Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Clapp, Frank H 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 26, 2006, 12:18 am

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

Frank H. Clapp, the son of Orrin and Aurelia (Belding) Clapp, was born 
February 4, 1862, on the old family homestead, and in the district school 
acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in the 
normal school at Morris through one year. He then entered upon his business 
career as a clerk in Mazon in the general store owned by T. Rankin, and there 
he remained for about three years as a trusted employe of the house. His close 
application soon enabled him to master the business principles and in 1883 he 
purchased a half interest in the business, at which time the firm name was 
changed to F. H. Clapp & Company. In 1887 Donald Rankin purchased an interest 
in the business and the firm name was changed to Clapp & Rankin. In 1889 these 
enterprising and progressive business men extended the field of their 
operations by adding a private banking business. In 1899 Mr. Clapp sold his 
interest in the mercantile department in order to devote his entire attention 
to banking and now does a general banking, insurance and real-estate business, 
and his institution is considered one of the most reliable financial concerns 
of the county, for he is known as a most trustworthy business man, 
straightforward in all his dealings, his efforts being guided by sound 
judgment and practical common sense. His is the only bank in Mazon and his 
patronage comes from a wide area.

Mr. Clapp was married in November, 1885, in Mazon, to Miss Dora Riggall, who 
was born in Rockford, Illinois, a daughter of John and Harriet (Porter) 
Riggall. On the paternal side Mrs. Clapp was descended from English ancestors 
and on the maternal side is a representative of an old colonial Puritan New 
England family. Her father, John Riggall, was born at Hull, England, November 
8, 1835, a son of John and Elizabeth (Fidler) Riggall. His father was born in 
Lincolnshire, in September, 1790, but though reared on a farm became a 
shoemaker. By his marriage to Elizabeth Fidler he had the following children: 
Sarah, born March 20, 1828; Miles, born in 1831; John, born in 1835; George, 
born in August, 1838; and Thomas, born August 3, 1840. John Riggall, the 
father of Mrs. Clapp, came with his family to America in 1840, sailing from 
Liverpool, England, for New York, where they arrived in November, after a 
voyage of three months, on an old-fashioned sailing vessel. Mr. Riggall 
purchased a farm in Madison county, New York, and there passed his remaining 
days, his death occurring in 1866, when he had attained the age of seventy-six 
years. His wife died in 1874, at the age of seventy-eight. She was born in 
London, England, in 1796, and was a daughter of George Fidler. She held 
membership in the Methodist church. Mr. Riggall gave his support to the 
Republican party.

John Riggall, Jr., the father of Mrs. Clapp, was about five years old when 
brought by his parents to America, but he can well remember the voyage. He 
pursued his education in the pioneer log school-house in Madison county, was 
reared upon a farm and was married in Albany, New York, to Harriet Porter, 
whose birth occurred July 25, 1844, at Northville, Fulton county, New York, a 
daughter of Hiram and Sarah (Gifford) Porter. The latter was born in April, 
1804, in Fulton county, and the former was born in April, 1800. He was 
probably a native of Vermont and was descended from New England Puritan 
ancestry that located in that section of the country in colonial days. His 
father was Felix Porter. Unto Hiram and Sarah (Gifford) Porter were born six 
children, namely: Sumner, George, Selah, Angeline, Elizabeth and Harriet. The 
father of this family owned and resided upon a farm and there died, at the 
venerable age of eighty years. He has two sons, Elias and Sumner, who were 
valiant soldiers in the civil war as members of the New York Infantry. The 
former was killed at the battle of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, but the latter, 
although he participated in a number of engagements, escaped injury. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riggall removed to Washtenaw county, Michigan, 
near Ann Arbor, where the father engaged in farming until 1866, when he 
removed to Rockford, Illinois. He there devoted his energies to the 
cultivation of hops. Subsequently he removed to Kansas and purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of land in Saline county, making a number of valuable 
improvements upon the place during the five years that he maintained his 
residence there. On the expiration of that period he sold the property and 
returned to Madison county, New York, where he engaged in farming for a year. 
In the spring of 1876 he took up his abode in Mazon, where he began business 
as a mason. He was also in the butchering business for six years, and was 
connected with the furniture and undertaking business for ten years. His life 
has been an enterprising and industrious one, characterized by straightforward 
methods. In politics he is a Democrat and is accounted one of the valued 
citizens of his community. His children are Sarah, who was born in Michigan, 
February 14, 1863; Dora V., born near Rockford, Illinois, in August, 1866; 
Nellie, born near Rockford, Illinois, August 25, 1868; Algie, born in Saline 
county, Kansas, December 28, 1873; Isie, born in Madison county, New York, 
November 8, 1875; Ivy, born in Mazon, June 15, 1877; and Hattie, born July 27, 
1881.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clapp has been born a son, Gardie, whose birth occurred in 
Mazon, August 25, 1886. The parents enjoy the hospitality of the best homes in 
the community and their circle of friends is only limited by their circle of 
acquaintances. In his political views Mr. Clapp is a stanch Republican and 
fraternally is a prominent Mason, holding membership in Blaney Commandery, K. 
T., of Morris. He is also an unaffiliated Odd Fellow. A practical and 
successful business man, great confidence is reposed in him on account of his 
conservative and safe methods. He has always maintained a reputation as a man 
of unblemished character, strong integrity, and a public-spirited citizen who 
withholds his support from no measure or movement which he believes will prove 
of public benefit.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p759-762

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