Osman L Clapp

CLAPP

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/11/2010 at 14:16:54

Osman L Clapp, an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern connected with the passenger service between Boone and Omaha for the past sixteen years, has been continuously in the employ of the corporation which he now represents since August 8, 1876, at which tie he became a switchman under S L Moore, then yardmaster. Gradually he has worked his way upward, an his fidelity to duty is recognized by the company, an is plainly indicated in his long retention in the service. He was born at Fitchburg, Dane county, Wisconsin, March 31, 1857, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, six of whom are yet living. He was reared upon a farm, with the usual experiences of the farm lad. His parents were George W and Sally (Black) Clapp, both of whom were natives of Onondaga county, New York,. They were born, reared and married near Geneva, that state, their wedding being celebrated in 1850. Soon afterward they removed westward to Wisconsin and began their domestic life upon the farm which Mr Clapp had entered from the government in 1848. With characteristic energy he began to develop his fields and there resided until called to the home beyond The father died December 31, 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years, and the mother was seventy-six years of age when she passed away in 1907. Both were of English descent. At the time of the Civil war George W Clapp enlisted for service in the Union army, but illness prevented him from going to the front.
It was upon the old homestead farm in Wisconsin that Osman L Clapp was reared. He early became familiar with the duties of labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and while working in the fields through the summer months he devoted the winter season to the acquirement of a public school education. He favored mechanical rather than agricultural pursuits, however, and when a youth of nineteen years he entered railway service as a switchman in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern at Boone. Later he became connected with the yard service and afterward entered the locomotive engineering department and for the past thirty-one years has been an engineer, acting hint tat capacity on freight trains for some time, while for the past sixteen years he has been an engineer in the passenger service. There has never been an accident to his train when the fault is his. He is most careful and painstaking, recognizing how important is the duty that devolves upon him and his worth and fidelity are recognized by the company which he represents.
Mr Clapp has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Mary Warner, who was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, and during her infancy was brought to Boone by her parents. Three children were born of that union. Arthur L who s a graduate of the state College at Ames, is now road master of the Southern Illinois division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad with headquarters at Pekin, Illinois. He married Emma Skinner and has a daughter Lajene. Mary Ruth the second member of the family, is a noted violinist and pianist of Urbana, Illinois, where she has charge of the music in the public schools. She had previously traveled for a year in connection with the Lyceum Bureau. She is a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music, in which she won a gold medal and made the highest record. Charlotte is head saleslady in the millinery department of a large store in Des Moines. The wife and mother passed away October 1, 1910, when almost fifty years of age. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, in which faith the children were reared. For his second wife Mr Clapp chose Mrs Rachel J Williams, nee Ballou. She was born in Mssiouri and prior to her present marriage had lied in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where she still owns a farm.
Politically Mr Clapp was reared a democrat, but now votes independently, supporting men and measures rather than party ties. He is connected with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and his wife is a member of its ladies’ auxiliary. They reside at No 526 Benton street, in an attractive home which he has remodeled and improved and in Boone, where he has long resided they have an extensive circle of warm friends.

1914 Boone County History Book