Dr. Solomon Deck was born in the town of Minden, 

 Montgomery Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1816. 



His father, John Deck, was also a native of that county, 

 was a wagon-maker by trade and carried on farming ; was 

 married to Elizabeth Bauter, of which union were born 

 three children, Urial, Nancy, and John. His wife died, 

 and for his second wife he married Catharine Failing. 

 Their children are Solomon S., Daniel, Betsey, and Mar- 

 garet. 



His parents removed and settled in Jasper, then called 

 Troupsburgh, in 1822, then an almost entire wilderness, and 

 a few scattered inhabitants. His father purchased three 

 hundred and fifty acres of land, upon which he settled, and 

 cleared some seventy-five acres prior to his death, March, 

 1843. His wife survived him several years, and died 

 in April, 1861. 



Dr. Deck started for himself in life upon reaching his 

 majority, received fair opportunities for an education dur- 

 ing his minority, and was a teacher for several terms. In 

 1837 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Jones, of 

 Bath, and was afterwards a student with Dr. Leaver, of 

 Bath. He attended medical lectures at Castleton (Vt.) 

 Medical College, from which he was graduated M.D. in 

 1841, and the same year settled at Jasper in the practice 

 of' his profession, where he has continually resided since. 



For the first twelve years he traversed this country, 

 attending to his calls on horseback, and in no case during 

 his active life did he ever make a distinction with the rich 

 or poor, but gave his services as freely when he did not ex- 

 pect remuneration as when he would receive a merited fee. 

 For many years Dr. Deck's ride extended distances of 

 twenty-five miles around, and night and day he was found 

 in the saddle, often denying himself of the rest and sleep 

 which his mind and body demanded. Many incidents 



worthy of mention connected with his experience, depicting 

 the suffering of patients and the wants of the needy, might 

 be written, in which his sympathy has shown his promi- 

 nent characteristic. 



Dr. Deck has not only been first in his profession, and 

 ranked among the leading physicians of the county in 

 point of skill and medical knowledge, but as a citizen has 

 ever been interested in all matters of a local interest. 



Feb. 23, 1843, he married Frances C, daughter of 

 Joseph Wheeler, of Kanona. Her father was one of the 

 first settlers of that part of the county, was a farmer, and 

 kept public-house. He died in 1860, aged sixty-one. Her 

 mother, Sarah Kennedy, was daughter of Colonel Henry 

 Kennedy, who was the first settler of Kanona. She died 

 Aug. 13, 1878, aged eighty. Mrs. Deck was born Dec. 

 22, 1822. 



Dr. Deck was formerly a member of the Whig party, 

 and is now a Republican ; has never been active in politics, 

 but has given his whole attention to the practice of his 

 profession. He was selected under the old law as school 

 inspector, and subsequently was school superintendent of 

 the town for two years. 



They have only one daughter, Sarah P., wife of Allen 

 A. Yan Orsdale, who for one term was clerk of Steuben 

 County, and for several years has officiated as justice of 

 the peace for the town of Jasper. Failing health some 

 ten years ago caused Dr. Deck to partially relinquish his 

 practice, since which time he has only attended calls at 

 home and occasionally made visits at short distances, giving 

 counsel when called upon. He started in life without 

 pecuniary assistance ; but with that self-reliance and resolu- 

 tion characteristic of him, and a good executive ability, 

 he has secured a fair competence, and is ranked among 

 the men of the county who carved out their own fortune. 



