Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Clapp, Orrin ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 26, 2006, 1:58 am Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 Orrin Clapp is one of the honored pioneers of Mazon township and a valuable and respected citizen, whose life has been one of usefulness and value. On the paternal side he springs from sterling Welsh ancestry that inter-married with the old Puritan families of New England. His grandfather, Benjamin Clapp, was a farmer of Vermont, his home being about thirty miles east of Plattsburg on the boundary line between Moncton and Bristol townships, in Addison county. He married Miss Hanna Smith, a representative of one of the old colonial families of the Green Mountain state, and their children were Samuel, David and Phoebe. Throughout the years of his early manhood, Benjamin Clapp resided upon his farm in Addison county and was an industrious and highly respected man and worthy citizen. He died when about eighty years of age. Samuel Clapp, the father of our subject, was born on his father's farm in Vermont in September, 1786, and received the usual school privileges of that day. He was married in Bristol, Addison county, to Miss Olive Brooks, who was born on the old Brooks homestead in Bristol township. Her father was a farmer and belonged to one of the old colonial families of Vermont. His children were John, Olive, and Lucinda. He lived to the venerable age of ninety years and enjoyed the warm regard of all who knew him. After his marriage, Samuel Clapp took up his abode upon a farm which he purchased in Moncton township, Addison county. He improved that property, erecting substantial buildings and placed the fields under a high state of cultivation. In February, 1833, he started for St. Lawrence county, New York, with a team of horses and a sled. He employed several of the neighbors to assist him in making the removal and they drove through with the oxen, cows and other farm stock. They were four days in making the journey of one hundred miles. On reaching St. Lawrence county, Mr. Clapp made a settlement at Stockholm, four miles east of Potsdam, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. It had long been claimed, but the most of the land was in its primitive condition. By his sturdy thrift and industry, however, he transformed it into richly cultivated fields, thus becoming the owner of one of the fine farming properties in the neighborhood. He erected a commodious and pleasant residence and other substantial farm buildings and as the result of his untiring labor and capable management he prospered in his undertaking. To this farm he added twenty-five acres, making it a tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres, upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was about sixty-two years of age. His children who reached mature years were Sawyer S., Mary M., Nelson, Orrin and Henry. Orrin Clapp was born in Addison county, Vermont, on the old family homestead December 3, 1820, and was a lad of thirteen summers when his parents removed to St. Lawrence county, New York; and he can well remember the journey. His brother Sawyer had charge of the ox team and the stock. The sleighing was good and Lake Champlain was crossed on the ice. Orrin acquired the usual common- school education and was reared upon a farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was trained to habits of thrift and industry and assisted in the development of the home farm. When he was twenty-one years of age, his father gave him a share in the products of the farm in return for his labor; and, being thus compensated for his services, Orrin Clapp remained at home until he was twenty- four years of age. He then went to Connecticut, in 1844, and was employed for about ten months near the Connecticut river. He then returned to the Green Mountain state and worked on the home farm or in the neighborhood until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he came to Illinois, taking up his abode, in October, 1848, in McHenry county, where his brother Nelson was then engaged in agricultural pursuits. For about a year he was employed as a farm hand in that locality. In the meantime, in connection with Isaac Doud, who had come to the west from New York, he purchased in Chicago for one hundred dollars a soldier's warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of land. His brother Nelson with this warrant located the land on section 32, Mazon township, Grundy county, the tract up to that time having been in possession of the United States government. It was all wild and unimproved but was capable of high cultivation. Orrin Clapp came to Grundy county in October, 1849, and was accompanied by his brother Henry. Upon the claim they built in a few days a pine-board shanty and there, amid the wild scenes of frontier life, our subject resided for five years, making improvements upon his place and converting the wild prairies into rich fields. In 1854, however, he exchanged that property for eighty acres of school land north of the village of Mazon, and there he developed a good farm from a tract of land which was in its primitive condition when he took possession of it. He erected a good residence, substantial barns and outbuildings and added all modern accessories and conveniences. On the 1st of January, 1850, in Mazon township, Mr. Clapp was united in marriage to Miss Aurelia Belding, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and was a daughter of William and Lorena (Sanford) Belding. Her father belonged to one of the old Puritan families of Vermont and was numbered among the pioneer farmers of Grundy county. In the Green Mountain state he married Miss Sanford, and in the fall of 1848 they emigrated westward, locating on a tract of wild land adjoining the present site of the village of Mazon on the east. There he improved his property, making a good pioneer home, and upon this farm he died, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. He was a member of the Methodist church and a highly respected citizen. His children were Nelson, William, Mortimer, Fidelia, Amanda, Clarinda and Aurelia. After his marriage Mr. Clapp located upon his farm and entered upon a prosperous business career. He prosecuted his labors with great energy and determination, and as a result of his well directed and persevering efforts he acquired a handsome competence which now enables him to live retired. In 1883 he erected an attractive residence in Mazon, where his son, Frank Clapp, now lives. On putting aside business cares in that year, our subject has since rested in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were born two children: Ada M., who was born February 1, 1854, in Mazon township; and Frank H., who was born in the same township, February 4, 1862. The daughter was married in Mazon February 8, 1876, to Oscar Davis, and they have one child, Frank F., who was born in April, 1883. Frank H., the son of our subject, is a banker in Mazon. In his political views, Mr. Clapp is a Republican and was one of the first in the county to vote the Republican ticket, supporting John C. Fremont for the presidency, and afterward voting for Abraham Lincoln. His loyalty to the duties of citizenship has ever been one of his marked characteristics and he has always done everything in his power to promote the welfare of county, state and nation; yet he has never been an office-seeker, nor has he sought official reward at any time in recognition of his services. He is truly a self- made man whose prosperity has been won by his own unaided efforts. His honesty is above question and his fine moral character has won him the unqualified confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact, while among those who know him his word is as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p773-776 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/clapp94gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 8.5 Kb