James Bean Decker, one of the pillars among the Bluff pioneers, was born March 25, 1853, at Parowan, Utah. He was the first Superintendent of Sunday Schools, a member of the District School Board for many years, and was especially interested in music and teaching. He led the Bluff Choir and did all he could to forward the art of music. He was cool, careful, and resourceful. He worked at Verdure during the very early history of San Juan. He died December 15, 1900, with four of his children, when a diphtheria epidemic struck the community.
Anna Marie Mickelson Decker was born in Cedar City, April 7, 1855. She married James B. Decker July 13, 1874. She came with her husband into Bluff with the first pioneers. She was also active in the choir and other Latter-day Saint ward activities. She was the mother of eleven children.
The father and four children, Horace, Gertrude, Lynn, and Clair, died during the epidemic; the other children, Lillian, Jennie, Lena, James, Elmer, Claud and Afton, grew to maturity, filling important positions in San Juan County and the surrounding territory (Perkins et. al).
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San Juan High School