BIOGRAPHY: Cornelius J. Decker; Montgomery Town, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

CORNELIUS J. DECKER. Honored by all who know him as a progressive
agriculturist and accommodating neighbor, Mr. Decker is worthy of the high
regard in which he is held. For nearly a half-century he has made his home in
Montgomery Town, where he settled soon after his marriage. In 1876 he
purchased a farm, to the cultivation of which he has since given his
attention. The estate comprises one hundred and twenty-five acres, and bears
first-class improvements, all of which have been made by the present owner.

The Decker family is of German extraction, but has been represented in America
for several generations. Grandfather Decker was a native of New York, as was
also the father of our subject, Jacobus W., who was born in Ulster County,
where he engaged in farm pursuits for many years. A year before his death he
came to Orange County, and made his home with Cornelius J. until his demise,
at the age of eighty-four years. He married Hannah Eckert, who was born in
Ulster County, and died there at sixty-seven years of age; her parents were
natives of New York, whither her grandparents had come from Germany.

Politically Mr. Decker was a loyal adherent of the Democratic principles, and
was always interested in public affairs. He was fairly successful in his
business affairs, but as his family was large, he was unable to give his
children little more than the advantages of a good education and wise counsel.

The parental family consisted of thirteen children, of whom Cornelius J. was
next to the young-est. He was born in Ulster County, N. Y., July 10, 1826,
and, with the exception of three others, is the only survivor of the large
family. He was reared in Ulster County, whence, shortly after his marriage, he
came to Orange County, and for several years operated a rented farm in the
town of Crawford. From there he came to Montgomery Town, where, after renting
for some time, he purchased a farm, but sold it the same year. For five years
afterward he cultivated a rented farm, and in 1876 bought the farm where he
has since resided.

In August, 1848, Mr. Decker was united in marriage with Miss Emily Rosecrans,
of Crawford Town, Orange County. Mrs. Decker is a daughter of William and
Millie (Tice) Rosecrans, natives of Ulster and Orange Counties, respectively,
and both of whom are now deceased. They became the parents of eight children,
only three of whom are now living. To our subject and his wife five children
were born, but only one of the number is still living. Alice Jane, the eldest,
married John E. Kidd, and died at the age of thirty-eight, leaving two
children. George V., Emma and Mary died at the respective ages of
thirty-eight, twelve and four. Augustus, the third of the family, remains with
his parents, and superintends the management of the home farm.

In politics Mr. Decker is an unswerving Democrat, although his participation
in politics is con-fined to the casting of his ballot for the nominees of his
party. He and his family are identified with the Reformed Church, to the
support of which he has always been a generous contributor. As one of the old
residents of the county, and a man whose energies have been devoted to the
development of its agricultural resources, he deserves the high esteem in
which he is held by his associates, and the confidence which his acquaintances
repose in his integrity and ability.