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 1812, Montgomery Township
From History of Portage County, Ohio (1885)
SELAH S. CLAPP, son of Selah and Diana (Sheldon) Clapp, was born in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., January 9, 1812, and was brought by his parents to Franklin Township in 1820. He was reared to the life of a farmer, in the meantime receiving a limited education in the schools of his day. At his father's death he purchased the old homestead, eighty acres of which he still owns and occupies, thus making him a continuous resident on this farm for sixty-five years. He was married at Ravenna, Ohio, March 10, 1835, to Mary Brown, who was born in his native town, and a daughter of Nicholas and Fanny (Phillips) Brown. Her parents having died in Massachusetts, she came to Portage County, Ohio, with her uncle. Benjamin Phillips, who settled in Franklin Township in 1832. To the union of our subject and his wife were born four children: Fanny Eliza, born July 7, 1836, and died January 1, 1855; Mary Adelia, born November 17, 1837; William Henry, born February 16, 1842, married Mary Richardson, and now resides in Franklin Township; Lucy Florilla, born September 2, 1845. Mary A. and Lucy F. both reside at the homestead with their father. The wife of Mr. Clapp died January 27, 1875, aged fifty-eight years, and lies buried in Standing Rock Cemetery at Kent. Mr. Clapp is one of Franklin Township's oldest as well as one of its most substantial citizens. He is at present the owner of 238 acres of valuable land, besides other property. He is a Republican in politics, and although not an office seeker has been elected to and has served his township in various local offices, and once as Trustee. For the past forty-four years he has been a member of the Church of the Disciples, the first four years serving as Deacon and for the past forty years as Overseer, and Church Trustee thirty years. Mrs. Clapp was also a member of this church for many years. At the erection of the stone church building in Kent for this denomination, Mx. Clapp contributed $1,000. He also assisted in the erection of the Presbyterian Church of Kent.
As printed in History of Portage County, Ohio (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.