Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor

Page 1121

CLAPP, CHARLES FRANKLIN , City Comptroller of the City of Springfield, Illinois, was born on a farm near Bement, Piatt County, Illinois, July 29, 1867, a son of James M. and Emily J.(Crain) Clapp. His father was born at Grandview, Edgar County, Illinois, March 7, 1841 and his mother was born near Bement February 17, 1847. The Clapps are of German descent and were early settlers of Illinois. James M. Clapp was educated at Mattoon, Illinois, and for a number of years was employed at the grain elevators and in the baggage department of the Illinois Central Railroad Company at that place. He subsequently carried on farming near Bement, until he enlisted in July, 1862, in Company H. 107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in on September 2, 1862, at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ill. After serving eighteen months, he was discharged on account of sickness and disability and returned to Bement in December 1863, where he again engaged in farming, and on March 29, 1864, was married to Emily J. Crain. He has had a very successful life as a farmer and in a general mercantile business at Bement, and later at Atwood, Ill., where he now resides, having retired from active pursuits. He is a member of the G.A.R. Post at that place, belongs to the Anti-Horse Thief Association, is a member of the Church of Christ, in politics is a Democrat, and has served one or two terms as Mayor of Atwood. He and his wife are the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters: Charles F; James Albert, a farmer living five miles north of Atwood; Martha Elizabeth, wife of John H. Richey, a farmer living five miles northwest of Atwood; Catherine, wife of William R. Harshbarger, connected with the Illinois Traction Company and living at Decatur, Illinois: Edward S., a mechanic living at Atwood; and William Lester, a farmer living five miles northwest of Atwood.

Charles F. Clapp received his first schooling at Bement, Ill., and later attended the district school in the country until sixteen years of age when he entered the High School at Atwood. After graduating from High School, he spent two more years on the farm and then entered the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, from which he was graduated with high honors, and for six years taught in its various departments, the last two years as Principal of the Advance Bookkeeping Department, and has always had recognized ability in the line of bookkeeping, becoming an expert accountant, whose services were most valuable to any business firm. Upon giving up the profession of teacher, he accepted a position with the International Rock Plaster Company, of New York, as bookkeeper for their branch factory at Decatur, Illinois, resigning this position one year later to engage in general merchandising business with his father in Atwood, Illinois. One year later he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Western Manufacturing Company at Kansas City, Mo., resigning this position two years later to accept a position with the Sattly Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Ill., at their Kansas City Branch. Eighteen months later he was called to their home office at Springfield, where he organized and took charge of their billing department until the Company was consolidated with the Racine Wagon & Carriage Company of Racine, Wisconsin, when he was given the position of head bookkeeper or chief accountant at the Springfield office. He was in the employ of this company for about fourteen years, resigning his position to accept the office he now holds as Comptroller of the City of Springfield.

Mr. Clapp owns a half interest in the Grocery Business of Harris & Clapp, 1015 West Lawrence Avenue. His partner, Mr. E. B. Harris, is now serving his second term as president of the Springfield Retail Grocers Association. Mr. Clapp was instrumental in organizing the Springfield Accountant's Association in 1908 and was its first president. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and Sons of Veterans. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and at the primaries, February 28, 1911, was a candidate for the nomination for the office of City Commissioner, there being one hundred and nine in the race with only eight nominated. He did not succeed in getting the nomination but left ninety behind him. While living in Atwood, he served one term as Village Treasurer. He is a member of the Christian Church and an active supporter of its cause.

At Monticello, Illinois, December 7, 1902, Mr. Clapp married Miss Irene Twyman of Springfield, Ill., who was born there September 18, 1880, daughter of Samuel H. and Susan A. (Place) Twyman, the father born in Henderson County, Kentucky, and the mother at Adrian, Michigan. Mr. Twyman and wife had had four children: Luella, decease; Henry P., manager and proprietor of The Daily News, Paris, Illinois; Leo P., city salesman for the Cable Piano Company, Chicago; and Irene (Mrs. Clapp). Mr. Twyman's father was also a native of Kentucky, and the places were an old family among the early settlers of New York State. Mr. Twyman was a Republican and took an active interest in city politics, holding various positions; was Mayor Pro Tem for a period of five or six months, and was an Alderman at the time of his death.

Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clapp, the first two being twins, son and daughter, and died in infancy; and Charles Franklin, Jr. born January 27, 1910, Mrs. Clapp is a member of, and an enthusiastic worker in the interests of the Christian Church, and for several years taught in the Sunday School, during most of which time she was also Chorister in the Sunday School and sang for a while in the church choir. Mr. Clapp's home, at 1229 North Eighth Street, which was erected by him, shows his good taste in its location, architecture and finish.