|
|
JOHN A. DECKER.
After a period of loyal and faithful service in the Civil war John A. Decker identified himself with agricultural
interests of Allamakee county and for over forty years thereafter developed and improved his property in French
Creek township, winning during the time a high place in the regard of his neighbors and finally rest and retirement
as a reward for his honorable and well directed labors. He now makes his home with his son in Lansing township
and has many friends throughout Allamakee county, to whom he is familiarly known as Adam. He was born in Wittenberg,
Germany, August 9, 1833, and is a son of George and Mary Decker, natives of that country, who in 1847 came with
their family to America. They made the journey on board the sailing vessel Quebec, which started from London, and
after a voyage of thirty five days landed in America, having been delayed by a severe storm. From New York the
Decker family pushed west to Ohio, settling near Cleveland, where the father purchased forty acres of land, upon
which he engaged in farming for the remainder of his life. He and his wife became the parents of ten children,
only one of whom, the subject of this review, survives.
John A. Decker was reared to manhood in Ohio, acquiring his education in the public schools of that state. He came
to Allamakee county a few years before the outbreak of the Civil war but almost immediately afterward went to Fillmore
county, Minnesota, in search of a location for a farm. The open prairie country not appealing to him, he returned
to Lansing and there worked as a fireman and later as an engineer in a sawmill. From that city he enlisted in 1861
in Company B, Twelfth Iowa Volunteers, and served as a musician, holding this position in his regiment until he
was seized with illness, which obliged him to go to the hospital at Mound City, Illinois. There he was given a
position as engineer on a stationary engine and continued to hold it until he was discharged from the hospital.
He continued his military service until 1866, in which year he obtained his honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa.
With this creditable military record Mr. Decker returned to Allamakee county and in French Creek township purchased
eighty acres of unimproved land, to which he later added one hundred acres. For many years thereafter he steadily
carried forward the work of developing this property, which in time became one of the best farms in this locality
as a result of his practical methods and his untiring industry. Eventually he gave it over to the management of
his son John and about the year 1907 sold the homestead and moved with his wife to his son's farm in Lansing township,
where he now lives in retirement, spending the evening of his life in well earned rest.
Mr. Decker married, May 15, 1867, Miss Mary Eichhorn, who was born in Germany, May 6, 1846, and who came to America
with her brothers and sisters when she was six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Decker became the parents of six children.
John A. was born in Lansing township in 1868. He is now one of the prosperous farmers of this township, owning
a fine property on section 30. He married in 1894 Miss Lena M. Hirth, and they have a daughter, Edna. With this
family Mr. and Mrs. John A. Decker are spending their retired life. Maggie married Joe Martin, of Church, Iowa.
George makes his home with his brother Samuel in the same city. Samuel married Annie Bechtel. Ben is a general
merchant in Church. Emma became the wife of Charles Birth, of Lansing township. Mr. and Mrs. Decker are devout
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
For years Mr. Decker affiliated with the republican party but at the election of 1912 he voted the democratic ticket.
There are few citizens in Allamakee county more widely and favorably known than he, for he has made his home here
for over forty five years, during all of which period his life has been upright, straightforward and honorable
in all its relations. He has gained a comfortable degree of worldly prosperity, while his genial manner and unfailing
courtesy have won him the warm and lasting regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
From:
Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievemant
By: Ellery M. Hancock
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1913
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Allamakee County, IA
Biographies
Online
Biographies
Iowa
Biographies
New York
Histories
New York
Biographies
Maine
Histories
Pennsylvania
Histories
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|