Hon. Davis E. Decker

HON. DAVIS E. DECKER

HON. DAVIS E. DECKER. The name of Hon. Davis E. Decker is enduringly inscribed on the pages of Texas’ history in connection with the records of her jurisprudence. His superior ability has won him marked success; he has been crowned with high judicial honors; and both in business and private life has won an enviable reputation. Northwestern Texas numbers him among her honored sons and political leaders. He was born in Henderson county, Texas, in 1866, a son of J. T. and Nila (Thompson) Decker. The father was born in Kingston county, New York, was a mechanic by profession, and when a young man he came to Henderson county, Texas, his death there occurring in 1889. His wife, who survives him and is now a resident of Henderson county, Tennessee, but during her childhood days removed with her parents to Henderson county, Texas, and there gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Decker.

Hon. Davis E. Decker spent the early years of his life on the old home farm in Henderson county, and it was largely through his own efforts that he acquired his liberal education. He graduated at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, with class of 1888, being now a member of its Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and his law studies were pursued at Midland, Texas, under R. H. Zane, his admission to the bar occurring there in August, 1889. In the following February he came to Quanah and began the practice of law. From the first he became known as a man of high attainments and practical ability as a lawyer, but he has ever used his intellect to the best purpose, and his influence soon extended far into professional and political circles. In 1894 he was honored with the election of county attorney of the Forty-sixth judicial district, while in 1898 he was elected a member of the legislature to represent the old Panhandle district before its division into districts, thus serving for two terms. In 1902 he became a state senator from this, the Twenty-ninth senatorial district, and being a hold-over member will serve until 1906 on his present term. During the last session on the senate Mr. Decker was chairman on the committee on privileges and elections, much of the time being taken up with the consideration of the Terrell election law, the most important measure passed by that session. He was also a member of the committee on military affairs, and introduced and has passed the bill that made the Texas Volunteer Guard a part of the National Guard, in accordance with the provisions of the Dick Bill in the national congress. He energetically fought the Quarantine Bill, and it was largely through his efforts that it was defeated, the passage of which would practically have ruined the cattle industry in the Panhandle district. He is a pleasant and forceful speaker, and since entering public life has been a prominent figure at all the Texas political gatherings of note. He is a member of one of the leading law firms in Quanah, that of Fires and Decker, of which Judge A. J. Fires of Childress is the senior member. They have offices at both Quanah and Childress.

Mr. Decker was married at Georgetown to Miss Jennie Morrow, and they have two children, Morrow and Margaret. Mr. Decker is a member of the Methodist church, the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and Elks. For a number of years he has been accorded a prominent position at the Texas bar, and his professional career is an honor to the district which has so honored him.

B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, p. 167.

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