Washington County OhArchives Biographies.....Decker, Levi Elston February 7, 1811 - August 22, 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Claire Duvall Mahar mahar05@gmail.com April 16, 2009, 12:07 am Author: E. Glen Duvall THE LEVI ELSTON DECKER FAMILY Levi Elston Decker was born in Eastern New Jersey, February 7, 1811, and by his family was removed in the year 1818 to a point in Virginia, now West Virginia, nearly opposite the mouth of Rea's Run, Washington County, where he grew to manhood and from which point he made trips to Cincinnati and New Orleans, and also to Indiana to assist in locating his married sister and her family. His nature and temperament fitted him in a peculiar manner to risk and endure the hardships of the pioneer, and during the year 1833, attracted by the pine timber, he entered the then Wilderness of Archers Fork. He erected a saw mill, built a home and engaged in the lumber busŽ illness, rafting and floating the product of his labor to the CincinnŽati market. As timber grew scarce, he combined farming with lumbering, and later abandoned the business and turned his entire attention to farmŽing. On the 26th day of August, 1835, he was married to Grace Ferguson who was born and reared at Ferguson's Landing, near Newport, Washington County. Her father, Thomas Ferguson, was the first postmaster at Newport. There resulted from this marriage a family of twelve children. Their first daughter died in infancy. First burial in Decker Cemetery. Weltha Decker, born January 21, 1837, died January 17, 1917. Married William Kirkbride and resided in Findlay, Ohio. Mary Decker, born March 27, 1839, died February 8, 1927. Married Andrew Kirkbride, brother of William, and resided in New Matamoras, Ohio. Amanda Decker, born March 8, 1841, died May 11, 1934. Married Nathan Smith. Resided in Aurora, Nebraska. Louisa Decker, born May 26, 1843, died April 1, 1930. Married William Rose and resided in Bennington, Kansas. James Decker, born January 16, 1845, died November 16, 1917. Married Maria Skinner and resided on Archers Fork near the original home. Robert S. Decker born March 13, 1848, died October 8, 1912. Married Lucinda Reed and lived on Archers Fork near the original home. Jane M. Decker, born February 19, 1850, died January 7, 1931. Her marriage to Elijah Rake was annulled. Jane lived in Kansas and at the original home on Archers Fork. Ellen Decker, born March 11, 1852, died September 17, 1939. Married James Taylor, M.D. Resided in Washington County, near Moss Run. Angenora Decker, born December 22, 1854, died December 5, 1890. Married Ephriam Taylor Duvall. Resided in Waverly, Kansas. Wesley A. Decker, born March 16, 1856, died May 26, 1947. Married Tritt Barker. Resided at 304 Wooster Street, Marietta for many years. Bazil Decker, born August 10, 1857, died July 24, 1948. Married first, Toot Rutter. His second wife was Hattie DeWitt. Resided in Minitare, Nebraska for many years. His last residence was in Casper, Wyoming. Levi Elston Decker was a man of energetic and positive temperaŽment; of strong and lasting convictions, and physically the peer of any man. He was a warm and sympathetic friend, a loving father and fond husband. He was my great- grandfather. He died August 23, 1893, at his home on Archers Fork, Independence Township and is buried in the Decker Cemetery near the original Decker home. Submitted by E. Glen Duvall File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/washington/bios/decker391bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb