William Harrison Folsom


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Zerviah Eliza Clark, fifth daughter of Richard and Susan Gillett Clark was born February 5, 1818 at West Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, West Suffield lies on the boundary line between Massachusetts and Connecticut; consequently some records state Massachusetts as her birthplace. None of the grandchildren of Eliza Clark Folsom have any recollection of her, since she died shortly after her arrival in Utah. Because the record gives her name as Zerviah (from her Griswold heritage) we have referred to her as Zerviah, but census records give her name as "Eliza" We shall therefore use the name "Eliza" when referring to her.

Her secondary education trained her for a teaching profession. She was serving in this capacity when she became acquainted with William Harrison Folsom. He was tall and well-built, with dark brown hair, a pleasing personality and dignity in his bearing. He was meticulous in his personal appearance. His "dry-wit" made him an interesting companion. They decided that August 21, 1837, should be the important day in their lives. The ceremony was performed at Pembroke, New York, not too far from Buffalo. They made their home in Buffalo, where Eliza's sister, Susan Clark, soon came to live with them until her marriage to Dr. Judson Hinman Day on August 26, 1838.

The year 1837 proved to be a disastrous one nationally, The demand of the Jackson Administration that public lands be paid for in “hard" money, the failure of certain business houses in England which had invested heavily in American securities, and the wave of speculation were all swept into the lap of President Van Buren, Banks failed and the government had no money with which to pay its employees. This not only included the government staff, but reverted to the canal and railroad employees and on to the general public~ causing a tremendous and far reaching financial panic. The chaos thus created was gradually set in order during the administration of President William Henry Harrison (1841), but not without leaving its mark on the nation. In fact, "meager circumstances" could describe conditions at the William Harrison Folsom home at this time.

It was during this period of recession that the first child of William Harrison Folsom and Zerviah Eliza Clark was born, August 23~ 1838~ in Buffalo, New York. She was given the name of Harriet Amelia Folsom. Then on September 1, 1841, a son, Hyrum Pearse, was born.

In the William Fullington Folsom home, his wife Ann gave birth to a second son, Thaddeus Joy, December 24, 1837, Then on August 10, l840~ Ann's third son, Adolphus, was born, but he died August 24, 1841, Ann had no more children,

Congregationalists and Presbyterians both built small chapels in Buffalo, New York, and most of the inhabitants were listed as members of these units, but the remainder of the citizens were indifferent about religion. The news of the first baptisms for the newly-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Seneca Lake" New York, gave rise to much comment and controversy in Buffalo (William Harrison Folsom family record; Buffalo statistics).

On May 6, 1839" John P. Greene was appointed to preside over the Latter-day Saints in New York State. Just who was directly responsible for the conversion of William Harrison Folsom and his wife Zerviah Eliza, is not known~ but having recognized the truth of the message, they expressed a desire to be baptized immediately. They entered the water for baptism by immersion on February 17, 1842. John P. Greene officiated. Extreme cold prevails in this region in February and so it took some time to cut through the ice of the Niagara River, where the ceremony was performed.


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