BIO: Green C. DECKER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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340  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

  GREEN C. DECKER, a prosperous agriculturist of George's Valley, 
Centre county, is a man of recognized influence in the community in 
which he lives.  His parents, Michael and Barbara (Price) Decker, were 
highly esteemed residents of that locality, and our subject was born 
October 22, 1839, on the same farm which he now owns and cultivates.
  The Decker district school in Gregg township, Centre county, was 
named in honor of his family, and Mr. Decker received his education 
within its walls, Thomas Toner being his first instructor.  The order 
and discipline of the olden time impressed Mr. Decker most favorably, 
and he is an advocate of a return to the old system when the control of 
the schools was vested in the directors, and county superintendents 
were unknown.  As a farmer's son, Mr. Decker was trained to habits of 
industry, and his work at home was varied during his boyhood with 
employment in a sawmill, where he gained a knowledge of that business.  
Until the age of twenty-six he remained at home receiving nothing in 
the way of remuneration except his board and homespun clothes.  He used 
to assist his mother in preparing flax, as she wove most of the 
material used in clothing the family, making the green baize cloth so 
common in that day, as well as the linen required.
  In 1865 Mr. Decker was married in Huston township, Centre county, to 
Miss Keziah Williams, daughter of Scott Williams, and he took his bride 
to the old homestead which he rented from his father.  In 1880, after 
his father's death, he purchased the place, and he has since built a 
new residence and made other substantial improvements, all the 
buildings, except the barn, having been erected by him.  The farm 
comprises 168 acres of excellent land, and he also owns 180 acres of 
mountain land.  He has a handsome competence gained by his own efforts.  
Over confidence in others has caused him losses to the amount of $i,000 
or more; but fortunately he has not suffered seriously.  Possessing 
remarkable mechanical ability, he has done all of his own work in wood, 
iron and stone, and his comfortable home displays many evidences of his 
skill.
  Mr. Decker is an active member of the Evangelical Church, in which he 
was class leader for years.  He has always been a generous supporter of 
religious and philanthropic movements and before he united with the 
Church he helped to organize the Sunday-school at Locust Grove, and has 
served as secretary and treasurer, while assisting in other ways to 
bring it into its present flourishing condition.  He has always 
attended the  Locust Grove Church," where he is equally active, 
contributing liberally of time and means to aid its work.  His first 
wife, who was also a devout and consistent member of the Evangelical 
Church, passed to the unseen life, and her remains now repose in the 
Sprucetown cemetery.  Mr. Decker for his second wife wedded Mrs. Allie 
Nicolls (nee Wilcox), a widow, who was born in New York State.  There 
were twelve children by the first marriage: Michael died in infancy; 
Ella and Scott are at home; the fourth child, a son, died in infancy; 
Thomas, Katy (Mrs. Wm. Rishel), Colonel G., Joseph, Densmore D., Edward 
D. and Jennie are at home, and Robert died in infancy.
  Mr. Decker is much respected as a man of sound principles. He takes 
great interest in local affairs, and as a progressive farmer is a 
member of the Grange.  In politics he is a Democrat, but while he is 
ever ready to assist in party work he has never sought reward in 
official position.