CENTRE LINES

The Decker Family

This column is part of a feature series which focuses on a different Centre County family each week. Five new columns will be released each month unless some technical difficulty enters the picture.

This column's focus is on Decker. An effort has been made to identify all persons carrying that name in the 1890 U.S. Census, using the Centre County business directory which was formed from a preliminary review of that census before the larger set of 1890 U.S. Census records was destroyed by fire. (Sadly, the postal directory does not typically provide the ages of females, but it's the best record we've got).

One book in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deals with the Decker family. It is: William Decker's, Hal Lindstrom's, and Jerry R. McCloskey's Decker Family History (1997).

There are 8 different first-name entries for Decker in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898), with two persons having full-length profiles: Green C. Decker (b. 1833, s/o Michael and Barbara (Price) Decker) and M. J. Decker (b. 1833, s/o Michael and Barbara (Price) Decker).

And, now, your ancestors' DECKER neighbors in 1890:

In COLLEGE Township:

Angeline--Lemont Frederick, 62, farmer--Lemont Elizabeth Annie S. Charles 23 Homer D. 18 Susie E. Susan--Lemont William 23 Stewart A. 21 Thomas 11 Unice, 18--Lemont

In FERGUSON Township:

James A., 30, hotel keeper--Pine Grove Mills Kate A. John H. 6 Mary E. Mary E. James 1 Alice V. James C. Deckard, 33, hotel keeper--Pine Grove Mills Thomas D., 34--State College Emma W. Edith B. Maud W.

In LIBERTY Township:

Anna M.--Blanchard David 40 Isaac I. Emily A. James C. 17 Willis A. 11 Wilford T. 7

In MILHEIM Borough:

George R., 27, laborer Rebecca Clara B. Archie C. 1

In PATTON Township:

Frederick, 30, farmer--Lemont Carrie Anna John H., 21--Buffalo Run John W., 27, farmer--Lemont Priscilla Mabel C. George A. 2 Ruth L.--Buffalo Run

In PENN Township:

Conrad, 37, laborer--Coburn Sallie M. Esther M. Nancy R. John H. 4

In POTTER Township:

Daniel J. Deckard, 54, mason--Potters Mills Anna Gideon H. 20 Ellen C. Deckard--Tusseyville Mary Deckard--Potters Mills Michael J. Deckard, 56, farmer--Potters Mills Elizabeth Nancy W. Francis W. 21 Anna James L. 15 Maurice J. 10 Steward S. Deckard, 23, farmer--Potters Mills Ida John D. 56 Louisa S. Martha A. Thomas L. Deckard, 29, laborer--Potters Mills Elmira J. Stella T. Infant 3 mos.

In RUSH Township:

Calvin Dechert, 21, laborer--Sandy Ridge

In WALKER Township:

Adam, 55, farmer--Nittany Elvirejo 27 Samuel M. 18 Jennie M. Charles N. 7 Christ, 33, farmer--Zion Rebecca H. John B. 10 Harry E., 25--Hublersburg Jennie P. Wilbert 1 Herbert, 27, laborer--Zion John, 62, farmer--Hublersburg Mary Charles A. 18 William, 58, farmer--Hublersburg Emma C. Laura Roy M. 2 Margaret J.