Charles George Decker. Since coming to Champaign County twenty-four years ago Charles G. Decker has demonstrated his thorough capacity and broad knowledge of farming and stock raising. His many years of practical experience contribute to his agricultural equipment, and his entire career has been devoted to the cultivation of the soil.
Mr. Decker was born in Jennings County, Indiana, October 28, 1864, a son of George and Mary (Johannes) Decker. His parents were born in Germany. His father was brought to America when a boy, lived in Ohio and in the early days took rafts of provisions down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana. He finally moved to a farm in Indiana and both he and his wife are now deceased. Their children were: Mary and Margaret, deceased; Rosa, wife of Charles Grunert, of St. Annes, Indiana; Jacob, deceased; Anna, wife of John Schuster, of Cincinnati; Catherine and Lena, deceased; Charles G.; and Winnie, wife of John H. Meyer, of Cincinnati.
Charles George Decker learned farming in Indiana and for a time had the active management of the home place. It was in 1893 that he came to Champaign County. For eight years he rented land, and then bought his present fine homestead of 230 acres in section 13 of Philo Township. He has made many improvements, has adapted himself to local conditions and besides general farming is handling Percheron horses as one of the chief features of his stock husbandry. He also makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and spotted China swine.
Mr. Decker married Elizabeth Johanna Kipper, a native of Indiana. Their five children are Herman Nicholas, Alfred Jacob, Stella Mary, Florence Magdalene and Walter Steven. Politically Mr. Decker is a Democrat. He and his family are active members of St. Thomas Catholic Church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus.