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Nathaniel Alvin Decker
Emma.jpg "Emma Morris Decker")
Emma Morris Decker
Sarah Jane Decker
Alvin Morris Decker
"Nathaniel A & Emma Morris Decker family (1890)
Nathaniel Alvin Decker
Born: 19 July 1856 at Parowan, Iron, Utah, USAEmma Morris
Born: 27 January 1859 at Dukinfield, Chester, EnglandLIFE SKETCH NATHANIEL ALVIN DECKER AND EMMA MORRIS
Nathaniel Decker was born 19 July 1856 at Parawan, Iron County, Utah to a pioneer couple, Zachariah Bruyn Decker and Nancy Bean. He learned to work early in his life assisting with the farm work and chores. He had very little schooling, a few months during the winter for four or five years.
He assisted in hauling and laying the stonework for the St. George Temple. He and his sweetheart were married in this sacred house on 11 January 1877 by President Wilford Woodruff. They made their home at Parawan where he helped his father with the sheep and cattle on the ranch. That summer Nathaniel was one of several men called to work on the Manti Temple. Emma Morris, his new bride, went with him and she and some other women cooked for the men. In the fall they returned to Parawan where their first child, Sara J ane was born 30 December, 1877.
When the call came from Church authorities for families to leave their homes and join with the expedition to settle the four corners area in southeast Utah, Nathaniel and Emma answered the call. His father and several brothers and their families joined with the eighty-five pioneers who made this incredible journey to the San Juan. With bare hands and basic tools these pioneers cut a wagon passage through two hundred ninety miles of the roughest, most difficult terrain in North America. The six weeks which was originally planned on turned into six months. Food supplies ran out and the pioneers barely avoided starvation by eating up their seed potatoes, grain and corn. Finally after one hundred fifty-six days, the exhausted teams, broken wagons, and bone-weary people arrived on the San Juan April 6, 1880. Their unshakable faith, dogged determination, and devotion to the Lord had carried them though, but they had gone about as far as they could go.
Six days after the arrival of the bedraggled, weary, hungry settlers arrived in Bluff, a baby boy was born to Nathaniel Alvin and his wife, Emma. Though Emma was a tiny lady, her courage, faith and endurance must have been unbelievable to have made it through six months of pregnancy under such hardships. The little baby was given the name of Alvin Morris, he was the first white child born in the San Juan area.
Nathaniel Alvin went to work and finally managed to build a small log cabin about 12 X 12 feet of cottonwood logs with a dirt floor and a makeshift roof. The roof wasn’t very efficient when it rained. Before the cabin was finished they made their home in the wagon box and dugout on the side of a hill. Nathaniel helped the other men erect a fort which was used many times for protection from the indians. Farming became the way of life for most of the group, but due to the scarcity of good farming land, the harsh weather and floods that washed out the irrigation canals, most of the Pioneers soon left the area. Nathaniel Alvin moved to a rich valley south of the present day Monticello. They named the little valley Verdure, he was the first white man to try living there. He cultivated some 160 acres of land, but had to move back to Bluff because of trouble with the Indians. Later he and two other men fenced 150 acres and planted 40 acres. They held their first religious services at the Decker cabin on July 3, 1887. During the summer a cellar, stockyard and more fences were built.
Hay, vegetables and grain were grown, the grain was threshed by horses trampling over the straw after it was cut by hand with a cradle. The grain was then cleaned with a small hand operating farming mill. They stored the grain in a log house for safe keeping and hired a cowboy to guard it while they returned to Bluff for the winter. By Christmas both the grain and the cowboy were gone and their hard summer’s work was all in vain.
Nathaniel engaged in freighting soon after coming to Bluff. He had two freight wagons and six horses which were used to haul freight from as far away as Alamosa and Durango, Colorado. As Bluff was such an inaccessible place the large freight wagons were the only means of getting supplies for the settlement. Often he had to use all six of the horses to pull the heavily loaded wagons up the steep hills and through the deep mud.
While living in Bluff four more children were born to them. Zachariah, who died in infancy, Emma Adelia in 1893, William in 1885, and Nathaniel Cornelius in 1888.
While making freight trips through the Mancos Valley on the way to Durango, Nathaniel liked the area and decided to move his family and make that their home. They arrived in Mancos in June of 1889 and made their first home in two covered wagons on the old school lot. Later they moved into a little log house which was on the southeast corner of the William Ellis property. Soon Nathaniel purchased a small piece of land from George Halls and built a comfortable log home. About 1900, with the help of his sons, he built a lovely red brick house with nine small rooms and there and his dear little wife spent the rest of their lives.
Nathaniel never did much farming, mostly raised enough feed for a few cows, his horses and some pigs. They always raised chickens and turkeys and had a nice garden, berry patch and orchard. The children all worked together and helped to support the family. For several years Nathaniel was overseer of the Montezuma County roads and with the help of his sons built the first road into Mesa Verde National Park. He had several beautiful work horses which were used to haul loads of huge logs to the sawmills in the area. This was a hard and dangerous job, but he was a strong man and he did many jobs that few men would tackle.
In November 1899 Nathaniel was called to serve a Mission for the church in the Southern states. He knew it would be very difficult for his wife and children to have him gone, but putting his trust in the Lord he answered the call. He kept a journal which tells of the hardships and persecution he endured and the concern and worry he felt for his wife and family. The family did have many difficult times, but with the help of the older boys who took over their father’s job of hauling timber to the sawmills and Emma selling butter, eggs, and fruit they were able to survive and could send a few dollars to Nathaniel occasionally. Nathaniel’s health suffered from the harsh weather. Often he had to sleep outdoors in the rain and cold and seldom did he have enough to eat. He waded through swamps day after day, was hounded by dogs and driven off by men. He came down with Malaria fever and was very ill for some time. He was released in late 1901 because of his health. It was a happy homecoming for his family when he arrived in Mancos, but Emma was so very concerned to see him so thin and frail. It was months before he was well enough to do much and never did fully regain his strength. He remained active in the Church and held many positions. He loved to sing and had a beautiful tenor voice, which he used both on his mission and in the ward. Though he had very little public schooling, he was a scholar of history, religion and literature. His library held many volumes of books and he read them. He loved to teach religion and was quite vocal as he stood behind the pulpit delivering a sermon, he would raise his voice and hit the pulpit to emphasize his point. In later life he wa quite a distinguished figure with his long flowing white hair and beard.
As he grew older and could no longer do heavy work, he started driving the school wagon which hauled the students from the Webber community to the Mancos PUblic Schools. The covered wagon was long and narrow with a door at the back and steps to help the children climb in. The children sat on wooden benches along both sides of the wagon, this allowed the children to play games as there were on their way to school. There were heavy tarpaulin flaps that could be let down when the weather was bad. Nathaniel’s day began early, as he had to get the horses fed and harnessed and ready to leave to drive some three miles south to pick up children at the lower end of Webber and then all the way into town. Nathaniel was often seen sitting in the old school wagon on a pillow on the hard seat with the horses reins tied to the front of the wagon letting them plod along at their usual pace while he was reading a book. When one of the grandchildren became too unruly or too noisy he would pick up one of his crutches and give a thump on the floor until order was restored then go on with his reading.
Rheumatism plagued him in later years and he was forced to use a cane and later crutches. He would sit on a stool with casters as he cut wood from the woodpile for the heater and cook stove. His health, other than rheumatism, was generally good until the last year of his life. After lingering in pain for several long weeks with cancer, he died March 4, 1929 at the age of 72. He was buried in Webber Cemetery by the old Webber Hall. His little wife, Emma, so lonely without him, followed him in death three months later on June 4, 1929 and was laid to rest beside him among the pinions and cedars they both loved so much.
Emma MorrisEmma Morris was born the 27th of January, 1859 in Duckinfield, Cheshire, England to William and Sarah Durham. There were the parents of nine children. The first six were born in Duckingfield and the others born in Parawan, Iron County, Utah. The third child was given the name of Emma and little Emma died eight months later. Five years later another baby girl was born to this couple and as was often the custom in those days, she was given the name of Emma in memory of her sister who had lived such a short time.
As so many converts were leaving their native country to go to America to join the Saints, William and Sara made plans to follow them as soon as they could By working hard and saving all they could and selling all they owned but a very few personal possessions they left Liverpool on the ship “Manchester” the 2nd of May 1862. They were accompanied by many other new members of the church. It was a rough voyage, the ship was overcrowded, the sea was rough and nearly everyone was seasick. Emma recorded in her short autobiography that one day she started singing “There are good Times Coming By and By”. A sweet little old lady heard her and replied, “Oh, I certainly hope so my Dear”. Emma was about 3 ½ at the time. The ship Manchester caught fire and there was much fright and confusion for some time, but fortunately the fire was extinguished. However, the good ship was doomed, on the return journey fire broke out and it sank to the bottom of the ocean.
After seven long weeks on the ocean they arrived at Castle Garden, New York. From there they went by boat up the Hudson River to Niagara, then Detroit, and on to St. Louis. From St. Louis they traveled by rail to Florence, Nebraska. At Florence they pooled their meager savings with that of another family and between them they were able to buy a wagon, six oxen and provisions to get them to Salt Lake. The two families shared the wagon and it held all their possessions so there was little room for anyone to ride. Emma wrote that while she was small she walked many a mile holding my father’s hand. She also recalled what it was like to “want for bread”. One day a thunderstorm came up and there was much lightening. One of the oxen was killed and the wagon master was knocked down. Emma and her father were nearby but were unharmed.
One of her sisters, Sarah Jane, who was ten became very ill and died and joined the many others who were buried along the trail. Her mother couldn’t stand to see her beautiful daughter buried without a fitting burial dress, so she took a white lace curtain she was bringing to Zion from England to adorn her new home, cut it up and hand sewed a lovely white burial dress for Sarah to be buried in. The family traveling with them also suffered the death of a teenage daughter.
The Morris family traveled in the Captain John R. Murdock Ox Company, they arrived in Salt Lake City 22 September, 1862 and were met by Brigham Young and many members of the Church. They were asked by the Prophet to continue their travels south to the settlement of Parowan in southern Utah. It must have been hard after traveling so far to start on another long hard journey across mountains, deserts and hills before finally finding a resting place to call home. When they arrived in Parowan the Saints were having a lot of trouble with the Indians and were all living in a fort for protection. As the Indian trouble subsided William was able to secure 16 acres of land and built a small log home for the family.
When Emma was 18 years old she fell in love with a local young man by the name of Nathaniel Alvin Decker. Alvin was a good looking young man and was strong and industrious. Emma and Nathaniel were married in the beautiful St. George Temple on the first day it was opened for endowments and sealings, the 11 of January, 1877. Their sacred ceremony was performed by President Wilford Woodruff.
Like all pioneer women, Emma’s life was not a life of ease or luxury. The first summer of their married life was spent in Manti cooking for a group of men who had been called from Parawan to work on the Manti temple. She was pregnant at the time and had no one to help her. She didn’t receive a penny for any of her labors but then neither did any of the men. Their first child, a daughter was born 20 December 1877 and was named Sara Jane. Soon after this a call from the leaders of the church came for volunteers to help settle the area in southeastern, Utah known as the San Juan. The leaders felt it was important to establish a Mormon settlement in this area to help cultivate better relations with Indians in the area and to lay the foundation for future permanent Mormon settlements.
Among those who volunteered was Nathaniel Alvin, his father, Zachariah Bruyn Decker and four brothers and their wives. This turned out to be one of the most dangerous and impossible journeys in Mormon history. It was originally thought the trip would take about six weeks, as it turned out, it was six months of the most difficult travel that man or beast has ever undertaken and accomplished. Their food ran out, they were caught in fierce snow storms and so cold that many of their cattle froze to death. The trip down through the “Hole in the Rock” and on through the impassable canyons of solid sand rock to arrive in the desolate area of Bluff is a story without equal. Several babies were born on this journey under the most trying of conditions. Emma was pregnant when the journey began and gave birth to her second child, six days after arriving in Bluff. There were no houses to move into, Nathaniel took the wagon box off the wheels, placed it under a large cottonwood tree, and there Emma gave birth to her infant son, the first white child born in the area.
In spite of all their hard work and suffering, before long they knew there was no way to support families in this area. Flash floods washed the dams the men made to divert water from the San Juan river for irrigation almost faster than they could make them. Men had to leave the area in search of work, leaving the women and children alone to face the threat of Indians and the harsh summer heat and winter cold. Nathaniel bought a freight outfit and hauled freight between Moab and Durango, Colorado. It was hard to leave his dear wife and family alone so much of the time. By this time Emma had given birth to four more children, a daughter, Emma Adella, and three sons, William, Nathaniel Cornelius and Zechariah, who died in infancy.
Nathaniel noticed a beautiful little valley called Mancos as he made freight trips to Durango and felt it was a good place to establish a home for his growing family. They arrived in Mancos in June of 1889 living in a covered wagon until they were able to construct a little log home. Nathaniel never owned much land, just enough to raise feed for his horses, a few milk cows and have a garden and orchard.
In November 1899, Nathaniel received a call to serve a mission in the Southern states leaving Emma home alone to care for the children and land. While he was gone Emma and her sons worked hard to be able to sustain themselves and send a little bit occasionally to their missionary. Emma sold eggs, made butter and sold what she could spare. In a little notebook she recorded such items as “sold Sister Zufelt 1 gallon currents, Fieldings 6 pounds cabbage, Johns 27 pounds crab apples, 12 pounds eating apples.” In this same notebook she recorded items she mailed to her husband:”stamps 50 cents, cash $5.00, necktie 50 cents, clothes $3.75, handkerchief 60 cents, garments $1.00”. Their older sons worked away from home milking cows and herding cattle and contributing hauling lumber and coal with Nathaniel’s beautiful team of work horses. Most of their wages were given to Emma to help pay bills and send to their father.
They were faithful members of the Latter-day Saints church all their lives and served in many different callings. Neither of these valiant pioneers had much formal schooling, and yet they had a great knowledge of the Gospel, as well as things of the universe. Their library contained numerous volumes of some of the best literature and they taught their love for knowledge to their children.
Emma was a tiny, petite lady, but full of energy and was always busy. She did beautiful handiwork, crocheting, tatting and made many dresses for her daughters as well as for herself. She loved gardening and it would have been hard to find many weeds that escaped her keen eye and her hoe. She loved every living thing, her beautiful flowers, the berry patch, the chickens and turkeys and especially her children and grandchildren.
A few years after Nathaniel returned from his mission, with the help of his sons, they built a lovely two-story red brick home. It was the joy of Emma’s life and she enjoyed having her families come home for Sunday dinner and especially large Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. One small room in her home was called the Parlor, this room was only for special people and special occasions and to enter this room was a rare treat for the grandchildren. On one wall were two oval framed pictures of her two stalwart sons who had served their country during World War I. On another wall there was a large picture frame with a wreath of hair flowers, the hair was dyed, and the words, “In Memory of our Loved Ones” were on it. A piano was along one wall, which my sister got to play and the rest of us would gather around and sing. The object that would take my attention was her lovely china hutch. I can recall sitting on the floor in front of it, gazing at the numerous pieces of china and glassware. There were cups and saucers, glasses, candy dishes and salt and pepper shakers. I thought they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen and longed for the day I could perhaps have something as lovely as them. Emma wrote shortly before her death a letter to her children giving out her special belongings. In it she included: “My parent’s have blessed me with enough to pay my expenses, I bless them both. Thank you to my children for their goodness to me. I bless them with a mother’s blessing. They have ever been kind to me”.
They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1927, all their children and grandchildren were home for this special occasion. One year later their daughter, Effie Decker passed away (Pauline’s mother). Dear Nathaniel and Emma insisted they moved in with us and try to nurture and take care of four young children who missed their mother’s love so very much. They were both old and not in good health and not up to the putting up with the noise and energy of four young children. They missed the peace and quiet of their comfortable home, so returned home after a few months. They were so good to us and we loved them dearly and shall always cherish their memories.
Their health continued to fail and Nathaniel departed this life on the 4th of March 1919 and his dear little Emma followed his three months later of 4 June, 1929. Their earthly remains are buried in the Mormon Webber Cemetery, Mancos, Colorado.
At the time of their deaths eight of the children they had raised were living and there were 31 grandchildren, which by now have grown to a large and numerous posterity. All should know and honor the lives of these brave pioneers for their courage, industry and for their strong testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their lives should serve as an inspiration to each of the descendents of this good couple.
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
Nathaniel Alvin Decker
Emma Morris Decker
Sarah Jane Decker
Alvin Morris Decker
"Nathaniel A & Emma Morris Decker family (1890)