The Clapp Family

Charles F. Clapp in History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa (1910

The full biographical sketch as printed in 1910, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

CHARLES F. CLAPP.

Charles F. Clapp is now living retired in Davenport, but for a long period he was closely associated with the agricultural interests of Scott county and his energy was so unabating, his enterprise so keen and his business methods so practical that he now holds a place among the men of aflfiuence of this section of Iowa. He experienced the hardships of farm life in the middle of the past century and many vicissitudes of fortune, but he persevered courageously and may regard the record of his seventy-two years with a large measure of satisfac- tion.

Charles F. Clapp was born in Fulton county, IlUnois, February 28, 1838, a descendant of one of three brothers who came from Europe many generations ago and established the family in the eastern part of America. In its various rami- fications it is very numerous, for at a reunion held in Massachusetts in 1869 it was discovered that there were then over twelve hundred members, many of them were pioneers in the middle west. Selah Clapp, the grandfather of Charles F. Clapp, came west as far as Portage county, Ohio, in 1820 and bought a farm near Kent, which is still in the possession of his descendants and of which his grandson, Charles F., has a picture.

There his son, Spencer Clapp, the father of our subject, grew to manhood, learned the shoemaker's trade and was united in marriage to Miss Philiua Bond. In 1837 he and his brother-in-law, Seldon Bond, went with teams to Fulton county, Illinois, where the former entered one hundred and sixty acres of land and the latter three hundred and twenty, for which they paid one dollar and a quarter an acre. They built a house upon their property and lived thereon until 1839, when Spencer Clapp was recalled to his home on account of the ill- ness of his father. After his death he sold his land in Fulton county and, driv- ing the same teams with which he had crossed the prairies before, returned to the homestead. He managed it until October, 1854, when he came to Scott county, Iowa. In Davenport, on Locust street just east of Brady, he built a house — which by the way is still standing — and rented ten acres of land near what is now Central Park, planting it in corn. The next year he leased forty acres more near the race track, for which he gave Dr. Hall two-fifths of the crops as rent. For three years subsequently he continued to Hve in Davenport and after selling the house he had built first he put up another, which he traded later for forty acres in Sheridan township. But after he had built a house upon that land and removed his family to it, it was discovered that the title was im- perfect and he lost all he had put into it, and had reaped only two crops from the fields. The house, however, was not lost, for by means of thirty-two yoke of cattle and with the assistance of friends he was able to drag it into the road,

where it remained for a year. In the work of moving old Mr. Meier had his leg broken.

Charles F. Clapp, who had accompanied his father on his several removals after leaving Fulton county, and had helped him in every way he could, was married about that time and brought his bride to the little home standing in the middle of the road, although later, he went to live in a house belonging to his brother-in-law, Frank Ferring, who had gone to the war. While still living in the house in liie road he received news that his brother, James Clapp, was among those that died at Vicksburg. He was a member of Mark Thompson's company of the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Later Mr. Clapp himself was drafted into the army, in 1863, shortly after he had purchased forty acres of land from Mr. Hartzel and bad put up a house upon it. When he learned his country needed him, he sold his property for twelve hundred dollars, went to town ev«ry day to see if the quota was fiUed and then found that whereas they needed only fifty men from each township they had drafted one hundred, and that he being the eighty-fourth would not be required to render service. There- upon with the money he had from the sale of his farm, he bought eighty acres in Sheridan township, the tract which his son David J. now owns and built thereon a. house. There he lived until 1867, when he sold forty acres to John Grieve for fifteen hundred dollars and also disposed of some of the land he and his father had bought previously. Then he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Sheridan township, on which his son Charles now resides and which adjoined the first tract, living thereon until 1896, when he retired to Davenport. Now he owns two hundred and forty acres of fine farm land, this property being the visible evidence of his life of thrift, industry and careful management.

It was on Christmas day, i860, that Mr. Clapp wedded Miss Elizabeth Knouse, who was bom January 28, 1842, near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was about eight years of age when her parents, David and Mary (Stump) Knouse, came to Scott county. They entered land in Sheridan township about half a mile west of Mr. Clapp's farm, but they spent their first night in Iowa on the place where Charles Clapp now lives. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were nine children. Samuel, born in the house standing in the road, October 25,, 1861, married Miss Nellie Morse and is now Hving at Adel, Iowa, where he is rearing his six children, Paul, Edward, Mamie, Leslie, Elizabeth and Eleanor. Anna born April 14, 1684, became the wife of L. B. Guy, of Davenport, and they have three sons, Ralph, Kenneth and Donald. Emma, born June 23, 1866, and died July 3, 1890. She had married George Marti and they had a daughter. Vera M., who is now living with Mr. Clapp. Bertha E., born April 13, 1869, became the wife of Milton Drenter, of Lincoln township, and passed away August 16, 1905, leaving three children: May, Pearl and Frank. Seldon, born August 16, 1871, married Miss Lottie Boise and is now residing in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he is rearing his two sons, Seldon and Charles. David J. and Charles S., twins, were born June ri, 1874, and both are living on the old home place in Sheridan township. David J., married Jennie Neil, and they have one child, Neil. Charles S. wedded Miss Effie M. Evans, and they have two children, Lester E. and Mildred E. Archy, born January 26, 1880, was graduated from the Iowa City Medical College and from the Chicago Medical Institute and is

now practicing medicine in Muscatine, Iowa, making a specialty, of the eye, iear and nose. He wedded Miss Helen Hine. Nellie, the youngest of Mr. Clapp's family, was born April i8, 1885, and is living with her parents. Mil of the chil- dren have received good educations.

While a resident of Sheridan township Mr. Clapp rendered his fellow citi- zens acceptable. service for about ten years in the capacities of road supervisor and school director and was ever devoted to the public good. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Woodmen of the World, while his religious allegiance is given to the Christian church. He joined this organization first in Davenport in 1854, and when he moved to the country joined the congregation at Long Grove. Later, when he returned to Davenport he again joined the church there and is now the oldest member of this denomination in Scott county. He is deeply interested in church work and has been treasurer of his church for a long period. His life has ever been actuated by high principles, of honor and integrity, and the record of his life is characterized by a steady progress resulting from the wise and intelligent utili- zation of every opportunity that came to him, so that he may well enjoy the rest he so richly deserves.

Source: History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa (1910. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.