Biographical Sketch of

Thomas E. Decker

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 344 and 347


Thomas E Decker, one of the leading citizens of Waushara County, and 
a prominent business man of Hamilton, has been connected with the 
lumber interests of that village for twenty-eight years, and at the 
present time is engaged in various other lines, including merchandising 
and blacksmithing. He also deals in agricultural implements and has a 
wagon shop in connection with his blacksmith shop.

Mr. Decker is a native of New York, having been born in Jefferson County,
in the town of Cape Vincent, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, on 
the 24th of April, 1846. His ancestors were of Irish and Holland 
extraction. His great-grandfather, Michael Decker, was a native of 
Holland, and came to America before the War for Independence, locating 
on the Hudson River, not far from New York City, where he lived for a 
short time, before he moved to Concord, Mass., and while the British 
were destroying the stores at that place which had been collected by 
the colonists, he received a gunshot wound which caused his death. 
His family afterward returned to New York. His son, Michael Decker, 
the grandfather of our subject, was born near New York City, and was 
a shoemaker by trade. He wedded Mary Scott and died at Cape Vincent, 
where he made his home for many years. During the War of 1812 he aided 
in the defense of Sackett's Harbor, while the British were trying to 
destroy the stores at that point. At the time of the French Revolution 
in 1837, his brother, Peter Decker, joined a company of fillibusters, 
crossing the St. Lawrence River at Ogdensburg to Prescott, Canada, 
where they gained a force of French rebels. They were there besieged 
by the British forces, taking refuge in an old stone mill, where they 
were captured. Their leader was taken to Kingston and hanged, and the 
privates and non-commissioned officers were exiled to a penal colony 
on Van Dieman's land. There Peter Decker received a pardon, but never 
returned to this country. The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
a native of Ireland. With the intention of making his home in America, 
he embarked for Canada, but while crossing the ocean his death occurred. 
His family settled in the Province of Quebec and spent the greater part 
of their lives in Prescott.

James Decker, the father of our subject, was born in May, 1809, in Oneida 
County, New York, and made farming his principal occupation through life. 
He removed to Jefferson County, locating in Cape Vincent, where he was 
engaed in the butcher business for a short time, but subsequently farmed 
for twelve years. In 1862 he came to Wisconsin and purchased 200 acres 
of land in Adams county, but after two years came to Waushara County, and 
settled on section 11, where he owns 250 acres of good farming land. He 
married Elizabeth Travis of Ireland, who during her infancy was taken by 
her parents to Brockville, Canada, where she made her home until her 
marriage.

Thomas E. Decker is the oldest of a family of twelve children, six sons 
and six daughters. His boyhood days were spent in the town of Cape 
Vincent, where he obtained a liberal education in the English branches. 
In 1860 he emigrated with his parents to Adams county, Wisconsin, and 
assisted his father on the farm until 1862, when he came to Waushara 
county, which has since been his home. He entered upon his business 
career as an employee of the Hamilton Bros. & Smith, lumber manufacturer's
at Hamilton's Mills, for whom he worked until 1873, when Mr. Smith sold 
his property to his partners, Mr. Decker continuing with the Hamilton 
Bros. for twenty years, eighteen of which he was foreman of the 
establishment, having full charge of the business, which he finally 
purchased, and for twelve years has been successfully operating the mill 
in his own interests. As before stated, he owns a wagon and blacksmith 
shop, deals in agricultural implements, and owns a general merchandise 
store. In 1882 he established a cheese factory in Hamilton, but after 
four years sold out. He now owns 246 acres of splendid grazing land.

Mr. Decker married Eva Wilson, an estimable lady, born in Adams County, 
Dec. 18, 1852, where her parents settled two years previously. She was 
the only child born to William and Melinda (Sabaw) Wilson of Pennsylvania.
Her mother, who was a member of the Congregational church, died in 1852.
Her father lived in Adams County for ten years and then moved to Outagamie
County, but after a few years became a resident of Waushara County, 
settling on the farm where he still resides. His second wife was formerly
Louisa Colvill, and nine children were born of their union.

Mr. and Mrs. Decker have one child, Jay, born Dec. 13, 1876. In politics 
Mr. Decker is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, and manifests a lively 
interest in political affairs. He has been Postmaster of Hamilton for ten 
years, receiving the appointment during Hayes' administration, was 
township chairman for seven years, and also a member of the County Board. 
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Berlin, and has filled 
the chair of Chancellor, Commander and all the lower offices, was 
representative to the Grand Lodge at Milwaukee in 1887 and 1888, and was 
a delegate to the State Presidential Convention held in Madison in 1888. 
He is recognized as one fo the leading and influential citizens of the 
community, untiring and energetic in his business pursuits and upright 
and honorable in all his transactions. He enjoys the confidence and high 
regard of many friends, both in the social and business world, and is 
esteemed as a valued leader of society. 






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