Daughter of Brigham Young and Miriam Angeline Works

Married Charles Franklin Decker, 4 Feb 1847, Winter Quarters, Near Florence, Nebraska. About that time Brigham Young first saw the Book of Mormon, and soon afterward had organized a branch at Mendon.

Children - Louis Isaac Decker, Brigham Leray Decker, Miriam Vilate Decker, Ferra Wallace Decker, Charles Franklin Decker, Lois Elizabeth Decker, Alice Luella Decker, Loretta Almina Decker

History - Vilate Decker was the second daughter of Pres. Young by his first wife, Miriam Works Young—long since dead—and was reputed to be of a proud, haughty disposition. The girl quite made up her mind to refuse firmly to live with one so unprepossessing.

Shortly after this the President came over to the McMullen's wagon and asked for Lucy. Then he talked long and kindly to her, telling his girl-bride about the delicate health of his daughter Vilate and of his fears that she would die prematurely as her mother had done; his gentleness to herself and his solicitude for his sickly daughter, Vilate Decker, won over the warm impulsive heart and Lucy promised to go when he wished, and she learned to love Vilate Decker as if she were a sister.

Vilate was educated at Salem, Mass., where she was residing when the Prophet was assassinated. She immediately left for Nauvoo with her father. A few years later Brigham Young organized the first party that crossed the plains and Mrs. Decker followed in the second party arriving here in October, 1847.

Among the pleasant reminiscences Mrs. Decker writes the following:

"I was riding in a carriage with my father when we were met by a mob who stopped us and asked if we had seen Brigham Young. My father replied: "No I haven't seen him today" and the mob hurried away. My father turned to me and said: "I haven't looked in the glass today," wishing to impress in my mind that he had not told a lie.

Another time she writes that a mob came to our home to search for my father but we were advised beforehand so father got in bed and put on a nightcap the mob passed him by thinking that he was a woman."

She studied music while in Massachusetts and was a capable musician.

She took residence in a small adobe house—the first one ever built in Utah, built by President Young himself, near the City Creek.

The house was situated in the center of the block on which afterwards was erected the Lion House on the east and the Tithing Office on the west. It was small, low-roofed, with two front rooms and two tiny back rooms. Here in two of the rooms lived Vilate Decker with her husband, who was familiarly called Charlie Decker, and their one little girl, while the hired men, who worked in Charlie's saw mill, boarded here, sleeping in wagons or tents. The other two rooms comprised the front room for a kitchen, dining and sitting-room, the back-room being just large enough for the rude bedstead, occupied by two of the President's young wives, Margaret Alley and Emmeline Free. In their front room, Lucy made down at night her scanty bed....

Vilate Young Decker came to Lewisville to live with her older sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Young Ellsworth. Vilate died of pneumonia. She so endeared herself to all with whom she was associated that her memory will never be forgotten.