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the Decker Journey

mark of Jan Broersen Decker

The Decker Family Association Reunion for the descendents of Jan Broersen Decker, was held October 7-10, 2010 in Ulster County, New York.  (Kingston, New Paltz, Shawangunk) 

Note:  This page contains many pictures and make take some time to open.  Download the program/daily agenda here. (PDF)

1/24/2011 - Posted Civil War & Later Letters amongst the children of Michael Decker & Elizabeth Bovee, who lived mostly in the area of Berne, Albany Co., New York.  There are currently 8 letters posted as PDF files with transcriptions provided.  These letters have been in the possession of descendants of Angeline (Decker) Kniskern.

1/21/2011 - I have posted PDF files containing the Civil War Pension Records for Minard Decker, son of Michael Decker and Elizabeth Bovee.  The pension was applied for & received by his widow, Catharine (Eignor) Decker, and includes information on their marriage & children for purposes of obtaining the pension (32 pages).

1/13/2011 - Completed listing of gravestones & pictures for Decker graves in Wantage and Monatgue Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey.  Fourteen cemeteries were visited on October 10, 2010, with 342 pictures & videos taken to compile the information.

11/24/2010 - Posted transcriptions and pictures of the Decker Bibles under the care of Historic Huguenot Street (Roosa House Library and Archives), New Paltz, New York.  Includes the bibles of Elsie Ann Decker and Cornelius Decker.

9/1/2010 - Added the 1784 will (abstract) of Mattheus Decker, Shawangung, Ulster County, New York.  I previously had an abstract/list of names in this will, but this copy is more complete.

8/25/2010 - Added links to Deckers in Dutch Reformed Church cemetery of New Hurley, New York (new window) - Including Sarah, Joseph, Lydia (w. of Matthew Roosa) Decker and family of Renssallaer Decker.   (Photos by Jarald Nichols received 8/25/2010)

8/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Biography of Frederick Decker (b. 1812), son of Aaron M. Decker and Mary Vandroff.  Frederick was born in Morris Co., New Jersey, and lived in Delaware Co., Ohio.

5/13/2010 - Posted a biography of George Decker (b. 1820), son of Jeremiah Decker and Nancy Bishop, and lived in Seneca County, New York.

4/14/2010 - Added a list of Decker burials and photos from Morgan County, Illinois.  I have been researching this area and had an opportunity to be nearby, so I compiled a list of Decker burials from the Rootsweb site for the county and tried to photo as many as I could find.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Grant Decker (b. 1814), born in New Jersey, then lived with his family in New York, before moving to Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.  He served as the first mayor of Flint, Michigan.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Thomas E. Decker (b. 1846), born in Jefferson County, New York, living in Waushara County, Wisconsin.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Charles F. Decker (b. 1863), son of one of the Utah pioneers, Isaac Perry Decker.

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of John W. Decker, M.D. (b. 1863), of Lake City, Michigan (parents natives of New York).

1/25/2010 - Posted a biography of Silas Decker (b. 1852), Calhoun County, Michigan, born Union County, Pennsylvania.  His parents were Simon and Mary Ann (Reitz) Decker of Union County, Pennsylvania.

1/25/2010 - Added biographies of Amos Decker (Ohio, b. 1845) and James Knox Polk Decker (Indiana, b. 1839), cousins, both grandsons of John Decker and Julia Ann Royer (Pennsylvania & Ohio).

1/18/2010 - Posted a Biography of William Henry Decker (b. 1836) of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, great-grandson of Nicholas Decker of Copake, Columbia County, New York.

10/11/2009 - Added a list of all Decker burials (and selected related names from including Wood, Smith, and Bulson) in Lenawee County, Michigan from the records of Harriet Cole Brown, compiled in the years 1933-1943.  Also includes some updates from Lenawee County Family Researchers in 2000-2003.  Update 11/3/2009:  I have also completed posting headstone pictures for all Decker graves and related names in Lenawee County as listed in the Harriet Cole Brown records (personally photographed October 10 & 11, 2009).

12/31/2008 - Posted a history of Orion Township, Oakland County, Michigan, description of Decker settlement, named for Jesse Decker (1825) - from History of Oakland County (1912).

Decker Family Association - Information

James Decker (r) - late 1800s, NY

My Journey

No one told me
The road would be so long,
No one told me
I'd sing a new song,
No one told me
The days would turn bright,
But, my Lord told me
To look for the light.

Now there is hope
For a future so bright.
Now there is hope
For ending this night.
Now there is hope
For eternal delight.
I just look to the Lord
And continue to fight victorious.

    By Burt Decker 1961-1997

This site is dedicated to the Decker family, descendents of James Franklin Decker, who came to the Midland Michigan area from New York around 1890. James (born in 1864) was the son of Samuel I Decker.

As I have gathered information the descendents of Jan Broersen to link up with those in my family, I have come across many other Decker families as well.  This website is my attempt at sharing the information that I continue to come across.

The information contained in this web site is, to my knowledge, accurate. Please feel free to fill any holes or correct any incorrect information.

James & Eliza Decker, prob. about 1897

(Photo sent to me courtesy of

Sharon Poole Sherrick)

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