wayne where I now live. I have lived about 22 years, except for one year in Indiana, that I lived any time."

Said soldier died 11-29-1842.

A letter from James C. Kennedy, of Washington to the pension department, states that a daughter of George W. Decker, pensioner who died in Pulaski Co., KY, has applied to him to secure for her an alleged balance of pension due her father George W. Decker.

Her name is not shown in the said letter.

Affidavit for proof was signed "Adam Vickery, clergyman in Wayne."

painting of Battle of Long Island, NY below;

summary from "Abstracts of Revolutionary War Files," page 933:

       "George Decker: S3036(8)1, NY line, soldier was born January 1, 1743 0r 1744 near Goshen in the highlands of NY State near the New Jersey line and soldier lived there at enlistment and he lived there about 35 yrs. Then moved on to Rockbridge City, VA for 3 yrs. then moved to Iredell City, NC for 4 years then moved back to the Holston River in Washington County, VA for 4 yrs. then moved back to Iredell City then moved back to the Holston River then moved to KY and lived in Pulaski, Wayne, Cumberland Counties. He applied for pension from Wayne Co., KY, Aug. 28, 1832, where he lived 22 yrs. with the exception of 1 year that he lived in IN. Soldier died Nov. 29, 1842, in Pulaski County, KY. Soldier had married shortly after his 1st tour of service but his wife wasn't named. A daughter (not named) of soldier was mentioned."

 

 

 

another summary:

Decker, George Pension number S30.381 New York

Wayne Co., KY 8-28-32, Age 90 January 1, 1833

States that he entered the service as a private; that he was born in the highlands of New York, near the New Jersey line, state of New York 1742 or 1744 and was drafted for 3 months in the spring of 1775 in said county under Capt. Jackson, under Col. Drake, and General Scott, thinks his name was General Scott.

From the above, George states that he was born "near Goshen" (not "in") and "near the New Jersey line" (probably Port Jervis, i.e., Minisink area, also known as "Machackemeck" where Hudson Valley Deckers were located). When this is added to:

1. the baptism of a Joris (Dutch for George) in Port Jervis, 1740,

2. that people in his time period often were not that concerned with data, places, dates,

3. our family story that George W. Decker, our ancestor, lived to be over 100 years of age,

4. that George named a son Thomas--the patronymics of Dutch/German tradition,

5. and that the George W. Decker who applied for his Revolutionary War pension from Wayne County, KY, where our ancestor's son Thomas and grandson David lived, died in 1842,

it is my contention that this George is the Joris, b. 1740, son of Thomas, b. 1704.

Wayne Co., KY Order Book A, Page 435:

      "Ordered that Andrew Milburn, George Decker...be exempt from working on public roads on account of old age."

The modern map above shows the route the Decker family would have taken from the western Virginia frontier to what would become Wayne Co., KY.  Washington Co., VA, where George and family were living at the time, is on the east border of Scott County.  They would have made their way to Daniel Boone's Wilderness Trail/Road, in orange, and continuing west would have eventually reached the Cumberland Gap.  A "wilderness road" followed the Clinch River, in dark turquoise.  This would have been the first part of the journey for the Alleys and Denneys, eventual family members of the Deckers.

 

from "Wayne County, Kentucky Deed Book B 1811-1818," June Baldwin Bork, p. 1993, p. 65:
       'Recorded: 20 Oct 1812--Bill of Sale: Joseph Decker doth contract and sell his while possessions to George Decker: 1 bay mare, 1 cow & calf, 2 two yrs ole barrows, big wheel, little wheel & the rest of the house hold furniture & all my corn... it being for value received... /s/ Joseph (X) Decker. Wit: John Lay, Hardy Hughs.'

from a history of Knox County, Kentucky by Elmer Decker, pub. 1939, pp.68-69, as reproduced on http://www.bellcountypubliclibraries.org:
       "Andrew M. Decker, a member of the Board of Education for the State of Kentucky, of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, was the son of Andrew M. Decker and Eliza Jane Hurst Decker, the grandson of Andrew [error, should be William? ] Decker and Rhoda Hunt Decker and the great grandson of George and Aisley Decker. George Decker was a Revolutionary War veteran from Orange County, New York."

More About GEORGE/JORIS W. DECKER:

Baptism: June 17, 1740, Machackemack (now Port Jervis, aka Deerpark), Orange Co., NY; sponsors: Joris Davids & Naomi Koetteback/Kotteback;

Fact 1: Revolutionary War vet., KY pension list Sept. 2, 1833;

Fact 2: lived to be 102;

Fact 3: 1814 May Court, tax list Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 4: 1790 census for Iredell Co., NC; 1810 census Wayne Co., KY;

At right is a map of Cumberland Gap. George and family would have traversed this route getting from Virginia to Kentucky.

Fact 5: "Sally" is a wife;

Fact 6: Ann Gibbs sold to George Decker for $100 77 acres on waters of Beaver Creek;

Fact 7: 1820 census for Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 8: George Decker and wife Sally sold William Haynes 27 acres on Beaver Creek for $?100;

Fact 9: 1830 census for Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 10: listed in "New York in the Revolution-Enlisted Men";

Fact 11: would have traveled through Cumberland Gap;

Fact 12: 1840 census Pulaski Co., KY, living next to Dicey Decker, John H. Decker's widow;

The picture at right is of the painting by Bingham titled Through the Cumberland Gap.  Decker descendant and family genealogist Melody Summers Hull remembers as a child enjoying this picture.  Little did she know that eventually she would use it to illustrate the history of her ancestors.

Children of GEORGE/JORIS DECKER and SALLY are:

11. i. THOMAS5 DECKER, b. 1783, Rockbridge Co., VA; d. 1866, Wayne Co., KY.

12. ii. JOHN DECKER, b. 1779, Orange Co., NY; d. Bet. August 1854 - 1857, Wayne Co., KY.

iii. WILLIAM DECKER, b. Abt. 1780, Mechlenburg, VA; d. Aft. 1840, Pulaski Co., KY; m. RHODA HUNT, July 02, 1808, Pulaski Co., KY; b. 1787, Pulaski Co., KY; d. Abt. 1860, Kentucky.

More About WILLIAM DECKER:

Fact1: 1840 census Rockcastle Co., KY;

iv. JOSEPH DECKER, b. Abt. 1784, Kentucky; m. (1) SARAH "SALLY" BROWN, February 26, 1809, Wayne Co., KY; b. 1784, Wayne Co., KY; m. (2) PRUCILLA DUVALL, Abt. 1819.

More About JOSEPH DECKER:

Fact 1: 1810 census for Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 2: sold all of his property to George Decker and ran off with another man's wife=Prucilla Duvall in 1818; never heard from again;

More About SARAH "SALLY" BROWN:

Fact 1: marriage surety bond dated February 20, 1809, married on the 26th, by Elliott Jones="parties of age";

v. ABNER DECKER, b. 1785, Iredell, NC; m. MARY "POLLY" GARNER, October 29, 1816, Wayne Co., KY; b. Abt. 1789, Virginia.

More About ABNER DECKER:

Fact 1: veteran of War of 1812;

Fact 2: family story says that Abner was wounded in battle, and Eliza nursed him back to health; he married her after first wife died;

vi. ELIZABETH DECKER, b. Abt. 1787; m. HENRY GARNER, November 24, 1810, Wayne Co., KY; b. Abt. 1775, Tennessee.

More About HENRY GARNER:

Fact 1: on census for Wayne Co., KY, 1820 & 1840; 1850 in Clinton Co.;

Fact 2: in Wayne Co., KY, Deed Book E 1829-1831;

vii. JAMES (JEFFERSON?) DECKER, b. Abt. 1788; d. 1816, Kentucky; m. MARY "POLLY" ?, Kentucky.

More About JAMES (JEFFERSON?) DECKER:

Fact 1: 1810 census for Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 2: veteran of War of 1812, Capt. John C. Morrison's Co., of Volunteer Infantry of the Kentucky Militia, commanded by Lt. Col. Dudley;

Fact 3: Administration of James Decker's estate granted by wife November 1816;

viii. SALLY DECKER, b. Abt. 1790, North Carolina; m. JAMES GILBERT, Abt. 1817, Wayne Co., KY; b. 1788, Wayne Co., KY.

More About JAMES GILBERT:

Fact1: on 1820 census for Wayne Co., KY, living next to Abner Decker;

 

10. MARTINUS4 DECKER (PIETER3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born November 20, 1733 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY, and died April 24, 1802. He married JANNEKE WESTBROOK 1790 in Sussex Cty., NJ. She was born August 13, 1747.

Notes for MARTINUS DECKER:

from the book "The Old Mine Road," by D. G. Hine:

       "In the 1789, the present site of Port Jervis was known as Nahant and, while the town is modern-1826-having been made by the canal, it was included in the Minisink country and there is yet standing here the stone house of Martinus Decker, built possible about 1759, where Martinus was married to Jenneke Westbrook, known as Johannas Decker's fort. This was burned out by the Indians on July 19, 1779, but the solid stone walls were not injured and in 1797 Johannas Decker repaired the place and it stands today on Main Street, Germantown, as he left it."

More About MARTINUS DECKER:

Fact 1: Pension file (R7158) includes copies of a page from family bible;

 

Children of MARTINUS DECKER and JANNEKE WESTBROOK are:

i. PETER5 DECKER, b. January 27, 1760.

ii. SARA DECKER, b. 1762.

iii. JOHANNES DECKER, b. March 20, 1765.

iv. RICHARD DECKER, b. September 15, 1767.

 

Generation No. 5

 

11. THOMAS5 DECKER (GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born bet. 1780 -1783 in Rockbridge Co., VA, and died December 30, 1866, in Wayne Co., KY. He married SARAH ALLEY Bet. December 22 - 24, 1812 in Wayne Co., KY, daughter of JAMES ALLEY and MASSEY SAUNDERS. She was born 1789 in Virginia, and died May 5, 1880, in Wayne Co., KY.

Notes for THOMAS DECKER:

THOMAS DECKER SERVED IN THE WAR OF 1812.

 

 

a picture of the Cumberland Gap, left; location of Wayne County in Kentucky, right;

Kathy Decker Patscheck found stones for Thomas and Sarah at Bugwood Cemetery, Wayne County, KY.

"A Little History of the David Decker Family" by granddaughter Daisy Field-Fink, daughter of Cynthia A. (Annie) Decker Dwiggins, who married Addison Dwiggins.

letter dated June 3, 1961,

       "Mother's father, Grandpa Decker, was born in Kentucky near Monticello where Mae (Mrs. James Humble) now lives. His father's [Thomas Decker's] house was standing on the bank of the Cumberland River when Mother and I were there. It was built high off the ground and there was an old tree standing by it. You could see where the water had left its mark high up on the tree when the river had been in flood. Right across the river from that old house was where Uncle Bill (William) Decker lived when we were there. We went across the river in a little row boat, Mother and I. Just twelve miles from that place is Monticello where the old courthouse was, all covered with vines, and where Grandpa got his marriage license and was married.

       "...the damning of the Cumberland created Lake Cumberland and inundated entirely all the familiar territory that the Decker family called 'Home.' "

More About THOMAS DECKER:

Burial: Bugwood Cemetery, Wayne Co., KY

photos, above and below, of Thomas and Sarah Alley Decker's gravestones at the Bugwood Cemetery, Wayne Co., KY, taken by Decker researcher Debbie Decker Kinman;

Fact 1: listed on census 1820's -1860's in Wayne County, KY;

Fact 2: veteran of War of 1812, Capt. Taul's Company from Wayne Co. KY, commander Col. Barbee; also Capt. Fards Co.;

Fact 3: buried with wife Sarah in Bugwood Cemetery, Wayne Co., KY;

Fact 4: mentioned in "A Century of Wayne County, Kentucky" p. 46;

Fact 5: had cabin "built up" on bank of Cumberland River, twelve miles from Monticello, KY; across river was son Bill's cabin; area later dammed and flooded for Lake Cumberland;

Fact 6: would have traveled through Cumberland Gap;

Fact 7: marriage surety bond dated December 24, 1812, by William Summers;

More About SARAH ALLEY:

Burial: Bugwood Cemetery, Wayne Co., KY

Fact1: listed on 1870 census for Wayne Co., KY, living with son John and his family;

Children of THOMAS DECKER and SARAH ALLEY are:

13. i. DAVID 6 DECKER, b. Abt. 1814, Wayne, Co., Kentucky; d. February 12, 1888, Elwood, IN.

14. ii. JOHN J. DECKER.

iii. GABRIEL/GABE DECKER.

iv. WILLIAM DECKER.

v. MARY MASSA DECKER.

vi. CATHERINE DECKER.

 

12. JOHN5 DECKER (GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1779 in Orange Co., NY, and died Bet. August 1854 - 1857 in Wayne Co., KY. He married ELIZABETH Abt. 1799 in Kentucky. She was born 1785 in North Carolina, and died Aft. 1840 in Wayne Co., KY.

Notes for JOHN DECKER:

info on John Decker and descendents from Decker researcher Cathy Hokanson <mike.cath at netzero.com>;

More About JOHN DECKER:

Fact 1: veteran of War of 1812, Capt. David Holt's Company, Kentucky Infantry-commanded by Col. John Miller;

Fact 2: on 1810, '40, '50 census for Wayne Co., KY; 1834 tax list for Wayne Co., KY

Fact 3: cause of death: old age;

Children of JOHN DECKER and ELIZABETH are:

15. i. WILLIAM6 DECKER, b. Abt. 1800, Kentucky; d. Aft. 1841, Kentucky.

ii. GEORGE W. DECKER, b. Abt. 1804, Virginia; m. (1) NANCY WEDDLE; m. (2) RACHEL NELSON, Abt. 1831, Adair Co., KY; b. 1810, Tennessee.

More About GEORGE W. DECKER:

Fact 1: occupation: carpenter and farmer;

Fact 2: on 1840 census for Russell Co., KY; 1860 Casey Co., KY;

iii. JOHN JEFFERSON DECKER, b. Abt. 1805, Kentucky; m. MATILDA CULLOM, October 16, 1828, Wayne Co., KY; b. 1806, Kentucky. He died after 1855 in Arkansas

More About JOHN JEFFERSON DECKER:

Fact 1: moved his family from Wayne Co., KY, to Pope Co., IL in 1841-2, on 1850 census; then moved to Benton Twp., Fulton Co., AR.  His family is on 1860 & 1880 census for AR;

Fact 2: children were John, Frances, George, Elizabeth, James, Abraham;

iv. MARY "POLLY" DECKER, b. Abt. 1809, Kentucky; d. Aft. 1870, Kentucky; m. CLAIBORN H. GREGORY, SR., March 10, 1830, Wayne Co., KY; b. 1808, Kentucky; d. Bef. 1870, Kentucky.

v. SARAH DECKER, b. Abt. 1810, Kentucky; m. JESSE BOSTON, July 22, 1830, Wayne Co., KY; b. Abt. 1810, North Carolina.

vi. ELIZABETH DECKER, b. Bef. 1820; m. JOSEPH WILSON, July 25, 1834, Russell Co., KY.

vii. CATHERINE DECKER, b. Abt. 1830, Kentucky.

More About CATHERINE DECKER:

Fact1: deemed unsound of mind by Kentucky courts;

 

Generation No. 6

 

At right is a copy of the tintype labeled "David William Decker" from descendant Dot Stephens Allen.  The beads around David's neck are Indian beads obtained from bartering.

13. DAVID 6 DECKER (THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born Abt. 1814 in Wayne, Co., Kentucky, and died February 12, 1888 in Elwood, IN. He married LURANA DENNEY October 11, 1832 in Wayne, Co. Kentucky, daughter of BENJAMIN DENNEY and AGNES BELEW/BELLEW/BALLOW. She was born 1818, and died 1855 in Indiana.

Notes for DAVID DECKER:

from A Little History of the David Decker Family, unpublished manuscript by granddaughter Daisy Field-Fink, daughter of Cynthia A. (Annie) Decker Dwiggins, who married Addison Dwiggins:

letter dated June 3, 1961,

       "Mother's father, Grandpa Decker, was born in Kentucky near Monticello where Mae (Mrs. James Humble) now lives. His father's (Thomas Decker's) house was standing on the bank of the Cumberland River when Mother and I were there. It was built high off the ground and there was an old tree standing by it. You could see where the water had left its mark high up on the tree when the river had been in flood. Right across the river from that old house was where Uncle Bill (William) Decker lived when we were there. We went across the river in a little row boat, Mother and I. Just twelve miles from that place is Monticello where the old courthouse was, all covered with vines, and where Grandpa got his marriage license and was married.

        "He fell in love with a young girl name Betty (Elizabeth) Allie/Alley [actually Denney], and they wanted to get married, but her parents said they were too young and would not let them. So Grandpa went and joined the army. I think it was at the time of the Mexican War, thinking he would be old enough when he returned. But when he was discharged and came back, hoping to marry Betty, he found her sweeping off a large flat rock that lay outside their cabin door and from her appearance he knew she was expecting a baby. She had married a man by the name of Barrow. It hurt Grandpa and made him mad so he turned around and married her older sister for spite. Betty had married Barrow to spite her parents.

       "Then Grandpa left Kentucky and came to Indiana. I believe he settled around Frankton. There was a little United Brethren church near, and Grandpa was converted and became class leader in the church, a position he held for some time. There were two men in the church who owned adjoining farms that were having difficulties over a line fence. They decided to go to law about the matter, and Grandpa did not think it right, but they should settle the matter as the Bible indicated. They would not listen to him, so he resigned and left the church. He was a back-slider until he was an old man; I think I was about five years old.

       "I don't know how many children he had when he left Madison County and went to Tipton County to live. He entered several hundred acres of land from the government and had to live on the various pieces a stated time to be able to get a deed for them. He was living there, close around Tipton and Sharpsville, when mother was born. The closest neighbor was a half mile and the children to follow. When the woman got there my mother was born, washed, and cared for by her mother as she had no doctor.

       "Grandpa had a lot of dealings with the Indians as there were many of them about. He would have been a wealthy man had he let whiskey alone, but he drank and was a very wicked and brutal man in his family. He was not good to Grandma (Lurana Denney) as he always held a grudge about Betty (Elizabeth) marrying Barrow, and he mistreated the sister that he married. Mother said he would come home drunk and run all of them out of the house and stand, holding an ax over her mother's head. He was so cruel, and treated her so badly that when the last baby was born, she died and so did the infant. But before Grandma died, Betty's husband had died and left her with five children. Grandpa was left with nine children, and Aunt Ellie was just a nursing baby when Grandma died, so Grandpa and Betty married and there were children on both sides, her children being older than his children. Grandpa was not good to her children, but Mother said her Aunt Betty was a real mother to his children. He resented all the children, his and hers because they had not belonged to both of them. He still held that old grudge against her for marrying Barrow, and he made life very unhappy for all of them.

       "He kept whiskey by the barrel at the house, and Mother said he would come home, late at night, and make her, a little girl of eleven, get up and go out, catch a chicken, and fry it for him, and the men he had brought home with him. And when she had cooked it he would whip her and make her dance for them; Betty did not dare say a word. She said he would come home drunk and run them out of the house and keep them out all night.

       "He took a lease, intending to cut the timber off it, and took Betty along to cook for the men he had working for him, leaving Aunt Jane and Aunt Lizzie at home to keep the smaller children. They just had a little log cabin, and when they went to bed they closed the door. There was a little "smoke-house" just a few feet from the cabin where they smoked their meat, and Grandpa had several gourds, filled with gun-powder, hanging in it. During the night someone set fire to the cabin and had come and opened the door they had closed on retiring and propped it open. The fire awakened the girls, and they got the smaller children out and away safe. The powder gourds began to explode and someone "hollered" a little distance away. It burned everything they had; only the things they had washed and was still hanging on the line remained. They all thought....................(?)

        "I have heard Aunt Julia and Mother talk about those times--and laugh. Grandpa got a covered wagon fixed up, hitched two oxen to it, and went all the way back to Kentucky to bring his father [Thomas Decker] and mother [Sarah Alley] to Indiana. I forgot how long Mother said it took him to make the trip, but they would not leave Kentucky and come with him. It made him mad, and he told them they would never see him again--and they never did.

        "Dennie Brankle was Betty's daughter's son that lived at Middletown. She lived in Windfall, and Betty left Grandpa and went to live with Martha Brankle. One day Mother was there and she and Betty were looking through some pictures, and they came upon Grandpa's picture. Betty cried and said: "Annie, put it away. If I can't live with him I can't bear to look at this picture."

       "When my mother and father moved to Van Wert, Ohio, Grandpa went with them, also Uncle Newton. Mellie (Melville, Annie Dwiggins' oldest son) was a year old at that time and it was wild country there. Deer would come up to the house, and Grandpa killed a lot of them according to Mother. She said when Dad started to town, he would take a *u*s-*ail with him and have to get out every little while and dislodge the mud from the wheels. My little sister Harriet Ellen was (born?) there. Mother and Dad had raised her youngest sister, Aunt Ellie, and she was with them also. She was about twenty and engaged to marry a Methodist minister, but shortly before their marriage date she died, and about two months later my little sister died. They are both buried out there (Ohio). Rob (Robert Fink, Daisy Dwiggins' last husband) and I went to the graveyard where they are buried. There is a lovely highway runs right by the cemetery. Mother would not believe me. She said it just could not be. I went to an orchard just across the highway and brought her some apples from the place where she and Dad used to take the wagon and to get apples to make apple butter. We would have taken her to see the old place had she been able to make the trip.

       "Uncle Newt (Newton) married out there and they had a little girl two years old and then she had twin girls and died. He left them with her mother until he could return to Frankton and find someone to take care of them for him. When he went back to get them her mother had placed them in a home, and they had "adopted them out" and he could not find them, and he never did find them until they were all married and had families. Mother and Aunt Julia went out there to visit Uncle Amos Decker, and they found out where they (the girls) were all married and had families. Two farmers had adopted the twins, and they lived on adjoining farms, but they did not find out they were sisters until both *******************Dayton, Ohio. So he (Newt), at last, got to see them. I went to see Nola when we were in Dayton. The girls just thought that he did not try to find them, I suppose. Nola begged him to come and live with them, but he would not.

        "Grandpa took a l**** *** ***land north of Elwood, built him a little cabin right in the woods and lived there. Mother and I went out to see him one day that I remember so well: he was sitting outside the cabin on an old split-bottom chair, leaning back against the cabin. His ***on *acks (guns on racks?) in the house, seed-corn hanging about along with the gourds containing his gun-powder. I can see that scene yet. He had been "reclaimed" and I remember him walking back and forth across Mother's rooms, clad in his black and red plaid shirt, with his hands behind his back--singing "Am I a soldier of the Cross, a follower of The Lamb," praising the Lord and weeping. He went with Mother and I to the Christian church, where Mother belonged, and the preacher said: "Brother Decker, testify." Grandpa stood up, but began to weep saying: "I can't, Brother (Perkins?), I'm too (full? fall? ???). He said to Mother one day: "Well, Annie, I have told all the children, excepting Belle, that I taught you wrong ****, that all would go to Heaven, no matter what they did or believed. If the Lord just lets me live until I can see her and tell her, I'll be happy. But he took sick a little while after this and they brought him to Aunt Julia's (Wood) home and there he died. He did not get to see Aunt Belle, but she came to his funeral.

Family records show that David spent some of his later years living in a simple log cabin near the Waymire Cemetery in northwest Madison County, IN.  Becoming somewhat infirm of health, from at least 1880 for a time, David resided with his daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Joshua Wood, in the growing village of Elwood nearby.  Since David is not listed in any of the pioneer or modern cemeteries for Madison or Tipton counties, family members believe that he was interred near his last log cabin home, with the other early settlers of his generation, and under a simple stone marked "Decker" at the Waymire Cemetery.  The stone, listed on the Waymire Cemetery tombstone transcription records, no longer exists, unfortunately.

       "His children were Amos, Newt, Dave, Lizzie, Jane, Belle, Julia, Annie, Ellie, one young man that died. I don't know the rest. I believe there were twelve.

        "Betty's children were Dave, Sam, Jake, Jasper, Martha (Brankle)"

 letter provided by Kathy Decker Patscheck, 105 Greenside Dr., Somerset, KY 42501; kpatscheck@yahoo.com.

Genealogical research also done by Clyde L. and Marie Ferree Johnson, 9748 Deerfield Circle, Carmel, IN 46032.

from the history "Tipton County, Indiana":

       'Records prove that the first actual white settlers came in near the year 1845, and located near the north fork of Wildcat, in the northern part of the township. These were David Decker, Philemon Plummer, Robert Stephens, Ira Plummer and their respective families. Decker came from Madison county, adjoining, and erected a primitive pole cabin, around which a few rods of ground were cleared for a truck patch. However, the wet state of the county precluded a very bountiful living from the soil, so Decker was forced to depend upon his rifle for his main subsistence. Game was plentiful, and the meat used for the table and the skins used as a medium or exchange or for clothing. Decker lived on his original claim some five years, when he disposed of it and moved farther south, near the present site of Windfall. Here he became the possessor of a valuable tract of real estate, which he owned until 1871, when he sold all of his property and moved from the township.. He was a man of prominence in his community and was chosen a justice of the peace at the first election after the township organization.'

from "Tipton County, Indiana." by Marvin Pershing, 1914, p. 193:

       'Decker was elected Wildcat Township's first justice of the peace and was a teacher in its first school in 1848...and he was a very competent man.  His son Elbert was the first known white child born in Wildcat Township. The children of David and Lurana Decker in 1850 were Talitha, William, Sally, Amos, Cynthia, Agnes, and Nancy. David Decker sold his real estate and moved out of the township in 1871.'

also from the above publication, page 148:

       'The first school was taught in a rude cabin which stood near Mud Creek in the northern part of the township, about the year 1848. This building was hastily constructed by the few neighbors living in the vicinity, and served its purpose about three years. The first pedagogue who wielded the rod of authority at this place (Wild Cat Township) was David Decker, who is remembered as a very competent instructor for that day. As no certificates or qualification were requisite at that time, we are unable to enlighten our readers as to Prof. Decker's scholastic attainments.'

notes made by Mrs. Robert E. Jones of Newcastle, IN:

1. Kentucky Deckers saw "the stars fall" November 1833; [This would have been the Perseid meteor shower that occurred the night of November 13, 1833, one of the most important astronomic events of the 19th century.]

2. Quakers gave David 80 acres for surveying; he walked to Ft. Wayne to record deeds; shot a wildcat along the way;

3. saw or had a sycamore tree covered with deerskin;

4. drove hogs to Cincinnati; had a pair of oxen;

5. ox died when trapped on *****; young David (David Oliver?) was put inside of ox while old David..."

from "Cemetery Records of Tipton County":

an Elias B. Decker, 1820-1883, buried in New Lancaster Cemetery, 1 mile west of New Lancaster; cemetery started in 1845; also an Angelina Decker, 1814-1855, wife of Isaac Decker; and James Decker, 1818-1886, with wife Artemesia, 1822-1857.

More About DAVID DECKER:

Fact 1: BLM deed for MC 1837; went to Tipton County from MC in 1845;

Fact 2: sold out in 1871 and moved back to Elwood, Madison County;

Fact 3: near Wildcat Creek in northern part of Tipton County; BLM deed 1849;

Fact 4: 2nd marriage to Elizabeth Denney Barrow 1856 a sister of 1st wife; she divorced him in 1879;

Fact 5: erected primitive pole cabin; had "truck patch";

Fact 6: 'depended on his rifle for subsistence';

Fact 7: after 5 years moved further south to Windfall;

Fact 8: 'man of prominence in his community' in "History of Tipton County, IN";

Fact 9: elected first justice of the peace for Wildcat Twp.

Fact 10: one of earliest settlers in Wildcat Twp., Tipton County, IN;

Fact 11: teacher in first school in 1848; son Elbert was first white child in area;

Fact 12: cause of death cysticis, Dr. Sigler or Sizelove;

Fact 13: Dave had a brother John who stayed in Monticello, KY, according to granddaughter;

Fact 14: had first child born in Wild Cat Township;

Fact 15: tin-type picture;

More About LURANA DENNEY:

Fact 1: "Rainey"/Lorainny/Lurana, various spellings;

Fact 2: died in childbirth with 13th child, 1855;

Children of DAVID DECKER and LURANA DENNEY are:

16. i. DAVID OLIVER7 DECKER, b. July 12, 1854, Indiana; d. 1937, Elwood, IN.

17. ii. TELITHA JANE DECKER, b. 1834.

Fact 1

iii. WILLIAM DECKER, b. 1837.

More About WILLIAM DECKER:

Fact 1: Lived next to father Thomas on Cumberland River, Wayne County, KY;

iv. SARAH (SALLY) DECKER, b. 1839.

18. v. AMOS C. DECKER, b. 1840, Madison County, IN; d. June 20, 1908, Van Wert Co., OH.

Amos's gravestone at the IOOF Cemetery in Van Wert Co., OH, is pictured right.

19. vi. CYNTHIA ANN DECKER, b. 1843.

vii. AGNES DECKER, b. 1845.

More About AGNES DECKER:

Fact 1: buried in Sigler Cemetery north of Frankton;

Fact 2: wore long skirts and high-button shoes;

Fact 3: requested only a shock of wheat on casket at funeral;

20. viii. NANCY (JULIE/A) DECKER, b. 1849.

21. ix. NEWTON J. DECKER, b. 1852, Tipton Co., IN; d. November 28, 1938, Madison County, IN; buried in FOOP Cemetery, Frankton, IN;

x. MARY ELIZABETH DECKER, b. 1855.

xi. THOMAS C. DECKER.

 

14. JOHN6 DECKER (THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) He married ELIZABETH PARNELL.

Children of JOHN DECKER and ELIZABETH PARNELL are:

22. i. RILEY7 DECKER.

23. ii. GABE DECKER.

iii. FRANK DECKER.

iv. KATE/EMELINE DECKER.

v. WILLIS DECKER.

vi. WESLEY DECKER.

 

15. WILLIAM6 DECKER (JOHN5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born Abt. 1800 in Kentucky, and died Aft. 1841 in Kentucky. He married (1) JANE BROWN. He married (2) MARTHA "PATSEY" YOUNG. He married (3) MARTHA GREGORY October 11, 1821 in Wayne Co., KY. She was born 1804 in Wayne Co., KY, and died Bef. 1834 in Wayne Co., KY.

More About WILLIAM DECKER:

Fact1: rank of private in Com. H. 12th KY Infantry; pneumonia fever settled in his eyes and he was discharged;

Children of WILLIAM DECKER and MARTHA GREGORY are:

24. i. WILLIAM "BILL"7 DECKER, b. 1823, Wayne Co., KY; d. February 08, 1916, Eadsville, Wayne Co., KY.

ii. JOHN DECKER, b. 1825.

iii. ELIZABETH DECKER, b. 1827.

iv. URSLEY DECKER, b. 1828.

v. TELITHA DECKER, b. 1831.

 

Generation No. 7

 

16. DAVID OLIVER7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born July 12, 1854 in Indiana, and died 1937 in Elwood, IN. He married LILLIAN ANN STEVENS August 26, 1885 in Tipton County, IN, daughter of NATHAN STEVENS and MARY WOODS. She was born May 28, 1867 probably in Page Co., Iowa, and died June 20, 1955 in Madison Co., IN.

More About DAVID OLIVER DECKER:

Burial: Frankton, F.O.O.P. Cemetery, Frankton, Madison Co., IN

Fact 1: lived on "Gobblers Knob," 75 acre farm between Frankton/Orestes, IN, as recorded by granddaughter Dorothy Allen in Dot Allen's Memories, an unpublished manuscript;

Fact 2: occupation: laborer; bee-keeper;

 

Fact 3: 1880 census shows David Decker living with sister Syntha A. and brother-in-law Addison Dwiggins in Windfall, Tipton County, IN;

Fact 4: cause of death: pneumonia;

 

 

 

 

 

 

The David Decker family and home, Dundee, Madison County, IN, "Gobbler's Knob."  L-R, Cenia, Lois sitting, David in doorway, Paul, Lily, Mary, and Lucy.

Notes for LILLIAN ANN STEVENS:

from Dot Allen's Memories, an unpublished manuscript by Dot Stephens Allen who was daughter of Mary Agnes Decker and John Stephens:

        "My Grandpa & Grandma Decker [David Oliver and Lillian Ann Stevens Decker] lived on a farm near Elwood, Indiana. I don't remember the first time I was there. About the first thing I do remember was the house. It was part log cabin. I has a very large living & dining room; one bedroom, and a tiny little kitchen. A huge rock fireplace with hooks that swing out to hold large kettles for cooking and boiling water. The dining room was at least 18 feet long, and a long table. In the middle covered with a cloth, was all kinds of jelly, jam butter, catsup, pickles, relish, mustard, oil, vinegar, pepper and salt. This stayed on the table; no refrigerator, no ice box. When we were ready to eat, Gramma would say "everybody...flies." Someone had gotten tree limbs, papers, and towels. One kid held the door open and everyone started in the living room swishing the flies toward the dining room. Someone in the kitchen swished to the dining room. The kid opened the door wide when the flies almost all were out. Then we ate. No spray, nothing. The kitchen was tiny, just big enough for a wood cook stove and a cabinet called a pie safe; it has windows on the doors and the sides were covered with screen to store pies, cakes, and other food away from flies, and to cool. We called this house Gobblers Knob. It set up on top of a hill. The large barn was also on top of a hill. It has a large corn crib, smokehouse, and out-house. The whole family would meet here very Sunday while we were growing up. I had aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, mother, father, grandpa & grandma on my mothers side.

        "...Aunt Cenia [Cenia Dell Decker] always made chicken & noodles and cakes. Grandma always made the pies, and killed the chickens. Mom [Mary Agnes Decker] would help her clean and cook. Lear [Lois Lear Decker] would help clean up (cause they had no sink, no icebox, no refrigerator, and an old wood stove). Just to wash clothes, you had to build a pit of rocks, then set a tub or broiler on top of the rocks. Then you had to carry water to pour from the well into the tub to heat up; next, you had to dip it out and into another tub where there was a washboard. The white clothes (don't remember if they had any) were always washed first and put in the clean water to rinse. Some things had to be boiled to get clean. The soap took the skin off your knuckles. One of the first things I remember was a large sugar pear tree at the corner of the house...

       "The Knob also had a smokehouse for curing hams, and bacon. They raised chickens and had 2 or 3 milk cows.

       "The farm my Grandpa farmed was maybe 200 acres. There was a lane leading to a stream (a small river). The lane from the house to the road went north from the barn about 2 city blocks, turned west about two more blocks to the road from Muck Sock or Dundee (they called both names) [Dundee was on SR 28, at a crossroads, 1--1 1/2 miles west of Orestes.] The Husker wagon came once a week. Granny would gather her eggs, butter, chickens, etc., and go through the field to the road and trade for flour, sugar, baking needs, coal oil, sewing notions, medicines, etc. Grandpa took aspiring then; it came in a little paper folded over (powder form). Aspirin had been around a long time...

       "A few more things about Gobblers Knob. My dear Granny Lilly Decker had all kinds of metaphors. When she'd see someone waste something, she would say "waste not, want not." When she'd find someone that wouldn't say anything, and they were quiet and silent, she would say 'just remember that still water runs deep.' ...

       "Grandma made cottage cheese; they called it smear case then. Didn't have an icebox or refrigerator then. The milk would sour sooner. She'd heat the clabbered milk, maybe let it come to almost a boiling point, then pour it in a clean cloth bag and hang it on the clothes line and let all the whey drain out. Then she would pour on rich cream, salt and pepper it.

       "Aunt Lear would make hominy with white or yellow corn. Soak the corn, in lye water until the hulls came off, then wash & rinse in clear water several times. Then her kids Roberta, John & Peggy sold it.

       "Grandma always made mince meat for pies... Granny put chopped boiled beef, chopped apples, cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and chopped suet (the fatty tissues on the loins & kidneys or beef). Grandpa also raised sugar cane and had it made into sorghum. The canes' juices had to be extracted and the juice (saccharine) made into syrup. He also raised bees.

       "While at the Knob, over the years...I always got poison ivy. I had it so bad when I was four that my Grandma had to put Nightshade on me. She made me dozens of muslin panties. Each day, she put on a new poultice and threw the old messed-up panties away...

       "Grandma wore long calico dresses and knotted her hair at the back of her head. Grandpa had a long white beard and so did his brother (Uncle Nute [Newton J. Decker])...

       "The Knob had a creek approximately one mile from the house. They let us go down to the water but we could not go in past our ankles. Someone was always with us that knew how to swim. They were afraid we might hit a whirlpool or something; no one had taught us to swim...

       "Ironing clothes, all cotton or wools. No wash & wear. The first one Grandma had was all iron. Shaped like they are now except the handle was also iron. You put it on the stove to heat. Maybe three or four irons. When it got hot, you had a heavy pad to pick up by the handle. The next iron invented was much lighter in weight... Even in the hot summer, you had to have a fire in the cook stove. The first washer after the wash board (copper tub to boil the clothes, and rock fire to heat the water) was a round bowl-like tub on legs with wash-board-like-ribbing on the inside and bottom of the tub. Inside of the tub you have a cradle with a handle. You put the clothes in with P&G soap or Fels Naptha and add water. Set the cradle on top and work the handle back & forth forcing the clothes back & forth against the ribs in the tub...

       "Grandma and Grandpa Decker still lived at the Knob when I was almost eleven.

       "Over the years at Gobbler's Knob, we had lots of little brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles around. Mom [Mary Agnes Decker] had five kids smaller than I. Aunt Cenia had Harold who was four or five years older. Aunt Naomi was three years older... Aunt Lear and Uncle Carl [Summers] had Roberta, John, and Peggy and then later, Mark...

       "The Hukster Wagon came once a week. We would watch for him. He had a wagon that all the sides and back lifted up, and he had one or two of everything a person would need. He had stuff hanging from everywhere on the wagon. Coal oil for our lamps, wicks, globes, dress and shirt material...pots, pans and buckets hanging on the outside. Penny candy and gum, too. granny would walk down about one quarter of a mile down to the road with her eggs and butter and trade with him.

       "Grandpa always butchered pigs, and had a smokehouse outside of the house where we hung the hams and bacon. One night, he heard a noise and got up to see; taking his shotgun with him. He didn't see a thing. The next morning, though, a ham was missing but he found a twenty dollar gold piece on the floor.

       "When at the knob, Grandma would take Naomi and me to Elwood to Leison's store. It was long and narrow, but had counter space down one side with stools to sit on and everything was in the open with the smells of spice, coffee and pickles, etc. It always smelled so good; if you wanted calico0 or dress goods, they'd bring it to you. Hats, pants, lanterns, things they could hang on walls. It was great...With rice beans, coffee, that you ground yourself after you got home.

        "The Knob had a large living room with an extra large dining room. We had our feather ticks all-around the walls for us kids to sleep on. Only one bedroom, though, with two beds...

       "I think every kid should have a Knob to grow up with. It was only a mile or so from Dunndee; all of my brothers, sisters, aunts with uncles and their families came over every weekend. We played house and store, took care of the little kids and then later maybe would hit a tin can or play hide 'n seek. We made our own fun...

       "Every kid should have a Gobblers Knob, a Grandma & Grandpa..."

More About LILLIAN ANN STEVENS:

Burial: Frankton, F.O.O.P. Cemetery, IN

Fact 1: picture;

Fact 2: described in Dot Allen's Memoirs, unpublished manuscript; Dot is granddaughter;

Fact 3: a note says that she went to school in Clarenda, IA, in first grades (?);

Fact 4: moved in covered wagon;

Children of DAVID DECKER and LILLIAN STEVENS are:

25. i. LOIS LEAR8 DECKER, b. December 05, 1897, Frankton, IN; d. January 01, 1947, Anderson, IN.

26. ii. MARY AGNES DECKER, b. June 20, 1887; d. August 17, 1967.

iii. CENIA DELL DECKER, b. January 02, 1886; d. September 06, 1947; m. JAMES OTTO BURGER.

iv. LUCY NELL DECKER, b. August 03, 1889; d. 1901.

v. PAUL OLIVER DECKER, b. September 17, 1892; m. VERA OSBORNE.

More About PAUL OLIVER DECKER:

Fact 1: lived in Glendale, CA;

27. vi. NAOMI GAIL DECKER, b. November 29, 1907.

vii. BERDENIA ELIZABETH DECKER, b. April 25, 1900.

 

At left is a picture, c. 1893, of some of the children of David Decker and Lilly Stevens: left, Paul; top center, Mary Agnes; bottom center, Lucy; and right, Cenia; (photo courtesy of barbie300 at Ancestry.com).

 

 

17. TELITHA JANE7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1834 and died between 1860 and 1866. She married EZRA BRADDICK May 11, 1854 in Tipton County, IN.

Children of TELITHA DECKER and EZRA BRADDICK are:

i. WILL8 BRADDICK.

ii. JIM BRADDICK.

iii. SARAH  BRADDICK.

iv. LIZZIE BRADDICK.

 

At right is Nita Braddick Parker, descendant of Telitha Decker and Ezra Braddick, through their son William.  Ezra was a veteran of the Civil War.  His government stone has his last name spelled "Bradic" and states that he fought with the "130th Ind. Inf. Co. B." 

Ezra is buried in the Nevada Cemetery, Tipton Co., IN.  This is also the probable location for the graves of his first wife Telitha Decker as well as her mother Luranna Denney and Luranna's parents Benjamin and Agnes Denney.

 

18. AMOS C.7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1840 in Madison Co., IN, and died June 20, 1908 in Van Wert Co., OH. He married BETTIE BELLEW September 14, 1865 in Tipton Co., IN.

More About AMOS C. DECKER:

Fact 1: 2nd wife Cevila Densel/Denstell, Jan. 20, 1872, Van Wert Co., Ohio;

 

Child of AMOS DECKER and BETTIE BELLEW is:

i. JULIA8 DECKER.

 

19. CYNTHIA ANN7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1843. She married ADDISON DWIGGINS.

More About ADDISON DWIGGINS:

Burial: Sigler Cemetery, Frankton, IN

Fact 1: Soldier in Civil War;

Children of CYNTHIA DECKER and ADDISON DWIGGINS are:

i. DAISY8 DWIGGINS, b. Abt. 1879; m. ...FIELD/FINK.

More About DAISY DWIGGINS:

Fact 1: Author of 1961 letter about Grandparents David and Luranna Denney Decker;

ii. JAMES M. DWIGGINS, b. Abt. 1868.

iii. NEWTON M. DWIGGINS, b. Abt. 1870.

 

20. NANCY (JULIE)7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1849. She married JOSHUA J. WOOD.

Notes for NANCY JULIA DECKER:

from Daisy Dwiggins Field in Sept. 4, 1978 letter:

       "I can remember Aunt Julia and her family well, a happily cheerful person (which describes Uncle Josh as well). It was always a pleasure to visit their home."

More About JOSHUA J. WOOD/S:

Fact 1: Elwood Cemetery, Madison County, IN

Children of NANCY DECKER and JOSHUA WOOD/S are:

i. CHARLEY8 WOOD/S, b. Abt. 1873.

ii. NELLIE WOOD/S, b. 1877.

iii. OLIVER PL WOOD/S, b. 1879.

 

21. NEWTON J.7 DECKER (DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1852 in Tipton Co., IN, and died November 28, 1938 in Madison County, IN. He married JULIA ELLEN GREEN May 03, 1875 in Van Wert Co., Ohio.

Notes for NEWTON J. DECKER:

from Daisy Dwiggins Field in Sept. 4, 1978 letter:

       "...Uncle Jim (Braddick) had the largest store, in town (Frankton), an old-time general store where everybody within miles shopped and they had an old fiddlers contest about every Saturday night. Names the conjure memories. And the family get-togethers, where we kids were much more interested in what there was to eat than any relationships that were always a source of confusion to us anyway. I can remember Uncle Newt, coming out of his "retirement" long enough to share in these gatherings; a quiet gentle man that always wore a mantle of mystery, since we as children knew so little about him. Only as the years unfolded into ****and Time began to steal them one by one, away from [us did we] begin to realize that their relationships meant******they might have been to us. The last time we visited with Uncle Newt he was a patient at some nursing home near Anderson. Can't remember the date, nor details... I cannot remember him visiting at my grandmother's home, although he may have done so in my absence. But remembering his recluse type of living and lack of transportation, that lack is understandable."

More About NEWTON J. DECKER:

Burial: Frankton, F.O.O.P. Madison County, IN

Fact 1: buried in Knights of Pythius Cemetery, Frankton, IN;

Children of NEWTON DECKER and JULIA GREEN are:

i. LETTY8 DECKER.

ii. BETTY DECKER (TWINS).

iii. NOLA DECKER.

 

22. RILEY7 DECKER (JOHN6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) He married IDA WILKERSON, daughter of GEORGE WILKERSON and TERESA.

Children of RILEY DECKER and IDA WILKERSON are:

28. i. MAE8 DECKER.

ii. OSCAR DECKER.

iii. MYRTLE DECKER.

 

23. GABE7 DECKER (JOHN6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1)

Children of GABE DECKER are:

i. SUIT8 DECKER.

ii. EMILY DECKER.

iii. JEAN DECKER.

iv. JUNE DECKER.

 

24. WILLIAM "BILL"7 DECKER (WILLIAM6, JOHN5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born 1823 in Wayne Co., KY, and died February 08, 1916 in Eadsville, Wayne Co., KY. He married SARAH STONE BECKMAN Abt. 1843 in Wayne Co., KY. She was born 1827 in Wayne Co., KY, and died Aft. 1880 in Kentucky.

More About WILLIAM "BILL" DECKER:

Fact 1: occupation: chair maker;

Fact 2: 1850 census for Wayne Co., KY; could not read or write;

More About SARAH STONE BECKMAN:

Fact 1: 1/2 Native American;

Fact 2: on 1850 census, could read and write;

Children of WILLIAM DECKER and SARAH BECKMAN are:

i. MARGARET8 DECKER, b. 1844.

ii. JOHN S. DECKER, b. 1845.

iii. THOMAS DECKER, b. 1847.

iv. HENRY DECKER, b. 1850.

v. LUCINDA DECKER, b. 1852.

vi. SARAH DECKER, b. May 10, 1854, Monticello, Wayne Co., KY; d. Aft. 1893, Kentucky; m. PERRY JOHNSON; b. 1848, Morgan Co., KY; d. Abt. 1885, Kentucky.

More About SARAH DECKER:

Fact1: Cathy Hokanson, Decker descendent and researcher;

vii. ANGE DECKER, b. 1856.

 

Generation No. 8

 

25. LOIS LEAR8 DECKER (DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born December 05, 1897 in Frankton, IN, and died January 01, 1947 in Anderson, IN. She married CARL MCKINLEY SUMMERS January 19, 1918 in Madison Co., IN, son of JOHN SUMMERS and EMMA RECK. He was born November 13, 1896 in Cold Water, OH, and died July 06, 1962 in Anderson, IN.

Notes for LOIS LEAR DECKER:

Obituary in Anderson newspaper:

      "LOIS AND HER HUSBAND CARL WERE REMODELING THEIR RESIDENCE, 4 MILES EAST AND 1 1/2 MILES SOUTH OF ALEXANDRIA (NEAR GILMAN), AND HAD JUST FINISHED COMPLETELY VARNISHING A NEW FLOOR, WHEN TRAGEDY STRUCK. CARL HAD LEFT TO GET A NEW DOOR AND LOIS WAS CLEANING UP DEBRIS. SHE IS SAID TO HAVE THROWN SOME LEFT-OVER VARNISH IN THE STOVE WHICH CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. SHE MANAGED TO DRAG HERSELF TO THE BACKYARD AND EXTINGUISH THE BURNING CLOTHING. THE HOUSE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND LOIS WAS TAKEN TO ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED THE NEXT DAY OF SEVERE BURNS OVER MOST OF HER BODY.

at left, picture of Lois Lear with mother Lilly Stevens Decker; at right, as a young woman;

       "THE BODY LIED IN STATE AT HER DAUGHTER'S, DOROTHY AYERS, HOUSE - 2800 FAIRVIEW ON JANUARY 3RD. THE FUNERAL WAS ON THE 4TH AT PILGRIM HOLINESS CHURCH, 24TH DELAWARE, WITH REV. G.R.BATEMAN, PASTOR, AND REV. FLOYD GOING, DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, IN CHARGE. THE BURIAL WAS AT THE ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY IN FRANKTON."

 

 

 

from Daisy Dwiggins Field in Sept. 4, 1978 letter:

       "Uncle Dave (Jr.) and his family resided in the community (Frankton) also and I spent quite a bit of time visiting with them in my youth. Although most of the children were much older than I, there were some nearer my age and Lear and I hit it off well. In those happy days of childhood there were no shadows to presage her tragic death by fire in later years."

More About LOIS LEAR DECKER:

Burial: Frankton, F.O.O.P. Cemetery, IN

Fact 1: killed in fire at home in kitchen; loved to read;

Fact 2: picture;

More About CARL MCKINLEY SUMMERS:

Burial: Frankton, F.O.O.P. Cemetery, IN

Fact 1: operated harvest store on SR 9 south of Anderson;

Fact 2: picture; occupation: molder in foundry; part-time house painter;

Fact 3: cause of death; pneumonia followed by heart attack;

Fact 4: 2nd wife Alpha Canterbury;

Children of LOIS DECKER and CARL SUMMERS are:

29. i. JOHN PHILLIP9 SUMMERS, b. June 01, 1921, Orestes, IN.

30. ii. DOROTHY ROBERTA SUMMERS, b. November 03, 1918.

31. iii. CENIA JEAN SUMMERS, b. February 03, 1924, Frankton, IN; d. Terra Haute, IN.

32. iv. CARL MARK SUMMERS, b. December 23, 1931, Madison Co., IN.

 

26. MARY AGNES8 DECKER (DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born June 20, 1887, and died August 17, 1967. She married JOHN DANIEL STEPHENS.

Children of MARY DECKER and JOHN STEPHENS are:

i. DOROTHY9 STEPHENS, m. ...ALLEN.

More About DOROTHY STEPHENS:

Fact1: author of unpublished manuscript: Dot Allen's Memories which is about grandparents David and Lilly Stevens Decker; picture at right.

More About ...ALLEN:

Fact 1: wrote book "Dot Allen's Memories" for family;

ii. DANIEL DECKER STEPHENS.

 

27. NAOMI GAIL8 DECKER (DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born November 29, 1907. She married GEORGE BISHOP.

Children of NAOMI DECKER and GEORGE BISHOP are:

i. ANN9 BISHOP.

ii. PAT BISHOP.

 

28. MAE8 DECKER (RILEY7, JOHN6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) She married JAMES HUMBLE.

Children of MAE DECKER and JAMES HUMBLE are:

i. HASKELL9 HUMBLE.

ii. CECIL HUMBLE.

iii. MILDRED HUMBLE.

iv. MARIE HUMBLE.

v. THELMA HUMBLE.

vi. CLIFFORD HUMBLE.

vii. JIMMY HUMBLE.

viii. EDNA(?) HUMBLE.

 

Generation No. 9

29. JOHN PHILLIP9 SUMMERS (LOIS LEAR8 DECKER, DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born June 01, 1921 in Orestes, IN. He married KATHERINE VIRGINIA DILTS June 27, 1947 in Anderson, IN, daughter of ADDISON DILTS and NELLIE MAIN. She was born July 28, 1920 in Anderson, IN.

More About JOHN PHILLIP SUMMERS:

Fact 1: in Army Air Corps during WWII; in African & Italian campaigns;

Fact 2: reconnaissance and tail gunner;

Fact 3: tool maker at Delco Remy for 31 years; learned to fly and owned Cessna;

Fact 4: in retirement, locally famous painter of water colors;

Fact 5: president of Del-Ray Toast Masters, Valley Grove PTA, Highland Band Boasters;

Fact 6: tour host for Educational Opportunities (travel company);

Fact 7: lay-minister at South Meridian Church of God;

Fact 8: pictures;

More About KATHERINE VIRGINIA DILTS:

Fact 1: studied music at Anderson College, nursing at Ball State before marrying;

Fact 2: attended & graduated from Anderson University after she was 60 years old;

Fact 3: she and John have been on European vacations 20+ times & 5 times to Israel;

Fact 4: taught piano in home; homemaker;

Fact 5: pictures;

The picture left is of Melody on her favorite horse Neapolitano IV Janina II, a Lipizzan.  The shot was taken in Story, Brown Co., IN, in front of the Indiana Historic Marker explaining the "10 'O-clock Line."  This line marked  the southwest boarder of the "New Purchase" of 1818 which opened the mid-section of Indiana to pioneers like ancestor David Decker, 1814-1888.

Children of JOHN SUMMERS and KATHERINE DILTS are:

i. MELODY10 SUMMERS, b. April 30, 1948, Muncie, IN; m. THOMAS A. HULL, March 25, 1972, Anderson, IN; b. March 29, 1948, Anderson, IN.

More About MELODY SUMMERS: 

Fact 1: trustee & director of the horse registry, the Lipizzan Association of North America;

Fact 2: co-author of "The American Lipizzan: A Pictorial History";

Fact 3: English teacher 33 years, Madison-Grant High School, Fairmount, IN;

Fact 4: breed representative to Indiana Horse Council; exhibitor at Hoosier Horse Fair 7 years;

Fact 5: president & director of Indiana Dressage Society;

Fact 6: 1970 graduated Ball State University, BS in English;1975 MA in English from BSU;

Fact 7: Madison County Cemetery Commissioner; Madison County Historical Society, Board of Trustees;

Fact 8: author and manager of web site "Pioneer Cemeteries and Their Stories, Madison County, Indiana";

Fact 9: In "Who's Who Among America's Teachers," twice;

More About THOMAS A. HULL:

Fact 1: trustee & director of Lipizzan Association of North America (LANA);

Fact 2: program design & data processor for LANA;

Fact 3: compiler of " LANA Studbook, Vol I & II";

Fact 4: manager of Music Today, Anderson, IN;

Fact 5: graduated 1972 from Anderson University, major accounting;

Fact 6: co-owner of Ye Olde Tack Shoppe; muscian in Anderson area;

ii. MONTE DEAN SUMMERS, b. July 07, 1951, Muncie, IN; m. DEBBIE SCHMIDT.

More About MONTE DEAN SUMMERS:

from "The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Madison Co., IN, November 28, 2012

Monte Dean Summers, July 7, 1951 – November 24, 2012

Columbus—Monte Dean Summers, 61, of Columbus, IN, passed away unexpectedly Saturday at Columbus Regional Hospital.  He grew up in Madison County graduating from Highland High School in 1969 and attending South Meridian Church of God in Anderson.  He also attended Ball State University.  He was a master craftsman, constructing many fine homes in and around Brown County, Indiana.  Building muzzle-loading rifles and restoring firearms were among his hobbies.  He will be remembered as a true outdoorsman, spending much time camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting.  He loved American history, particularly the stories and biographies of western frontiersmen and pioneers.  In that regard, he and his wife shared numerous vacations in the scenic beauty of the Rocky Mountains.  Over all, his strong faith in God sustained him and now supports his family.  He is survived by his wife of thirty-three years Debbie Schmit Summers, his father John Phillip Summers, his sister Melody Summers Hull, and his brother Meredith Lee Summers.  Monte’s mother Katherine Dilts Summers predeceased him.

Fact 1: lives in Brown County, IN;

Fact 2: master craftsman; contractor & builder of fine homes;

Fact 3: reproduced black powder, muzzle-loading rifles

More About DEBBIE SCHMIDT:

Fact 1: manager in JC/Kroger grocery store;

iii. MEREDITH LEE SUMMERS, b. April 06, 1955, Muncie, IN.

More About MEREDITH LEE SUMMERS:

Fact 1: lives in Virginia, Minnesota;

Fact 2: custom house painter;

Fact 3: served aboard the USS America & USS Eisenhower;

Fact 4: in war with Lybia; 10+ years aircraft structure modification; plane captain;

 

 

30. DOROTHY ROBERTA9 SUMMERS (LOIS LEAR8 DECKER, DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born November 03, 1918. She married GERALD D. AYERS.

Children of DOROTHY SUMMERS and GERALD AYERS are:

i. GERALD ERIC10 AYERS, b. Anderson, IN.

ii. TERESA AYERS, b. Anderson, IN; m. DAVID FULLER.

iii. ANITA AYERS, b. Anderson, IN.

 

Taken in Nashville, Brown Co., IN, in 1976, this picture shows Lois Decker's two daughters Dorothy and Peggy, R-L, in bottom right corner.  In the 1st row standing are Decker descendants, L-R, Debbie Summers, Lynn Douglas, Melody Hull, and Teresa Fuller.

31. CENIA GENE9 SUMMERS (LOIS LEAR8 DECKER, DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born February 03, 1924 in Frankton, IN, and died June 06, 1977 in Terra Haute, IN. She married MELVIN (TONY) FRAZIER.

More About CENIA GENE SUMMERS:

Fact 1: teacher;

More About MELVIN (TONY) FRAZIER:

Fact 1: college professor;

Child of CENIA SUMMERS and MELVIN FRAZIER is:

i. LYNN10 FRAZIER.

More About LYNN FRAZIER:

Fact 1: English teacher;

Fact 2: married Timothy Douglas

 

32. CARL MARK9 SUMMERS (LOIS LEAR8 DECKER, DAVID OLIVER7, DAVID 6, THOMAS5, GEORGE/JORIS W.4, THOMAS3, HENDRICK JANSEN2, JAN GERRITSE(N)1) was born December 23, 1931 in Madison Co., IN. He married BETTY MANGAS in Camp Atterbury, IN.

Children of CARL SUMMERS and BETTY MANGAS are:

i. WILLIAM10 SUMMERS.

ii. DEBBIE SUMMERS.

 

Enthusiastic golfer and Decker descendant John Phillip Summers is the artist of this watercolor entitled "The Back Nine," which combines his Decker farming heritage with his love of the sport. 

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