Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Decker, James C. 1828 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 22, 2007, 12:48 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JAMES C. DECKER, the oldest merchant now in business in Flint, who opened his
grocery business here on the 1st of November, 1854, has kept his doors open
every day since that time with the exception of Sundays and holidays. Besides
being a first-class business man, he is a skilled mechanic and a fine practical
engineer. His father, Andrew A. Decker, was born in 1808, near Port Jarvis, N:
Y., as was also his grandfather, Joseph, who was a mechanic. The
great-grandfather, Peter Decker, built the first house erected in Deckertown,
Sussex County, N. J., and was of Holland descent.

  Our subject was born in that town July 28, 1828, and his father who had been a
farmer in his early days and also a blacksmith was at that time connected with
the Delaware and Hudson Canal. In 1846 the father came to Detroit, thence to
Ypsilanti, where he located with his family, and carried on the trade of a
blacksmith for six years, after which he came to Genesee County, and located
first in Flint, and afterward upon a farm in Genesee Township, where he died at
the age of sixty-four. He was first a Methodist and afterward a member of the
Christian Church. His political opinions were in accord with the doctrines of
the Democratic party.

  The mother of our subject was Maria, daughter of Joseph Cole, also a native of
Sussex County, where his farm adjoined that of Gen. VanSickles. Our subject lost
his mother by death in 1870, and of her eleven children, only three are now
living, namely: J. C, Dr. C. C. Decker, of Cincinnati; and Ann, Mrs. Gardner, of
Garfield, Mich. J. C. was nine years of age when he left New Jersey for Lyons,
Wayne County, N. Y., and he received a district-school education and became a
practical blacksmith at the age of seventeen. Upon first coming West, he spent
some time in Ypsilanti and then in Detroit, but soon returned East, and in New
York took up practical engineering, so that he did not return to Ypsilanti until
about 1850, at which time he went to Saginaw and worked as an engineer in a
mill. Previous to this he was engaged for some time as an engineer on the
Michigan Central Railroad between Detroit and Jackson.

  In the fall of 1851 Mr. Decker came to Flint and worked as a blacksmith here
until November, 1854, at which time he began his grocery business on Saginaw
Street, where the Wolverine Citizen's office now is. After the first in which
his place of business was destroyed, he bought the lot which he now occupies,
and erected this brick block which measures 20x110 feet, and is two stories
high. Mr. Decker has the largest and first stock of goods in his line in Flint.

  Miss Mary Retherford who became Mrs. J. C. Decker at Northville, Wayne County,
in 1851, was born in Rochester, N. Y., and is descended from an old Quaker
family of Philadelphia. Her oldest daughter, Ida W., is now Mrs. Holdridge, of
Medina, N, Y.; Ella is an invalid at home; and Margaret Pearl is acting as her
father's book-keeper. Our subject has passed through all the degrees of the
Order of Odd Fellows. He also belongs to Flint Lodge, No. 23, F. & A. M. and to
Lodge No. 15, R. A. M., besides being a member of Genesee Valley Commandery
Lodge, No. 15, K. T. He is one of the Trustees of the Masonic Aid Association of
the State, and helped to organize the Fire Department of Flint, being foreman of
a company for seven years, and one of the workers therein for thirty-two years.
He was also a Chief Engineer for fourteen years and has done more for its
success than any other man in the city.

  In his business he has ever been foremost in introducing new methods and lines
of stock, and was the first one to start a livery wagon in Hint, and brought
here the first chest of Japan tea ever sold in the county, and possibly in the
State- as it came from the first cargo of this tea that landed in New York City.
He was the first to roast coffee, and he has a large coffee roaster which
operates by steam. Both in business lines and in mechanical ingenuity he is a
decided genius. His political views are in accord with the doctrines of the
Democratic party, and he has long been a member of the Baptist Church and was
one of its Trustees for several years.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892



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