SAR seeking John Deck descendants

The Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) wishes to contact descendants of John Deck (1765-1841).

Deck was a patriot in the Revolutionary War who moved to Glen Allen after the war and raised a large family with Sarah (Klingman) Deck, according to Dr. Phil Finney, a retired professor at Southeast Missouri State University and member of the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the SAR.

"We believe that John Deck is buried in the Shrum Cemetery near Hurricane. One grandson of John Deck was Joseph Shrum (1831-1894). A small, reserved memorial for Deck is in the Deck area of the Glen Allen Cemetery," Finney said.

He said the chapter hopes to perform a grave-marking memorial ceremony for Deck to honor him for his service to his country. This ceremony includes a color guard of SAR members in their Revolutionary War-era uniforms, a musket salute, placement of an SAR lug at his gravesite, and many other elements of a traditional memorial ceremony. The lug symbolizes a patriot's service, he said, like the way gravesites of more recent veterans are marked and honored.

"The inclusion of descendants, cousins and their friends is very important to this service," Finney said. "If you are a descendant of John Deck, we would like to hear from you. Descendants of John Deck do not have to have 'Deck' as their last name."

Finney pointed out that he will help individuals, who are unsure if they are descendants of Deck, determine if they have a connection.

"Once we have one or more descendants to work with us, we will be able to begin to plan the ceremony and its date," he said. "It might be possible for us to get state officers of the SAR present for the service."

The Sons of the American Revolution is a nonpolitical organization of descendants of participants in the war for the country's freedom. The next meeting of the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the SAR will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at Delmonico's in Jackson. Next month's meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at Delmonico's. The meetings are open to guests.

"Descendants of John Deck, or anyone who had an ancestor who may have fought in or materially supported the Revolutionary War, or anyone who simply is interested in the Revolutionary War, is most welcome to attend," Finney said. "We can tell you more about the ceremony and your involvement in it. There is no charge to you for the grave-marking ceremony."

For more information, contact James Bizzell, president of the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter, at irongate53@yahoo.com or Finney at pfinney@semo.edu. Activities of the chapter can be viewed at capesar.org.