Bluff in San Juan County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Decker Families

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

1. The Decker Families Marker

Inscription.

The Decker Families. . Six Decker families made the epic Hole-in-the Rock journey together, including father/grandfather, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.. James and Anna Mickelsen Decker While camped at 50 Mile Spring, prior to making it through the Hole-in-the Rock, Anna gave birth to their third child during harsh winter conditions., Anna suplemented their income as a seamstress. James was the first sheriff of Bluff, a rotating position. He farmed and became successful at ranching. James served in various county positions, including superintendent of schools. James, Anna, and their 11 children were among the few families who remained in Bluff., In 1901 a diphtheria outbreak devastated the community. James and four of their children, along with others in the community, succumbed to the disease. The photo was taken just months prior to the outbreak., Nathaniel and Emma Morris Decker Emma gave birth to their second child within a week of their arrival in Bluff. They had four more children in Bluff. One only lived three days. Nathaniel primarily supported his family by hauling freight. In 1889 they moved on to Mancos, Colorado, where they had three more children., Peter and Harriet Decker Mickelson Peter and Harriet made the journey to Bluff with their infant son. They had three more children in Bluff and one in Manassa, Colorado, where they moved in 1884. In 1888 at age 29, Peter died of kidney disese. In 1897 Harriet married John Gilleland. They had two children., Ida Dalton Mickelson In 1883 Peter married Ida Dalton. Their son was born in Bluff. Sixteen years following Peter's death, Ida married Joseph Macdonald, a widower with four children., Cornelius and Elizabeth Morris Decker Cornelius and Lizzie made the journey with two children. Concerning their initial living conditions at Bluff Lizzie wrote, "We are all well and as dirty as pigs living in the dirt." They had two additional children in Bluff. In 1884 they moved to Snowflake, Arizona. Of their 10 children, six lived to adulthood., Zachariah Jr. and Emma Smith Decker Zach participated in the initial five-month-long exploring expedition. When he and Emma departed on the Hole-in-the-Rock trek, they had five children. They lived at Montezuma Fort one year prior to going on to Snowflake, Arizona. A diphtheria outbreak in Arizona took the lives of four of their children. Six of their 12 children lived to adulthood., Zachariah Sr. and his 15-Year-Old Son George Decker George helped herd the company's cattle to Bluff. He then returned to Parowan to help his mother. Father Decker had volunteered to come on the San Juan Mission. He hoped to find good grazing land to raise a special breed of horses. After 1.5 years at Montezuma Fort, he returned to his wife and home in Parowan., Captions (Photo #1) 1891 James and Anna Mickelsen Decker (Photo #2) 1890 Nathaniel and Emma Morris Decker (Photo #3) About 1878 Peter Mickelson (Photo #4) About 1901 Harriet Decker Mickelson (Photo #5) About 1883 Ida Dalton Mickelson (Photo #6) About 1883 Cornelius and Elizabeth Morris Decker

Six Decker families made the epic Hole-in-the Rock journey together, including father/grandfather, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
James and Anna Mickelsen Decker
While camped at 50 Mile Spring, prior to making it through the Hole-in-the Rock, Anna gave birth to their third child during harsh winter conditions.

Anna suplemented their income as a seamstress. James was the first sheriff of Bluff, a rotating position. He farmed and became successful at ranching. James served in various county positions, including superintendent of schools. James, Anna, and their 11 children were among the few families who remained in Bluff.

In 1901 a diphtheria outbreak devastated the community. James and four of their children, along with others in the community, succumbed to the disease. The photo was taken just months prior to the outbreak.

Nathaniel and Emma Morris Decker
Emma gave birth to their second child within a week of their arrival in Bluff. They had four more children in Bluff. One only lived three days. Nathaniel primarily supported his family by hauling freight. In 1889 they moved on to Mancos, Colorado, where they had three more children.

Peter and Harriet Decker Mickelson
Peter and Harriet made the journey to Bluff with their

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infant son. They had three more children in Bluff and one in Manassa, Colorado, where they moved in 1884. In 1888 at age 29, Peter died of kidney disese. In 1897 Harriet married John Gilleland. They had two children.

Ida Dalton Mickelson
In 1883 Peter married Ida Dalton. Their son was born in Bluff. Sixteen years following Peter's death, Ida married Joseph Macdonald, a widower with four children.

Cornelius and Elizabeth Morris Decker
Cornelius and Lizzie made the journey with two children. Concerning their initial living conditions at Bluff Lizzie wrote, "We are all well and as dirty as pigs living in the dirt." They had two additional children in Bluff. In 1884 they moved to Snowflake, Arizona. Of their 10 children, six lived to adulthood.

Zachariah Jr. and Emma Smith Decker
Zach participated in the initial five-month-long exploring expedition. When he and Emma departed on the Hole-in-the-Rock trek, they had five children. They lived at Montezuma Fort one year prior to going on to Snowflake, Arizona. A diphtheria outbreak in Arizona took the lives of four of their children. Six of their 12 children lived to adulthood.

Zachariah Sr. and his 15-Year-Old Son George Decker
George helped herd the company's cattle to Bluff. He then returned to Parowan to help his mother. Father Decker had volunteered

The Decker Families Cabin and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

2. The Decker Families Cabin and Marker

to come on the San Juan Mission. He hoped to find good grazing land to raise a special breed of horses. After 1.5 years at Montezuma Fort, he returned to his wife and home in Parowan.

Captions
(Photo #1) 1891 James and Anna Mickelsen Decker
(Photo #2) 1890 Nathaniel and Emma Morris Decker
(Photo #3) About 1878 Peter Mickelson
(Photo #4) About 1901 Harriet Decker Mickelson
(Photo #5) About 1883 Ida Dalton Mickelson
(Photo #6) About 1883 Cornelius and Elizabeth Morris Decker

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 37° 16.995′ N, 109° 33.178′ W. Marker is in Bluff, Utah, in San Juan County. It is at the intersection of Black Locust Avenue and 5th E Street on Black Locust Avenue. The marker is located at the Bluff Fort Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Black Locust Ave, Bluff UT 84512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Navajo Nation

and in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bodil and Jens Jr. (here, next to this marker); Bayles Family (a few steps from this marker); George Brigham Hobbs & Sisters (a few steps from this marker); Henry & Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak Wagon Encampment Display

The inside view of the Decker Families Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

3. The inside view of the Decker Families Cabin

(a few steps from this marker); Amasa Barton's Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Farming Implements Used by the Settlers of Bluff (within shouting distance of this marker); Parley R. & Ency Camilla (Bayles) Butt (within shouting distance of this marker); F.I. Jones & Mackelprang Families (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluff.

Also see . . . Bluff Fort Historic Site. Hole in the Rock Foundation website entry (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 22, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.