This gentleman, one of the representative citizens of Honey Point township, is a native of Madison county in this state, and was born near Alton, May 31, 1823. He is descended from a family of German origin. His grandfather, Jacob Deck, was a resident of Pennsylvania, served in the Revolutionary War, and after the independence of the colonies was achieved emigrated to East Tennessee, and was one of the pioneer settlers of that state. Mr. Deck's father, Isaac Deck, was born in East Tennessee on the 1st day of January, 1800. his birthplace was Sullivan, one of the northeast counties of the state lying next to the Virginia line. He married Hannah Isley, whose father had also at an early date come from Pennsylvania and settled in Sullivan county. His marriage took place in 1819. His first wife (Mr. Deck's mother) died, and he was afterwards married three times, and had in all fourteen children. Isaac Deck left Tennessee in the fall of 1821, and after stopping one season on a farm not far from Lexington, Kentucky, came on to Illinois the close of the year 1822, and settled on Wood river, three miles east from Upper Alton. he bought a farm there, on which he lived till 1853 when he moved to Gillespie township in this county, where he continued to reside till his death on the 3d of March, 1873. he was an industrious and energetic man, attended closely to his own business affairs, and led the quiet and respected life of a farmer without any wish to engage in public affairs.

Abraham Deck was born while the family resided on Wood river. At the time his father located there the Wood river settlements marked the frontier, all the region to the north being uninhabited except by the Indians, with perhaps now and then in this wild waste a solitary pioneer, who had ventured to establish himself remote from civilization. His father gave him every opportunity in his power of going to school, but the schools were of so inferior a character, and compared so poorly with the facilities of the present day, that he had but little chance to obtain a thorough education. He mastered the branches commonly taught, and for his general knowledge on other subject, he has been compelled to rely on his own reading and observation. When twenty years of age he began farming for himself, but his father's house was his home till 1845. In the spring of that year he set out for the lead regions abut Galena - a favorite mode adopted by the young men of that day to get command of a little money, a commodity which was scarce among the agricultural classes. he was, however, unsuccessful. He struck no lead that would pay, and returned to Madison county in the fall, and on the 27th of November, 1845, married Mary Williams, daughter of Samuel Williams, who emigrated to Illinois from Knox county, Tennessee, in 1835, and settled near Dorsey Station in Madison county, where he resided till his death.

After his marriage he was farming in Madison county till 1850. he then lied one year on a farm in Honey Point township, Macoupin county, and then returned to Madison county, where he lived till the death of his wife's father, when he moved to a farm in Hilyard township, six miles north of Bunker Hill. Since the spring of 1857 he has lived on his present farm in section 27, Honey Point township. he is the owner of 380 acres of land. An illustration of his farm and residence is furnished on another page. Mr. and Mrs. Deck have had thirteen children, of whom six are living, whose names are as follows: George M., Elizabeth Ann, now the wife of Robert A. Stone; Thomas J., Isaac N., John C. and Benjamin F. His political sympathies have always led him to support the doctrines of the democratic party. His first vote in a presidential election was cast for James K. Polk in 1844. While he has been a staunch and earnest democrat in principle, he has lent his influence to every measure which in his estimation would benefit the masses of the people. When the Grange or Farmer's movement was set on foot, he was one of those who believed in its importance as a means of bettering the condition of the agricultural classes, and protection them from the burdens imposed by corporations and monopolies. He engaged actively in the movement with the idea in view and in 1876 when the Independents of the county nominated a separate ticket for county officers his name was put on as a candidate for sheriff. The election with three distinct tickets in the fields, would in all probability have resulted in the choice of the republican candidate, and in obedience to what he believed to be his duty to the democratic party, he withdrew his name, and thus prevented the defeat of the regular democratic nominee. In 1878 he was a candidate for the democratic nomination for sheriff, but withdrew his name from before the convention in consequence of there being another candidate for the same position from his township. From 1871 to 1875 he served as justice of the peace. He is a man whose character has commanded respect in every community in which he has resided. He has superior business qualifications, and enlightened ideas and intelligent views on all subjects. He has been connected with the Christian church since 1851, of which his wife is also a member. His father and mother were members of the same denomination, from about the year 1833 till their deaths.