Nathan B. Decker was born in 1841 in New York. He enlisted with the 16th New York Infantry and later in the 1st New York Light Artillery. Decker served as a Private with Company K of the 16th New York Infantry and then as a Private with Company B in the 1st Light Artillery.
Decker applied for his pension began receiving it on October 11, 1884. He received it until his death on July 28, 1921, at the age of 81.
His wife, Phoebe, whom he married in 1866, applied for his pension after his death. She, in turn, received it until her death on September 1, 1921.
Obituary from the Middlebury Register and Posted on Thursday, August 4, 1921:
“Nathan Decker, a well-known Civil war veteran, who had made East Middlebury his home, went to Moses hospital at Ticonderoga [New York] about two weeks ago for treatment and died at that institution on Thursday at the age of 81 years.
He leaves a wife, who is almost blind; a daughter, Mrs. John Champlin of Rutland; and a brother, Henry Percival of New York, who was present at the funeral.
Mr. Decker enlisted on the Union Army at Ticonderoga. He was a member of William P. Russell post, G. A. R. of Middlebury. The body was brought to his home and the funeral services were held at the Methodist Church Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Rev. E. W. Gould, pastor of the Methodist church of Middlebury, officiated.
The bearers were Clarence Russell, Ethan Allen, Charles Steele, Henry Day, William Tisdale and George Gove. The burial was in the family lot in Prospect cemetery.”