Elmer W. Decker, the experienced carpenter and contractor, at No. 233 Ottawa street, Grand Rapids, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, December1, 1853, and is a son of Absalom and Sarah (Reece) Decker, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of New Jersey, and both now deceased.

Elmer W. Decker is the fifth of the eight children born to his parents, and named as follows: Mary Elizabeth, wife of Ezra Whitney, of Tacoma, Wash.; Theophilus W., deceased; Naomi, married to William Long, of Weston, Ohio; Horace P., deceased; Elmer W., the subject of this sketch; Leora, deceased; Milton LaFayette, a druggist and postmaster of Lakota, Mich., and Alice Luretta, deceased. All the deceased children attained the years of maturity ere they were called away.

Mr. Decker came to Michigan in 1871, learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and worked for some years with a brother in Grand Rapids, and then was a partner with H. O. Cotton for six or seven years in contracting and building, but since April, 1897, he has been alone and gives employment to two or three workmen, besides doing a great deal of work himself, as he is a most industrious man.

August 6, 1876, Mr. Decker was joined in matrimony with Miss Fidelia Elsfelder, a native of Wood county, Ohio, and a daughter of John D. and Henrietta (Osborn) Elsfelder the father a native of Paris, France, and the mother of Virginia, but their marriage took place in Seneca county, Ohio. The mother died in Ohio when Mrs. Decker was but nine years old, and the father died in Illinois. They were the parents of five children, viz: Amanda, wife of Eli Stull, a resident of Illinois; Elizabeth Orr, of Illinois; John Daniel, a car-builder at Princeton, Ind.; Fidelia, now Mrs. E. W. Decker, and Henry, a painter in Omaha, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have been blessed with two bright and intelligent daughters, the eldest of whom, Myrtle May, was born in Lamont, Mich., May 15, 1879, and Iva Pearl, born in Grand Rapids, March 15, 1883. The elder of the two is a graduate of Grand Rapids high school, and the Grand Rapids normal school, and for a year or more has been a successful teacher in the city, and the younger daughter is in the senior year of the city high school.

Mr. Decker is a member of Equity lodge, No. 459, I. O. O. F., of Purity lodge, No. 14; D. of R., and of the I. O. R. M., in which latter he has filled the principal official stations. Mrs. Decker is also a member of the D. of R., but neither he nor she is a member of any church organization. In politics, Mr. Decker was a republican in his early voting days, but has latterly espoused the doctrine of free silver. He has, however, never sought political favors from either party.

Mr. Decker has ever been a temperate, industrious citizen, and a useful one. He has been a good manager, has made a success of his business, and he and wife and daughters enjoy the unfeigned esteem of all who know them.