Karl Hienrich Adolf Decker

From 1880 census, Henry was the head of the house at age 28, his birthplace is listed as Holstein, his occupation is minister, his father's birthplace is Schleswig, his mother's birthplace is Holstein, Sophia is his wife who is 28 and she was born in Hesse as where her parents, his son August was 2 and born in IL, his next son Henry was 1 and born in IL, his father in law is living with them George Muenstermann and is 61 born in Hesse as where his parents."

From "The history of Adams County Illinois: Containing a history of the county": Fowler: Decker Karl Heinrich Adolf, born June 12, 1851, in Rendsburg, Holstein, Germany; came to this country May 22, on the steamer Bremen, sent by Rev. Vilmar, president of the board of mission of Melsungen Kurhessen; was in the Theological Seminary of Wartburg, Clayton county, Iowa, which institute was moved May, 1874 to Mendota Illinois; finished his studies there, Nov., 1874, and was sent to Keokuk Junction as teacher of the schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Immanual's Church. In Feb., 1876, he took charge of the Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's Church, of Fowler. He married, July 11, in Peoria, Illinois, with Margarethe Elizabeth Sophie Muenstermann, born Jan. 6, 1852, in Hoenebach Kurhessen. She is the mother of two children: Christian August, born June 25, 1877; Karl Theodor, born Jan. 1, 1879.

The first of our family line to immigrate to the United States...

FAMILY CHRONIC By Pastor Heinrich Decker, Clarion, Ill. … … … … The following pages contain the chronicals of our family as gathered by our late father, Christian Friedrich Karl Decker, pastor in Nortorf, Schleswig Holstein in Germany. In an old Hebrew Bible, inherited from his father, he makes a beginning, probably in 1853, with the heading “Familien Chronik.” From earliest childhood this family Bible, bound in black leather, with its gold illuminations and of quarto folio in size, was an object of childish reverence. I remember I often read with greatest interest the pages written by my father. My dear brother, Karl Decker, made a copy of this family history for me as a wedding gift and it has long been my intention to continue this family history. But I could not decide on the form. I should have liked a family Bible for this purpose but found no opportunity to carry out the plan. And, too, I wished to gather data from the dear ones in the old home (Heimat). Concerning events that took place since my dear father’s death. The visit in Germany last year (1895) spurred me on and so, may we relate in the Lord’s name what He has done for our family and how He has lead us. For if we ask the purpose of these pages the answer must be above all things, a witness to the gracious leadership of our God. And shall we not proclaim it as God’s greatest blessing that He gave us the true faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior. So these chronicals will continue the family spirit (Familien Sinn), and in its new home let us always remember our German origin and let us not forget where the cradle of our forefathers stood. There is a certain blessing in keeping up family memories and traditions, thereby strengthening the bonds of family love. As in the old fatherland our family clung together so faithfully, so may we in the new country keep our family connections, and our connection with the old as long as possible. May the Lord, our God, place His blessing on our house, keep us forever in His grace and some day lead us all together into our heavenly home, the true fatherland of all His children. Clarion Twp., Bureau Co.Ill. Your loving father July 9, 1896. Heinrich Decker In the parsonage of Ev.Luth.Zion Congregation.

• ************* Observations and other information by Rudolph and Dora Decker, who translated these records of our father

This record by our father, Heinrich Decker, is written in beautiful flowing German. We hope it hs not suffered too much in our translation. Those of us who knew him, recognize his devotion, his love for his family, both here and in the old “Heimat”. (There is no word in the English language shich fully covers the meaning of that word.) His attachement to his old home in Germany had nothing to do with politics or the event that followed. That was not the Germany he knew – nor has time brought back the Germany of those years. This is written for the benefit of the younger generation, who knew nothing of the pains that world events and wars brought to that generation. Even the Germany of today would be an alien country to him. His Germany was gone long before he died. Edgar has consolidated the Fabricius, Esmarck and Decker “Tree” in a comparatively simple and abbreviated form – it is still complicated. There are three branches. The earliest is that of Pastor Jacob Esmark – no date -, his son Nicholas born 1580. The Fabricius line begins with Johann Christian Fabricius, born died 1686. He was a pastor. The Decker name begins with Anderssen or andresen and the first to take the name Decker was ChristianAugust Decker, born 1744, died 1821, a tailor. His son, Jacob Decker, born 1776, died 1854, a pastor, married Marie Catherina Fabricius, whose mother was born an Esmarck. Their son, Christian August Decker, our grandfather, was born 1818, died 1864, and was pastor in Norterf. His wife was Gudine Marie Gerhardine Fabricius, a cousin, b. 1821. Their son, Heinrich Decker, our father, was born June 12, 1851, died August 14, 1940. His wife, our mother was Sophia Muenstermann, born Jan.6,1852, died August 25, 1947. Their children: 1. August (b. 6/25/’77), married to Dora Bess (b.8/16/’80) d. Jan.3,’59)

	Children: Marie (b.2/11/’04), married Everett Bentley 	   Herbert (b.9/1/’09) married Amalie Remmnick, parents of  Karla, married Austin Mason, their daughter Sheila. Dennis 	   Robert (b.11/15/’15; f.7/21/’61) Married Beatrice Schirm.  Children 		Lynn – Mary Lou – Roberta 	   Frederick (b.9/24/’20), married Carol Paradise, Children 		Scott – Anna 2.	Heinrich (b.1/2/’79: d.8/26/’22) 3.	Rudolph (b.7/20/’81) married Theodora Proehl 1916.  Children: Rudolph Jr., married Edith Rulla.  Parents of: 	Janet – Elizabeth – Kathy Edgar married Dorothy Weiland.  One daughter: 	Margaret Dorothy, married J. Wesley Boswel. Children: 	Jane – Jon – Sue Marie Martin, married Haxel nygrin.  Two daughters: 	Karen – Janette 4.	Paul, married Pauline Carter.  One son: Paul Jr., married Nellie    Three children 	Anna – Edward – Paul III 5.	Erich, Married Edith Holiday 6.	Theodore, married Nellie O’Neil 7.	Elizabeth, married George Rentschler.  Children: Frieda – Victor – Cordelia – Elisabeth – Eleanor – Irene – George – John. 8.	Frieda (b.8/23/’94) No children