Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-07-08
Obituary-Daniel Decker.

Gods finger touched him and ne slept"
One by one the members of the
great Union Army who more than
fifty years ago left their homes and
friends to offer their services to their
country, are dropping away to join
their comrades who preceded them to
the unknown land from which they
never will return. Their deeds and
sacrifices will never be forgotten by
their countrymen.
They offered their lives and limbs
bravely and passed through the vicis-
STUDIES of the life of a soldier, in
the camp, on the march and in battle
and prison pen, with an undaunted
spirit of heroism and bravery that
will always be remembered with ad-
miration by future generations.
Loyalty they stemmed the tide of
rebellion and to protect from desecra-
tion the glorious emblem of liberty
that was flung to the breeze by their
forefathers when these freemen
shook off the yoke of the British OPP
pressor. Stars on blue sky; stripes
of white and crimson dye; what
fitting harmony of color, the most
beautiful banner that the world ever
saw waving in the breeze. It's en-
blematic colors forshadowed the ad-
vent of the best civil government
ever known.
Again the fearful reaper of death
has swung his scythe and our old
friend Daniel Decker was the victim.
He has been taken from US. We shall
never hear again his pleasant voice.
We shall never again grasp his hand
in fraternal greeting. Farewell, Dan,
may you rest in peace.
He was born in Schoharie County,
in the State of New York, on the
25th day of June, 1889, and came to
this county with his parents, sister
and brother, in the year 1853, and
had been resident of the county
ever since. He enlisted on the 18th
day Of August, 1868, in Captain
Farquharson Company c., of the
25th Regiment of Wisconsin Volun-
teers, and served with this company
until the close of the war. He was
discharged on the 18th day of June,
1856. He was good and faithful
soldier and a loyal comrade. He was
one of the two million young men
who helped to make this country
what it IS; always doing his duty
without grumbling; cheerfully obey
ing al commands.
He was a good citizen and neighbor
and ever ready to sacrifice his own
comfort when he found that others
needed assistance. The good Lord
will reward him for all the good
deeds he has done.
Peacefully his life ebbed away;
his spirit took flight to the realms
beyond on the 23d day of June, at
the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Charles Borah, in the city of Lancas-
ter. He would have passed his
seventy fifth mile stone the day that
the comrades in Lancaster assembled
around his coffin to offer him their
last tribute of friendship.
His body was taken to Fennimore,
where it was placed in charge of his
comrades of the G.. A. r. Post there
of which he has been loyal member
for many years, who performed the
last rites of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
His beloved wife preceded him to
the everlasting mansions above,
several years ago. He left surviv-
ing, his son, William Decker, who
resides in Fennimore, and his faith
full daughter and his brother, A. Y.
Decker, of the city of Lancaster;
also two sisters who reside in the
state of New York.
One by one we pass away. Who
the next one Will be no one can
foretell. 1t may be Jack, it may be
John, it may be Bill and it may be l.
Let us so live that we have no re-
grets nor excuses to offer for what
we have done or failed to do. H. B.