Descendants of Valentine Deckard
1. VALENTINE5 DECKARD (HEZEKIAH4, JACOB3, JACOB2, DECKERT1) was born October 11, 1850 in
Brown County, Indiana, and died February 16, 1886 in Brown County, Indiana. He married
HESTER ANN COMBS November 1, 1873 in Jackson County, Indiana, daughter of WILLIAM COMBS
and SYPES HARDIN. She was born Abt. 1857 in Jackson County, Indiana, and died March 12,
1933.
Notes for VALENTINE DECKARD:
Bloomington (IN) Telephone, Tuesday, August 23, 1887. (From the clipping file at the
genealogy library, Monroe County Historical Society.) "An old fashioned Pennsylvania
funeral took place last Sunday in Brown County, near the Monroe County line, the occasion
being the preaching of the funeral sermon of Valentine Deckard, son of Hezekiah Deckard,
and Mrs. Nancy Deckard, the wife of James Deckard. Valentine Deckard, called
"Felt," died on the 17th of February, 1886, and Mrs. Deckard died sometime in
the spring; and as is the custom, the bodies were buried and a future time, which was last
Sunday, set as the day to preach the funeral sermons. For miles around, all the people had
been invited to be present, as well as friends in different parts of this and Brown
counties. It was also announced that everybody who was present would receive the
hospitality of the family. It is estimated that no less than 1,000 people were present by
noon. Before noon the sermon on the death of Mrs. !
Nancy Deckard was preached and old fashioned singing suitable to the occasion was
furnished by a select choir composed of J. O. Baxter, John Siscoe, John Hays and Louis
Hays. After the sermon, the minister extended an invitation to all to come forward and
extend the hand of fellowship and sympathy to the bereaved friends. With this, all present
came forward, when followed every demonstration of grief as if the coffin was open before
them, many mingling tears with the friends. After singing it was announced that all
present were expected to take dinner with the relatives of the deceased, when an
adjournment was made. The crowd was about equally divided between the six sons James,
William, John, Isaac, Jacob and Andrew Deckard. At each house great preparations had been
made; the horses were put up and cared for; everybody was given an excellent dinner. After
noon the crowd again assembled, and the funeral oration of Felt Deckard was delivered, the
same program being carried out !
as in the morning. Revs. Goodman and Barrow officiated. The services were held in a
beautiful grove and it was an occasion long to be remembered, and is one that is often
repeated by the good people of that locality."
Valentine & Hester buried at Deckard Cemetery, Brown County, Indiana. His occupation
was Farmer. Residence: Johnson Township, now Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana
Marriage Notes for VALENTINE DECKARD and HESTER COMBS: Jackson County Marriage Book G page
93. Marriage: November 1, 1873, Jackson County, Indiana
Children of VALENTINE DECKARD and HESTER COMBS are
:i. CLARA6 DECKARD, b. 1874, Elkinsville , Brown County, Indiana; d. March 21, 1874, Brown
County, Indiana.
ii. JAMES THORNTON DECKARD, b. August 17, 1877.
iii. RANSON DECKARD, b. October 19, 1879, Elkinsville, Brown County, Indiana.
iv. LUCY JANE DECKARD. Said to have died young