In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1817, Belmont county
From History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883)
ZACHARIAH A. CLARK, (deceased); was born in Belmont county, Ohio, October 7, 1817, where he spent his early life, and followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married March 31, 1842, to Jane Smith, a native of Huntington county, Pennsylvania; born June 26, 1821. They lived in Ohio until 1856, when they emigrated to Iowa and settled in Graham township, this county, where they lived until his death, February 3, 1865, leaving Mrs. Clark and six children to mourn his loss. Names of children were as follows: Eliza J., born May 25, 1843, and died April 19, 1845; John N., born June 30, 1845, enlisted in company D, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, September 18, 1862, and died at Helena, February 11, 1863; George K., born November 5, 1847, now in California; Nancy E., born January 7, 1850, now Mrs. James Poland; Sarah C, born April 18, 185'; Jasper N., born December 30, 1854; William H., born June 8, 1857, and Martha, born April 6, 1862. In 1880 Mrs. Clark moved to Fremont township, where she owns eighty acres of land, and has a pleasant home.
As printed in History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.