William was born in Eversmeer, Ostfriesland, Preussen, before the German Empire was established in 1871. He was the ninth child of Rottger Galts Decker and Amke Claassen.
According to family stories, when the war broke out he refused to join the service. He was given an ultimatum to either go to war or leave the country. He immigrated to America and arrived in New York 8 Apr 1882.
William married Emma Claymon on 30 Mar 1887 in Danforth, Illinois. She was the daughter of Herman Claymon and Jennie Anna Eden. They had eight children, all born in Illinois: Rinehart William; Jennie Anna; Anna Marie; Martha Caroline; Grace Evelyn; Margaret Edna; Herman; Edward Leroy.
Sometime between 1900-1910 the family moved from Ashkum, Illinois to Peone, Washington. The family came by train, but William didn't want to part with his oxen, Pete and Barney, so he drove them by himself from Illinois to Washington. William tried farming at first. but by 1920 he was a wagon carpenter in Portland, and by 1930 he was a house painter in Portland. Sometime before 1920 he and wife Emma either separated or divorced.
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W.R. Decker Dies
At Rest Home Here
William R. Decker of Bennett Creek road passed away at a local rest home Wednesday, April 8, at the age of 87.
He was born in Eversmeer, Germany, December 1, 1865, and came to the United States as a young man. He was married in Illinois to Emma Claymon who proceeded him in death in 1922.
He came to Cottage Grove eight years ago from Portland and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by three sons, R.W. Decker, Spokane, Wash.; Herman Decker, Modesto, Calif., and Edward L. Decker, Cottage Grove; four daughters, Mrs. Jennie Smith, Los Angeles; Mrs. Martha Houchins, Olive View, Calif.; Mrs. Grace Callihan and Mrs. Margaret Johnson, both of Spokane; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Mills Mortuary, Cottage Grove. Elder Lloyd Wyman will officiate with interment in Cottage Grove IOOF cemetery.
According to family stories, when the war broke out he refused to join the service. He was given an ultimatum to either go to war or leave the country. He immigrated to America and arrived in New York 8 Apr 1882.
William married Emma Claymon on 30 Mar 1887 in Danforth, Illinois. She was the daughter of Herman Claymon and Jennie Anna Eden. They had eight children, all born in Illinois: Rinehart William; Jennie Anna; Anna Marie; Martha Caroline; Grace Evelyn; Margaret Edna; Herman; Edward Leroy.
Sometime between 1900-1910 the family moved from Ashkum, Illinois to Peone, Washington. The family came by train, but William didn't want to part with his oxen, Pete and Barney, so he drove them by himself from Illinois to Washington. William tried farming at first. but by 1920 he was a wagon carpenter in Portland, and by 1930 he was a house painter in Portland. Sometime before 1920 he and wife Emma either separated or divorced.
-------------------------------------
W.R. Decker Dies
At Rest Home Here
William R. Decker of Bennett Creek road passed away at a local rest home Wednesday, April 8, at the age of 87.
He was born in Eversmeer, Germany, December 1, 1865, and came to the United States as a young man. He was married in Illinois to Emma Claymon who proceeded him in death in 1922.
He came to Cottage Grove eight years ago from Portland and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by three sons, R.W. Decker, Spokane, Wash.; Herman Decker, Modesto, Calif., and Edward L. Decker, Cottage Grove; four daughters, Mrs. Jennie Smith, Los Angeles; Mrs. Martha Houchins, Olive View, Calif.; Mrs. Grace Callihan and Mrs. Margaret Johnson, both of Spokane; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Mills Mortuary, Cottage Grove. Elder Lloyd Wyman will officiate with interment in Cottage Grove IOOF cemetery.
William was born in Eversmeer, Ostfriesland, Preussen, before the German Empire was established in 1871. He was the ninth child of Rottger Galts Decker and Amke Claassen.
According to family stories, when the war broke out he refused to join the service. He was given an ultimatum to either go to war or leave the country. He immigrated to America and arrived in New York 8 Apr 1882.
William married Emma Claymon on 30 Mar 1887 in Danforth, Illinois. She was the daughter of Herman Claymon and Jennie Anna Eden. They had eight children, all born in Illinois: Rinehart William; Jennie Anna; Anna Marie; Martha Caroline; Grace Evelyn; Margaret Edna; Herman; Edward Leroy.
Sometime between 1900-1910 the family moved from Ashkum, Illinois to Peone, Washington. The family came by train, but William didn't want to part with his oxen, Pete and Barney, so he drove them by himself from Illinois to Washington. William tried farming at first. but by 1920 he was a wagon carpenter in Portland, and by 1930 he was a house painter in Portland. Sometime before 1920 he and wife Emma either separated or divorced.
-------------------------------------
W.R. Decker Dies
At Rest Home Here
William R. Decker of Bennett Creek road passed away at a local rest home Wednesday, April 8, at the age of 87.
He was born in Eversmeer, Germany, December 1, 1865, and came to the United States as a young man. He was married in Illinois to Emma Claymon who proceeded him in death in 1922.
He came to Cottage Grove eight years ago from Portland and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by three sons, R.W. Decker, Spokane, Wash.; Herman Decker, Modesto, Calif., and Edward L. Decker, Cottage Grove; four daughters, Mrs. Jennie Smith, Los Angeles; Mrs. Martha Houchins, Olive View, Calif.; Mrs. Grace Callihan and Mrs. Margaret Johnson, both of Spokane; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Mills Mortuary, Cottage Grove. Elder Lloyd Wyman will officiate with interment in Cottage Grove IOOF cemetery.
According to family stories, when the war broke out he refused to join the service. He was given an ultimatum to either go to war or leave the country. He immigrated to America and arrived in New York 8 Apr 1882.
William married Emma Claymon on 30 Mar 1887 in Danforth, Illinois. She was the daughter of Herman Claymon and Jennie Anna Eden. They had eight children, all born in Illinois: Rinehart William; Jennie Anna; Anna Marie; Martha Caroline; Grace Evelyn; Margaret Edna; Herman; Edward Leroy.
Sometime between 1900-1910 the family moved from Ashkum, Illinois to Peone, Washington. The family came by train, but William didn't want to part with his oxen, Pete and Barney, so he drove them by himself from Illinois to Washington. William tried farming at first. but by 1920 he was a wagon carpenter in Portland, and by 1930 he was a house painter in Portland. Sometime before 1920 he and wife Emma either separated or divorced.
-------------------------------------
W.R. Decker Dies
At Rest Home Here
William R. Decker of Bennett Creek road passed away at a local rest home Wednesday, April 8, at the age of 87.
He was born in Eversmeer, Germany, December 1, 1865, and came to the United States as a young man. He was married in Illinois to Emma Claymon who proceeded him in death in 1922.
He came to Cottage Grove eight years ago from Portland and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by three sons, R.W. Decker, Spokane, Wash.; Herman Decker, Modesto, Calif., and Edward L. Decker, Cottage Grove; four daughters, Mrs. Jennie Smith, Los Angeles; Mrs. Martha Houchins, Olive View, Calif.; Mrs. Grace Callihan and Mrs. Margaret Johnson, both of Spokane; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Mills Mortuary, Cottage Grove. Elder Lloyd Wyman will officiate with interment in Cottage Grove IOOF cemetery.
Family Members
Siblings
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Heimke Maria "Helen" Decker Forcher
1845–1920
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Ulrich Eden Freese "Alex" Decker
1847–1927
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Gottfried Röttger Decker
1849–1916
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Almuth Engelken "Ella" Decker Oltmans
1852–1935
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Hauke Wina Decker Tammen
1855–1937
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Stientje "Christina" Decker Schmith
1857–1885
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Antje Wilken Decker Koenig
1860–1947
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Magrace "Grace" Decker Dietterle
1862–1892
