Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 5 June 2005

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900

JOSEPH DECKER, farmer; P. O. Red Lion; born in Warren County June 21, 1815; is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Earnhart) Decker, natives of Pennsylvania, who, in 1812, emigrated to Ohio and located with his father-in-law on Sec. 34, Clear Creek Township, residing there only a short time, when he bought a tract of land on Sec. 10, where George Munger now lives, and there be located and opened out a great portion of the farm; after residing there about sixteen or eighteen years, he exchanged his place for a farm on Sec. 17, which is also now owned by George Munger, and here he spent the balance of his life, and died at the age of about 68 years; his wife survived him about fifteen years and she died aged 71 years; they had fourteen children - nine sons and five daughters; ten now survive - Mary, now Mrs. George Munger; Joseph; John; Lucinda, now Mrs. Jackson Thompson; Henry; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Hoover; Jesse; William; Hannah Ann, now Mrs. Oscar Dearth; and Albert. Mr. Decker did much pioneer work; was a hard-working, industrious man, and opened out and cleared-up a great portion of two farms; was noted for his kind, jovial nature, whose honor and integrity were undoubted, and was respected by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch was born and raised on his father's farm on Sec. 10, and grew to manhood well acquainted with the work of helping his father clear up the farm; was married, Sept. 29, 1836, to Elizabeth, daughter of Allen and Sarah Thompson, natives of Rockingham Co., Va., who moved to Ohio and settled in Turtle Creek Township, and lived and died in Warren County. By this union, Mr. Decker and wife have had seven children; six now survive - Inman, born July 6, 1837 (deceased); Jackson, Feb. 20, 1839; Sarah Maria, July 12, 1841, married David Stace; Hannah, Jan. 1, 1844, married Thomas Adams; Mary Ann, June 3, 1846, married Edward Coffin; Calvin, Aug. 20, 1849; and Clara, born Jan. 12, .1853, married Layton Graham. Mr. Decker, after his marriage, located on a piece of land in Franklin Township, and moved into an old log cabin, which had been used as a sheep pen; to this he built a chimney, cleaned it up preparatory to housekeeping, and there they were, without a dollar in the world; they then and there resolved to start out for an "honest living or none at all." He went to Franklin to John Thirkield, and said to him: I want to buy $25 or $30 worth of utensils for housekeeping, and that if he lived one year he would pay him; if he did not, he would have to lose it, as he was not worth a dollar in the world." Mr. Thirkield replied: “I will try you." They selected such articles as they needed, returned home and went to work; success and prosperity followed their united labors, and to-day Mr. Decker is comfortably situated, with a good competency, owns a good farm of 120 acres, with good

improvements, and 4 acres where he lives, with good buildings and improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence. They kept their resolution - they made their living, and a good one, and did it honestly, by their own labor, industry and economy; and all this accomplished without any education - not even as much as to enable them to write their own names. Here we leave this remarkable record of these pioneers to be seen and read by future generations for their instruction and encouragement.