Ventura County Biographies

C. H. Decker

Submitted by Sandy Neder

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

  
C. H. Decker is a pioneer of California, having come to the State in 1855, to 
Santa Paula in 1867, and to his present ranch in 1870. He was born in Kennebec 
County, Maine, August 20, 1832. His father, Stephen Decker, was a native of 
Maine, and was a merchant and farmer there; and Joshua Decker, his grandfather, 
was also born in that State. Great-grandfather Decker was an Englishman by 
birth. Mr. Decker's mother, nee Phelinda Pratt, was also a native of Kennebec 
County, Maine, and her father, David Pratt, was born in that State, and was at 
one time a hotel-keeper. Her ancestors were English people.
    The subject of this sketch was the youngest, except two, of a family of 
fifteen children, six of whom are now living, three sons and three daughters. He 
was reared on his father's farm and received his education in his native State. 
When he came to California he engaged in mining, in Yuba County, three years, 
and was partially successful. For two years he furnished blocks for flumes, and 
from that turned his attention to the lumber business in the redwoods, being 
engaged in the latter business eight years. Since then he has resided in Ventura 
County. He is the owner of 146 1/3 acres of well-improved land, and is engaged 
in raising fruit and walnuts. The walnut trees were planted in 1878 and began to 
bear at five years old. They now average from fifty to sixty pounds to the tree. 
Has has a few orange trees that are doing well. At the time he settled here, Mr. 
Decker supposed his ranch to be Government land, and has had not a little 
trouble in securing proper title to the land. At last, after an expensive suit, 
he now has both Government title and a deed from the railroad.
    Mr. Decker was married, in September, 1853, to Miss Mary Lewis, a native of 
Maine. To them was born a daughter, Frances, June 14, 1854, who is now the wife 
of George P. Willer, and resides at Newton. He was again married, August 12, 
1873, to Miss Emily M. Rowell, a native of Maine. They had three children, all 
born at their present home in Ventura County: Burtis L., May 17, 1874; George 
V., October 12, 1876, and Bertha N., October 16, 1878. Mrs. Decker's death 
occurred October 22, 1885. June 2, 1888, Mr. Decker wedded Miss Gertrude Hill, 
at Santa Paula. She is a native of Missouri, born in Richmond, November 18, 
1865. They have one daughter, Ruth, born October 22, 1889.
    Mr. Decker is a member and a trustee of the Sespe Methodist church. 
Politically he is Prohibitionist. He is a man who has been identified with the 
best interest of the county ever since he took up his residence here: has served 
the public as School Trustee, and also as Postmaster of Fillmore, having been 
the first postmaster, when the office was established in 1870.
 
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS 
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 323