Clark, Zephaniah, who for forty or more years was numbered among the respected residents of Albion, was a native of Williamstown, Mass., born September 21, 1794, and was the sixth of nine children of Zephaniah and Zulyma (Cooley) Clark. Although brought up on a farm Zephaniah at the early age of seventeen went to Troy, and became an apprentice to the printing trade in the office of the "Farmer's Register," He enlisted in the war of 1812 and served in one campaign on Long Island, and for his service during the war Mr. Clark was made a pensioner. Returning to Troy he served out his apprenticeship and then went into a printing office at Salem, N. Y. In 1817 he purchased the "Troy Northern Budget" and published that paper until 1828. He then engaged in the book and stationery business in that city, and continued until 1843, when he sold his interest and came to Albion. In this village Mr. Clark purchased the old Butts farm, then comprising 100 acres, and to it devoted his chief attention. He engaged in no active business in Albion other than the management of his farm, which was afterwards divided into village lots. In all public affairs he took a deep interest and in politics was a Jeffersonian Democrat. For forty or more years he was senior warden of Christ Church, and a most devout churchman.
Mr. Clark was thrice married; first on December 22, 1819, to Catherine Coenhoven, by whom he had two children,
- Frances who died at the age of five, and
- one son. Dr. Edward Clark of New York city.
His second wife was Elenore S. Adams of Troy, whom he married May 28, 1833, and by whom he also had one son,
- William DeWitt Clark, who was lost at sea in 1861.
April 17, 1844 he married Sophia A. McHarg, of Albany, who died September 12, 1886, and the children of this marriage were:
- Howard K., who died at St. Johns, Canada;
- Frances Clark Forbes, of Albion ;
- Franklin and
- Katharine Gr., wife of J. William Cornell.
Zephaniah Clark died in Albion August 18, 1888, at the advanced age of ninety-four. ...
