Laura Matilda Decker

Laura Matilda Westover was born February 9, 1875, in Grantsville, Tooele County, Utah, to parents, Edwin Lycurgus Westover and Johanna Matilda Erickson Westover, who were married April 27, 1874, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sadly, Laura's father died when she was just two years and two months old! In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Saint Joseph, Apache, Arizona, Laura is living with her mother, Johanna, who was a 25-year old widow. Laura was 5 years old and her brother Edwin S., 3 years old. Johanna and both of her parents were born in Sweden. On March 31, 1896, Laura married Zachariah Nathaniel Decker in Navajo County, Arizona. He was born May 29, 1972, in Parowan, Iron County, Utah, the son of Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., (1850-1939) and Emma Seraphine West Smith (1853-1909). Laura and Zachariah had nine children as follows:

Edwin Zechariah in January of 1897

Jesse Nathaniel Decker in September of 1898

Joseph Smith Decker in 1902

Eunice Matilda in 1904

John Franklin Decker in 1906

Inez in 1908

Emma Florence in 1911

Ruth L. in 1914

Iva R., in 1916

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Laura and Zachariah are living in Taylor, Navajo, Arizona Territory. They had been married for four years, and with them were their first two children, Edwin, 3, and Jesse N., 1 year old. Zach was 28 and Laura 25. Zachariah was working as a farmer, and they owned their farm free from a mortgage. His brother Louis A. Decker, 26, was living next door with his wife, May, 24, and their son Louis F., 1 year old.

By 1910, Z.N. is 37, Lorie, 35, Edwin, 13, Jesse 11, Joseph, 7, Eunice, 5, John, 3, and Inez, 1 year 4 months. The family is still living in Taylor. Zach and Laura had been married 14 years and had 6 children, all of whom were still living at that time. Zach was still working as a farm and was doing some stock raising as well. Sadly in 1912, both Inez and Emma Florence passed away.

In the 1920 census, Zach is working as a grade school teacher, his son Edwin Z., as a minister/missionary, and Jesse N., as a laborer in a saw mill. The family had moved to Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona. Zach is 47, Laura, 44, Edwin Z., 22, Jesse N., 21, Joseph S. 17, Eunice M., 14, John F., 13, Ruth L, 6, and Iva R., 3 years 3 months old.

In 1930, the family is still living in Snowflake, Zach is 57, Laura, 55, Joseph 27, John, 23, Ruth, 16, Iva, 13, and also in the home is Zach's father, Zechariah Bruyn Decker, who is an 80-year old widower, who even at his advanced age of 80 is listed as a farmer. Zach is working as a laborer at odd jobs, and his son Joseph is a life insurance salesman. The family is renting their home for $10.00 per month. Zach and Laura have been married for 34 years.

By 1940, Zach is 67, Laura, 65, and living with them is their daughter, Iva Rose, who is 23 years old. They have moved to Mesa, Arizona, but in 1935 had still been living in Snowflake. Zach has had 2 years of high school, Laura had 1 and their daughter, Iva had 4 years of college. There is no occupation listed for any of them in this census. Zach's father, Zechariah Bruyn Decker, had passed away in 1939, just 2 days short of his 89th birthday. Zach's mother had passed away in 1909 from breast cancer, and sadly, her mother passed away from the same disease in the Fall of 1910. Zach's father remarried, but that wife too passed away not long after their marriage.

Nine years later, Laura Matilda Westover Decker, passed away at the age of 74 on September 2, 1949, and is buried in Taylor, Arizona. Zechariah passed away at the age of 86 on March 5, 1959, and is buried with his wife in Taylor, Arizona.

There is another photo of Laura and her husband Zachariah under the Media Tab above which was taken when they were a little bit older. There is one of her and Zach on their wedding day on his Geni profile page.