DECKER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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DECKER, Nicholas C. - b: 1835 Brooklyn, NY
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 809
residence: Springfield Twp

Nicholas C. Decker, farmer and stock raiser, was born March 22, 1835, in 
Brooklyn, New York. He received his early education In that city. When sixteen 
years of age he entered the Wilton Boarding School, at Wilton, Connecticut, for 
one year. His father, Stephen L. Decker, was born in New Lotts, Kings County, New 
York, in 1801, and still resides in his native state, and although nearly eighty-
two years of age, is actively engaged in superintending his farm. He married, 
November 15, 1828, Miss Hannah Van Ausdale, of Kings County, born March 24, 
1808; she died March 4, 1848. They had eight children, five sons and three 
daughters, six of whom are living. The subject of this sketch emigrated to 
Rockford, Illinois, in September of 1854, and soon became occupied in the 
manufacture of reapers, where he remained for eight years. He married Miss 
Sophia C. Schultz, of Orange County, New York, and a daughter of John D. and 
Catharine T. Schultz. By this union there were six children, four sons and two 
daughters, four of whom survive. After his marriage Mr. D. went to St. Louis and 
located eight miles north of the city, where he was employed as overseer on a 
large plantation for two years. Going to St. Louis city he engaged his services to 
a shipping firm, and remained there for eighteen months, when he took charge of 
another plantation for ten years. He then purchased the stock and implements and 
conducted the plantation as lessee for four years. While here Mrs. Decker died, on 
April 10, 1878. In March, of 1881, he removed to Henry County, and bought a farm 
of 190 acres, on section 11, Springfield Township. His farm is well improved and 
fenced, upon which is a new two-story house. October 26, 1881, he married Mrs. 
Ruth M. Stevens, of Wabash, Indiana, who had one son by her former marriage. 
They were married at Hayden's Grove Church, this being the first ceremony 
performed in that church. In September, of 1882, he applied for a patent on an 
improvement of a cultivator, for the cultivation of corn, broom corn, cotton and 
sugar cane. The patent was issued December 26, 1882. Mr. D. excels the county in 
raising broom corn, and he attributes his success to his new invention, claiming 
for its principal merit that it does the work of eight men with hoes, and it is 
susceptible of being attached to any cultivator, or a double or single shovel plow. 
He is a member of the A. O. U. W., while Mrs. Decker is identified with the 
Christian Church at Hayden Grove.

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