Almira Elizabeth "Lizzie" Decker 1857-1913 (1011)

Almira Elizabeth "Lizzie" Decker was born on 10 Jan 1857 in Montgomery County, Texas. She was the first of two daughters born to Isaac Cryle Decker and Rachel Elizabeth (Sanders) Decker. Her death record gives her maiden name (Decker) as well as birth and death dates (10 Jan 1857 - 1 Nov 1913), but no first name for her father (it says Mr. Decker). Her marriage record also confirms her maiden name. She is commonly called "Lizzie" in the many records that we have for her.

Almira Elizabeth "Lizzie" Decker

Proving Lizzie’s parentage has been a challenge. Isaac Cryle Decker cannot be found in the 1860 Census. Though we know from tax records that he was living in Montgomery County, Texas at the time, his family was not enumerated there in the 1860 Federal Census. In the 1870 Federal Census, Isaac’s family is in the Tillis Prairie Precinct, Montgomery County, Texas. He is listed with two daughters—Minerva C. Decker who is 12, and Ophelia J. Decker who is 10. No other record has been found for a Minerva C. Decker, however, Almira Elizabeth Decker would have been 12 years old in 1870.

Ophelia Jane Decker

We also know, from a collection of family photos, that Lizzie got her picture taken on the same day as her sister, Ophelia Jane Decker. These photos are labeled with the names of the sisters, and are in possession of Linda Croft who is also descended through Lizzie Decker. The two sisters look remarkably similar, and are obviously sisters. Since Ophelia is proven to be the daughter of Isaac Cryle Decker through the census record, we can conclude that her sister must also be a daughter. Further proof of the connection is that Lizzie named a daughter Ida Ophelia after her sister, and Ophelia named a daughter Rachel Almira after hers. It is probable that Lizzie’s name was misheard by the census enumerator, or the information came from someone who was ill informed.

Lizzie was married in 1875, to James Andrew Gilley in Waller County, Texas. The marriage certificate gives the following information:

State of Texas Waller County, the 2d day of February 1875, James A. Gilly of Waller aged 22 and Miss Almira E. Decker of Waller aged 17, Wm J. Wilson joined them in marriage third day of February 1875.

They had the following children:

1) Claiborne Carrial Gilley b. 24 Jan 1876 Caldwell, Burleson, Texas, d. 27 Jul 1941 San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas m. Eulas Boyd

2) Ida Ophelia Gilley b. 8 Sep 1880 Burleson, Texas, d. 20 Jun 1953 Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico m. William Eugene Sumrow 3 May 1903 Ardmore, Carter, Oklahoma

3) Tempie Almira Gilley b. 7 Apr 1886 Burleson, Texas, d. unknown

4) Carrie Una Gilley b. 17 Mar 1889 Caldwell, Burleson, Texas, d. 2 Apr 1986 Brownwood, Brown, Texas m. William Lewis Parker 23 Aug 1908 Brownwood, Brown, Texas

5) Angie Gilley b. 9 Sep 1892 Caldwell, Burleson, Texas, d. 1892 Burleson, Texas (died in infancy)

Elizabeth Gilly with husband and son in the 1880 Census in Burleson County, Texas.

In the 1880 Census, Lizzie shows up with her husband and young son in Hookerville, Burleson County, Texas. In this, she says that she was born in Texas, as were her father and probably her mother. It is difficult to tell about her mother, because the Census page has been torn and the mother's birthplace is missing. The first letter appears to have been a T, judging from the small part of the letter that is still there.

Almira Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Decker) Gilley Death Record

Lizzie’s death record gives her birth date and place (10 Jan 1857 Waller County) as well as her death date and place (1 Nov 1813 Brownwood, which lies in Burleson County), and says that she died of "cancer on face." Her daughter, Ida, also contracted cancer on her face and it was the eventual cause of her death as well. The death record gives Lizzie's father's name as "Mr. Decker." 

Lizzie was buried at Indian Creek Cemetery, which is located South of Brownwood 4.2 mi. on Hwy 377 (turn left on CR 233, 3 mi. turn right on CR 237, 3.8 miles on right). There is no marker on Lizzie’s grave, however a cemetery record gives us her place of burial. In the book Rural Cemetery Inscriptions, Brown County, TX by Hazel Ellis Wetzel, it gives the following:

Indian Creek Cemetery - page 33 - Unmarked grave between Joseph Q. Smith and Francis [Ramsey] Boyd. 'This unmarked grave said to be Lizzie Elmira Decker Gilley, mother/Carrie Parker & Clabe Gilly who marr Eulas Boyd.' Lizzie Elmira Gilly 10 Jan 1857 - 1 Nov 1913