George E. Decker
George E. Decker, the owner of a productive and valuable farm
of ninety acres in Franklin township, has always lived within the
borders of Allamakee county, his birth occurring in Jefferson
township on the 27th of August, 1872. His parents were Edward and
Mary Ann (McShane) Decker, the former born in Erie county, New
York, on the 26th of October, 1843, and the latter in Virginia on
the 19th of October, 1850. Edward Decker has followed general
agricultural pursuits throughout his entire career. When only
about one year old he was taken by his parents to Green county,
Wisconsin, the family home being established near Monroe, where
he remained until twenty-four years of age. At that time he came
to Iowa, locating first in Jefferson township, where he purchased
a partially improved farm and made his home until about 1876. In
that year he took up his abode on a farm of forty acres, which he
still owns. The period of his residence in this county covers
forty-six years and he enjoys an enviable reputation as one of
its substantial and esteemed citizens. His wife was called to her
final rest on the 1st of April, 1908. Unto them were born three
children, as follows: George E., of this review; Lottie, born
December 16, 1874, who is the wife of John Campbell, a farmer of
Linton township; and Ernest C., who wedded Miss Clara Bender and
resides on the old homestead.
George E. Decker obtained his early education in Jefferson
township and later attended a select school at Rossville. He
began working for others when a youth of sixteen and also
assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. He
remained in the employ of others until the time of his marriage
and then located on the farm of sixty acres which he had
purchased prior to that event. For two years he was busily
engaged in its operation and then sold the property, cultivating
a rented farm in Jefferson township for a similar period.
Subsequently he took up his abode on the farm of ninety acres on
section 3, Franklin township, which has since remained in his
possession. He has made all of the improvements on the property
and has erected modern buildings for the shelter of grain and
stock, his place now lacking none of the equipments and
accessories of a model and up-to-date farm. Nearly all of his
land is tillable and he devotes his attention to the pursuits of
farming and stock-raising, keeping a number of horses, forty hogs
and twenty head of cattle. He is a stockholder in the Luana
Cooperative Creamery Company and has won and maintained a
position among the prosperous and representative citizens of his
native county.
On the 18th of January, 1899, Mr. Decker was untied in marriage
to Miss Anna Bell, who was born in Franklin township on the 28th
of June 1878, her parents being James W. and Ella M. (Johnson)
Bell. A sketch of the father appears on another page of this
work. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have become the parents of six
children, namely, Elmer, whose birth occurred on the 31st of
March, 1900; Belle, who was born February 20, 1902, and passed
away November 19, 1906; Thelma, whose natal day was April 30,
1904; Ernest, born May 26, 1906; Bernice, whose birth occurred on
the 11th of October, 1908; and Harold, who was born on the 2d of
October, 1910.
Mr. Decker is a stanch republican in politics and is now serving
for the second term as township trustee, making an enviable
record in this connection. His religious faith is indicated by
his membership in the Baptist church at Rossville, while
fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen at that
place. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in this
county and ha a circle of friends which is almost coextensive
with the circle of their acquaintances.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index