Zenas Clark

   This is the headstone for Zenas Clark located in Sec I Lot 198. Zenas Clark Sr. was born April 22, 1795. He married a Margaret who was born Jul 6, 1801. 

   Here his obituary from the May 4, 1864 issue of the Potsdam Courier and Freeman:

     " As one after another of our older citizens drops away from our sight and we count the rapidly narrowing circle of silvered heads and bent forms, it is becoming in us to make a record of what we can obtain of the early and more active life of each one of them.

       This is eminently proper as regards the subject of this notice. From his character and position in society having been for many years identified with the interests of our village and town, having occupied for a long time a prominent place in the political history of the county and state, it is fitting that something more should be written on the occasion of his death than a concise statement that he was born, had lived, and was dead.

       Judge Clark was born in the State of Mass., April 22d 1795. When two years old, he was moved with his father's family to the town of Charlotte, Vt. At the age of 14, he was taken to Middlebury, Vt and apprenticed to one White to learn the bookbinder's and printer's business. In the year 1813 when he was 18 years old, he "brought his time" of White and came into the State of New York, the northern part of which was then beginning to receive large accessions of young and ambitious men from the older Eastern States. Young Clark stopped at Plattsburgh and remained there working at his trade through the memorable Summer and Fall of 1814 in the same office with Hon. Azariah C. Flagg. Becoming acquainted, in the printing office, with Mr. F.C. Powell, he came with, or soon followed him to Potsdam near the the close of the year 1815. About the 1st of Jan. 1816 the first number of the Potsdam Gazette was issued, owned and edited by Messrs. Powell & Clark. The connection did not last long, however, for in a copy of that paper, now before us, of June 7, 1816 we find a notice of dissolution of the firm under the date of the preceding April. Mr. Clark carried on the book-binder's business for awhile, but at that time in this own one can readily imagine that this branch of art did not win a very magnificent support. 

       About 1820 or '21, he gave up his old business and entered the store of Mr. Samuel Partridge, as a clerk. In 1823 he was a partner, doing business in the "old yellow store"-once a familiar object on the East side of Market Street- where many men have laid the foundation of large fortunes, but which now, alas! displays its dilapidated front on River Street, and as Mr. Martin's marble shop, groans under the weight of monuments preparing for its former customers and owners.

       After many years of most successful business in that location, Mr. Clark withdrew from the firm in favor of his brother, Mr. Theodore Clark, and commenced business on his own account in the stone store, which he had erected in the meantime, on the west side of Market Street. Mr. Charles Cox was his clerk, and soon after, his partner.

       At this the, the Democratic or "Jackson" party was in large majority in the county, and Mr. Clark having become somewhat prominent in that party, as a cool and sagacious adviser, and having held with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents all the leading town offices through many successive years, was brought forward as a candidate for Member of Assembly and elected by a large majority. He was re-elected for successive terms, succeeding, even in 1840, that famous campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," when the Whig party elected their Sheriff and Congressman in this county and district. In 1844 he retired from active mercantile business on account of impaired health; but his disposition forbid his degenerating into the torpor of a valetndinarian. The record of his political life may as well be closed here, in few words. The public were unwilling to spare him from the Legislature, and in 1853 he was elected to the Senate, and again in 1855. In 1857, near the close of the session in consequence of overpowering illness, he resigned his seat. There is reason to know that while a member of the Legislature, he was one of the most influential and strongest men upon the floor. His forte was not in public debate, but in the more laborious and responsible duties of the committee room. The public life of Mr. Clark was without a stain; and to those who know of the reeking hot bed at Albany, and the many appliances brought to bear upon the members of the Legislature to advocate or oppose certain proposed measures this is no light commendation. He retired from the Senate with the outspoken regret of its best members.

        This notice has grown to a greater length than was anticipated, and what else remains to be said will be condensed as much as possible.

        Mr. Clark was chosen a Trustee of St. Lawrence Academy about the year 18- and immediately entered upon the duties of that trust with energy. He contributed largely in money and influence to place the institution among the leading academies in the state. He was a member of the Vestry of Trinity Church from its organization (assisting liberally in building the Church Edifice in 1838) and for many of the later years of his life superadded the duties of Warden.

        He took great interest in the prosperity of the Town and and Village of Potsdam, and was a most efficient laborer in the railroad enterprises of his time. After subscribing largely to the stock of the northern (Ogd'h) Railroad, with many others of our citizens, and being grieved and outraged by that most wicked location, he was one of the foremost in carrying on the building of the Potsdam & Watertown Railroad. He was chosen a member of its first Board of Directors and was for some time Vice President. He always had the confidence of his associates and was regarded as the very best of counselors in any difficult matter. His shrewdness and coolness in trying positions was often admired, and his aid was secured to further the interests of many public projects. In all that he undertook of a public or private nature he was almost uniformly successful.

       In conclusion it can be said with truth, that in all the relations of life, as a merchant, a politician, a magistrate, a trustee of the Academy, an advocate and a helper of public improvements, as a parent and the head of a large family (the survivors of whom regard his memory with final love,) as a citizen having a broad affection for his town and village, as an officer of the church which he greatly loved and cherished, and as a christian gentleman, walking humbly and reverently before God and living in the spirit of His last and greatest commandments in all those relations Judge Clark will be long remembered" 

     His wife Margaret followed him to the grave on Dec 31, 1866.