My Genealogy Hound

JAMES CLAPP, the owner of a choice farm in Ward Seven of Northampton, which with its fine residence and out-buildings commands the attention of the passer-by, was born here on March 27, 1827, son of Henry and Nancy (Root) Clapp. His grandfather, Thomas Clapp, of Westhampton, died in 1795, while yet in the prime of life, leaving a widow and five children. Mrs. Thomas Clapp, who before marriage was a Miss Kellogg, died in her eightieth year.

Henry Clapp, who was born November 5, 1789, was a blacksmith by trade, and successfully followed that vocation for many years at Roberts Meadow. He owned a farm of one hundred acres; and, being in other respects in good circumstances, toward the close of his long life he retired from active business. He died in 1882, at nearly ninety-three years of age. His wife, Nancy Root, was a daughter of John Root, of Roberts Meadow. They were married August 17, 1815; and during the years that followed their household circle was made cheerful and stirring by the advent of six sons, who became stalwart men with an average height of six feet. They were named: Edward, Nelson, Henry, Anson M., James, and John C. Their father in his younger days was also a man of fine physique, measuring five feet ten inches in height; but during his latter years he suffered from rheumatism, and was in consequence somewhat lame. Their mother died December 15, 1869, aged seventy-nine years. The remains of both parents are sleeping in the Northampton cemetery. Edward, who kept the Northampton toll-gate for many years, died April 28, 1867. He was the father of one son, Edward T. Clapp, now residing in Northampton. Nelson Clapp, a successful agriculturist of Westhampton, is unmarried. Henry Clapp, born in February, 1822, died May 27, 1888, leaving no family. He, too, was a prosperous farmer. Anson Morris Clapp is a carpenter of Florence, Mass. John Chapin Clapp, who was born July 16, 1831, is a mechanic, residing in Florence.

James Clapp remained with his parents on the homestead, received a good common-school education, and was reared to the vocation of a farmer. He is the owner of several hundred acres of good farming land, and, keeping a dairy of from twenty to twenty-five choice cows, makes a high grade of butter, which finds a ready sale among the best families of Northampton. His present commodious and attractive farm-house was built on the foundation of one that was burned in 1894; and the barn, which is one of the largest and best in this vicinity, was erected in 1883.

Mr. Clapp was married October 11, 1860, to Miss Juliette Amelia Miller, who was born in Williamsburg in 1835, and was the only daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah (Hunt) Miller, of Williamsburg and Belchertown, Mass. She had four brothers, of whom only one is now living — John Hunt Miller, of Marlboro, Mass. The father, a prosperous farmer, died January 25, 1863, at fifty-nine years of age, and the mother on December 13, 1873, at sixty-two years of age. Juliette A. Miller was educated in the high school and at the academies of Williamsburg and Easthampton, and before marriage was for some years a successful teacher. Her brothers also enjoyed good educational advantages, and John Hunt Miller taught school in his younger days. Edwin Harrison Miller, her eldest brother, was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, and was stationed on the Mediterranean Sea during the greater part of the Civil War.

Mr. and Mrs. Clapp have three children: Henry Miller, Annah Juliette, and James Root. Henry Miller Clapp, a farmer in Westhampton, now president of the water works and one of the leading young men of the town, which he has served acceptably as Selectman, is also active in church work, and is President of the Christian Endeavor Society. He married Miss Aurelia Montague, a graduate of South Hadley Academy, who was for several years a teacher in Northampton; and they are the parents of a son and daughter — Myron Miller Clapp and Esther Parsons Clapp — the whole family being members of the Congregational church at Westhampton. Annah Juliette Clapp is the wife of Dr. William L. Higgins, of South Coventry, Conn. James Root Clapp, a young man of twenty-three years, who was educated in Northampton, is unmarried, and resides at home. Mrs. Clapp has been a member of the Congregational church since she was sixteen years of age.