The Alpena News, April 14, 1919

MRS. CATHERINE CLARK, REAL PIONEER, DIES AT WILSON HOME

Alpena has lost a true pioneer in the death, at her home in Wilson township, Thursday, of Mrs. Catherine Clark, aged 76. She had been ill some time of Brights disease. Coming to Alpena in 1867 with her first husband, George C. Herron, Mrs. Clark had lived continuously in for 53 years on the Herron farm.

Born in Germany, Mrs. Clark came to America as a child and a few years later she was married and came to Alpena county. When she and her husband settled in Wilson township there was no bridge across the South Branch river and their supplies had to be ferried across that stream. All the goods they brought from the hamlet that was then Alpena had to be carried or were drawn by oxen. For one period of seven years in the seventies Mrs. Clark did not come to Alpena once, because of difficulties of travel, though the distance to town was but 12 miles.

Mrs. Clark was the mother of 12 children, eight of whom are living today. She is survived also by three brothers and one sister in New York state, 23 grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

The surviving children are Mrs. William King, Mrs. Henry Cochran, and Mrs. George Shenk of Wilson, Mrs. James Willet of Flint, Frank, Charles, and Fred Herron of Wilson and George Herron of Spratt.

Mrs. Clark was one of those sturdy pioneers who have made America great. She lived a long life and her years were full of service to others.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon from Wilson Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. H. W. Kuhiman of Alpena officiating.

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State of Michigan Record of Deaths:

April 17, 1919. Katherine Clark, widow, age 76 yrs, 10 mos, 6 dys, died in Wilson Twp. Born in Germany, parents Jacob Link and Anna Stone.

[quoted from The Herron Family of Alpena County, Ruth Ann Cochrane and Clyde A. Morrison, June 26, 1998, in the Alpena Public Library, R Gen. 929.1 Herr]