Decenth

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     HENRY P. DECENT is owner and proprietor of the steam laundry at Loomis, Washington. He also owns about eighty-five acres of land one and one-half miles from the town, which is fenced and well improved. He operates a first class laundry and does a very large business.
     Henry P. Decent was born on February 20, 1865, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Peter and Delephine (Savage) Decent, natives of Canada. The father was a shoemaker and the mother wrought in the tailor's art. They were both of French extraction, were married in Canada and came to Michigan in early days. He returned to Canada and afterwards came again to Michigan and now lives in Thompson that state, aged seventy and sixty-five, respectively. They are both highly educated and respected people. Our subject was educated in the public schools and early developed a talent for machinery, and was soon head sawyer in a large mill. On May 22, 1895, Mr. Decent married Miss Carrie H., daughter of Myron and Esther (Bartholomew) Laraway. Mrs. Decent was born at Reading on July 22, 1869, and the father was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan. He and his father James Laraway, fought in the same company during the Civil war. His father was a college professor and died in the hospital.
     Mrs. Decent's mother was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, graduated from college and taught school for several years. Her father, Amos Bartholomew, was one of the first settlers in the Michigan forests. He cleared land, made bread from corn beaten in the mortar, and gathered his sweets from the maple groves. He finally became very wealthy and lived to be about ninety years of age. Mrs. Decent was a graduate from the high schools but on account of ill health, she and her husband came west in 1898, to Great Falls, Montana. Mr. Decent handled a sawmill there, and her health was improved by the mountain air. In 1900 they came to Loomis and operated a boarding house for the Puritan mines. Later they started their present business. Mrs. Decent early developed a great love for machinery and became an expert engineer, being the only lady engineer in Michigan. She is equally skillful with her husband in handling an engine now and they are doing a fine business at the laundry. Mr. Decent is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and the W. W. He and his wife belong to the Women of Woodcraft and the Maccabees and she is clerk of the former order.