Person:Jacob Clapp (1)

Notes from http://www.rootsweb.com/~nccconov/RevJCClapp.htm:

Rev. Dr. Clapp, one of the oldest and best known ministers in North Carolina, passed away at his home in Newton on July 2, at 12:27. A.M. He had reached the age of 77 years, 9 months and 27 days. The following short sketch of his life may be of interest. He was born between the battle grounds of Alamance and Guilford County, N.C., September 5, 1832.His ancestors were pioneer settlers in this locality about the middle of the eighteenth century. They were a part of the great tribe of persecuted Palatinates that landed a few years previously at Philadelphia, and the moved down the valley of Virginia into North Carolina. They were ardent patriots in the Revolution. George Clapp, his great-grand-father, was in the battle of Alamance, and his great-great-grandfather, Christian Huffman, was a prisoner of Cornwallis at the battle of Guilford Court House. His life was spent on his father’s farm and in milling, cotton-ginning and wool carding, till his eighteenth year, with only a few months of schooling during the winter of each year. After on year’s tuition under his pastor, Dr. G. W. Welker and 15 months at Catawba College, he entered Amherst College in the fall of 1853 and graduated in 1857.

Dr. Clapp inherited a strong body and a strong mind, and was one of the leaders of his Church in this State, a man beloved and admired by the vast concourse of people who at one time or another had fallen under his influence in either church or school. In his youth he was of powerful physique and towered above the average man, measuring something like six feet two or three inches, handsome and commanding appearance, so that he would attract attention anywhere. As he was always of strong mentality and devoutly religious, it was the hope of his family and Reformed Church that he would enter the ministry, and doubtless this was his own idea while prosecuting his studies, but, throat trouble having developed during the last year of his course, this was abandoned and for some years he devoted himself to teaching.

He taught one year in his native place and one year in Mississippi. He was a tutor in the family of a Mr. Smith, a wealthy planter in Mississippi, and it was while at this home that he won the heart and hand of the step-daughter of his employer, Miss Emma Lewis, and on July 4, 1860, the solemn words were said that bound this good man and woman together, and for almost half a century they have traveled life’s pathway together, sharing each other’s joys and worries. Every preparation had been made by family and friends to join this beloved couple in celebrating their golden wedding on July 4, but a wise Providence ordained it otherwise, and silver chord was snapped.

Immediately after his marriage, Dr. Clapp came to Newton and associated himself with Rev. A. S. Vaughn, as one of the professors of Catawba College. At the storming of Fort Sumter, Mr. Vaughn made a hasty retreat back to his home State of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Clapp was forced to take charge of the school, which he conducted as a high-grade academy during the war between the States, all the college students having gone to the army. During this period girls were first admitted, but at the close of the war they were again excluded, and for nearly twenty years the school was conducted by Dr. Clapp, with able assistants as a high school for boys, preparing them for the junior class in the best colleges.

About 1885 the school resumed her charter as Catawba College, with Dr. Clapp president. On the earnest entreaty of young ladies from town and county for admittance, naturally and gradually the school became co-educational. Over this school Dr. Clapp presided as the head for forty years, carrying it safely through many vicissitudes to a haven of prosperity. In 1900 his health gave way and he resigned as president and devoted himself to out door exercise. Two years ago, having apparently regained his health, he was elected. To the professorship of mental and moral science, which position he held until his death. He was always a fine teacher and at various times had taught almost every branch of our extensive curriculum, and the young men and women who came under his influence in the school room or from the pulpit may be numbered by the thousands. It was hardly possible to come in touch with him and not be influenced by him.

On April 27, 1867, owing to the scarcity of ministers, he was licensed to preach by the classis of North Carolina in Bethany Reformed Church, Davidson County. He preached his first sermon at St. Paul’s campground, near Newton. His text was "God is Love." His first public address was made in Newton, in the grove of the old White Church. The speech was written by Judge M. L. McCorkle, the subject was "Prohibition," a cause which he always advocated earnestly.

He began his ministry a Smyrna, in Catawba County. He also preached his last sermon there, June 12, on the text, "Let our light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

He was the pastor of the Reformed Church at Newton twenty years and it was through his untiring efforts that his congregation abandoned the old "White Church" in Newton for the handsome brick edifice they now occupy. At various times he has also served almost every Reformed Church in Lincoln and Catawba counties and has doubtless preached in every church in the classis. He loved to teach, loved to preach and as a vacation loved to farm on a small scale. He literally died in his harness.

Dr. Clapp received the degree of D.D. from Ursinus College, Pa. He wrote well and to the point when he chose, but never wrote for publication, except from a sense of duty. He was editor in chief of the handsome book recently published, entitled, "Historic Sketch of the reformed Church in North Carolina.

Dr. Clapp was a man of undaunted courage and strong prejudices, once convinced that he was right he would dare anything. He was also a man of strong sympathy for every kind of suffering and numbers many friends among the poor and lowly. His death will be a heavy loss to the State, to the community in which he spent more than half a century, but above all to Catawba College and the Church he loved so well. A father in Israel has fallen asleep and we will not see his like again.

Besides his devoted widow, Dr. Clapp leaves eight children-Messrs. Carol, of Bowie, Texas: Ernest, of Upper Red Hook, N.Y.; Milton, of Salisbury, N.C. and Crawford, of Greenville, S. C.; Rovert, of Kanapolis and Clarence of Newton, and Mrs.. Emma Thompson, of New Hampshire, and Mrs.. Annie Burns, of Lawndale, besides a number of grandchildren.

THE FUNERAL

There was a short service held at the home by the pastor, Rev. W.W. Rowe, in the presence of the immediate family only, at 11:15 Sunday. About 11:30 the bell at the Reformed Church began to toll the years of her former faithful pastor. The body was taken to the College chapel, where the services were held. This spacious auditorium was already filled with the Doctor’s many friends admirers. Hundreds of these had been under his tuition in the past of these sacred grounds, made more sacred by the presence of the lifeless form of him who had given so many years to training the youth of this and former generation.

As the body was brought in, the choir of the Reformed Church sang "Nearer My God to Thee." Rev. W.W. Rowe had charge of service. On the rostrum were twelve ministers representing five denominations. All the preaching services in the town were called in for the morning hour out of respect to his memory.

By request of the deceased, Dr. J.L. Murphy, of Hickory, delivered the funeral sermon from Zech. 14:7."It shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light." This was one of Dr. Clapp’s favorite texts. Dr. Murphy told of the deceased as a great preacher, a great teacher, and a strong personality. His tribute was both beautiful and touching.

The doctor’s favorite hymns were used-"My faith Looks Up to Thee," "Abide With Me," "Lead Kindly Light."

At the conclusion, the body was taken to the front door, and placed midway in the aisle, and the casket opened. Then as the congregation passed out in order everyone could view the face of this "hero of the cross" for the last time.

The pallbearers were ministers and elders of the Reformed Church of this classis as follows: Revs. Paul Barringer, Mt. Pleasant; J.A. Foil, Newton; J.C. Leonard, Lexington; H.G. Kopenhaver, Startown; Messrs. M.J. Rowe, Newton; L.A. Carpenter, Maiden; L.R. Whitener, Hickory and Dr. C.B. McNairy, Lenoir.

The body was then taken to Eastview Cemetery, where the interment services were conducted by Revs. J. C. Leonard, D.D., Paul Barringer, D. D. and J.A Foil, Ph.D. We peacefully laid him away to wait the summons on the resurrection morn.