John Decker was born in the Third Ward of New York City . He was a runner with Engine 14 and officially joined the Department in October 1844. In 1847, he was made an Assistant Foreman of the company, serving three consecutive terms, elected Foreman in 1850 and Assistant Engineer two years later. He was elected Chief Engineer in 1860 and re-elected in 1863. During his time as Chief Engineer, he was responsible for establishing the First Fire Zouaves and, when the Second Regiment of Zouaves was organized, he maintained them out of his own finances and later became its first colonel.
During the New York Draft Riots, Decker commanded the fire department both by coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and by being present at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters set fire to the Third Avenue office of the Provost Marshal on July 13, 1863. The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Engine Company 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their Foreman being selected for the draft several days before. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them run hose lines into the building and knocked them down when they tried to. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-sixth to Forty-seventh Street was destroyed.
Chief Decker was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. He arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and turned them back. A second attempt was made to gain entry in three different parts of the building simultaneously, which succeeded in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good."
Upon the reorganization of the fire department in June 1865, he was legislated out of office. Although the City attempted to retain Decker as the head of the new organization, on the night of August 31, 1865, he locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street. He was the last Chief of the volunteer department.
Decker moved to Staten Island in 1867 and became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the New York State Assembly. In early November 1892, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892.
During the New York Draft Riots, Decker commanded the fire department both by coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and by being present at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters set fire to the Third Avenue office of the Provost Marshal on July 13, 1863. The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Engine Company 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their Foreman being selected for the draft several days before. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them run hose lines into the building and knocked them down when they tried to. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-sixth to Forty-seventh Street was destroyed.
Chief Decker was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. He arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and turned them back. A second attempt was made to gain entry in three different parts of the building simultaneously, which succeeded in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good."
Upon the reorganization of the fire department in June 1865, he was legislated out of office. Although the City attempted to retain Decker as the head of the new organization, on the night of August 31, 1865, he locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street. He was the last Chief of the volunteer department.
Decker moved to Staten Island in 1867 and became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the New York State Assembly. In early November 1892, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892.
John Decker was born in the Third Ward of New York City . He was a runner with Engine 14 and officially joined the Department in October 1844. In 1847, he was made an Assistant Foreman of the company, serving three consecutive terms, elected Foreman in 1850 and Assistant Engineer two years later. He was elected Chief Engineer in 1860 and re-elected in 1863. During his time as Chief Engineer, he was responsible for establishing the First Fire Zouaves and, when the Second Regiment of Zouaves was organized, he maintained them out of his own finances and later became its first colonel.
During the New York Draft Riots, Decker commanded the fire department both by coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and by being present at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters set fire to the Third Avenue office of the Provost Marshal on July 13, 1863. The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Engine Company 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their Foreman being selected for the draft several days before. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them run hose lines into the building and knocked them down when they tried to. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-sixth to Forty-seventh Street was destroyed.
Chief Decker was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. He arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and turned them back. A second attempt was made to gain entry in three different parts of the building simultaneously, which succeeded in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good."
Upon the reorganization of the fire department in June 1865, he was legislated out of office. Although the City attempted to retain Decker as the head of the new organization, on the night of August 31, 1865, he locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street. He was the last Chief of the volunteer department.
Decker moved to Staten Island in 1867 and became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the New York State Assembly. In early November 1892, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892.
During the New York Draft Riots, Decker commanded the fire department both by coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and by being present at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters set fire to the Third Avenue office of the Provost Marshal on July 13, 1863. The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Engine Company 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their Foreman being selected for the draft several days before. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them run hose lines into the building and knocked them down when they tried to. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-sixth to Forty-seventh Street was destroyed.
Chief Decker was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. He arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and turned them back. A second attempt was made to gain entry in three different parts of the building simultaneously, which succeeded in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good."
Upon the reorganization of the fire department in June 1865, he was legislated out of office. Although the City attempted to retain Decker as the head of the new organization, on the night of August 31, 1865, he locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street. He was the last Chief of the volunteer department.
Decker moved to Staten Island in 1867 and became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the New York State Assembly. In early November 1892, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892.
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