Edward Blake Clapp, 1851-1931
American Series of Popular Biographies. Massachusetts Edition. Contains Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Boston: Graves & Steinbarger, 1891)
Edward Blake Clapp, a widely known florist of Dorchester and a representative of one of the oldest and most respected families of that place, was born in the house in which he now resides, 169 Boston Street, on March 11, 1851. Son of Frederick and Martha Merriam (Blake) Clapp, he is of the eighth generation in descent from Nicholas Clapp, who with his brother Thomas came over from England and settled in Dorchester, probably in 1633. The line is: Nicholas, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Lemuel, William, Frederick, Edward Blake. Nicholas Clapp married for his first wife Sarah Clapp, a sister of his cousin, Captain Roger Clapp, who came in the “Mary and John” in 1630. Nathaniel was the eldest son of Nicholas and Sarah Clapp. Lemuel Clapp was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. William Clapp, grandfather of Edward Blake Clapp, was a son of captain Lemuel by his second wife, Rebecca, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Dexter, of Dedham.
Frederick Clapp, who was born on the old Clapp homestead, son of William and Elizabeth (Humphreys) Clapp, was engaged in farming and fruit-raising, making a specialty of the latter industry, which he followed extensively for many years. He was one of the originators of the excellent variety of pear known as “Clapp’s Favorite.” He was a life member of the Horticultural Society, and served on the Prize Committee. His death occurred in May, 1874. His wife, Martha Merriam, was a daughter of Jonathan Blake, of Warwick. They were the parents of six children, of whom four reached maturity–Julia Elizabeth, Frederick Augustus, Mary Louise, and Edward Blake. Frederick A., born October 11, 1845, who established in 1871 the florist’s business now carried on by the subject of this sketch, died November 11, 1874. Mary Louise is the wife of Frank N. Blake, of North Adams, Mass. Mrs. Martha M. Clapp survived here husband twenty years, dying in 1894. They were both members of the First Parish, or Unitarian church, whose house of worship is on Meeting-house Hill.
Edward Blake Clapp was educated in the Dorchester public schools, graduating at the high school in 1871. He then became associated with his brother Frederick in the florist’s business, to which he succeeded on the latter’s death. His greenhouses are located on the old farm, cover two acres, and contain nine thousand square feet of glass. He does a retail business exclusively, and as a successful representative of the floral interests of Boston.
Mr. Clapp was married September 11, 1878, to Miss Mary Frances Jones, a daughter of Nahum and Lucy (Blake) Jones, a boot an hoe manufacturer of Warwick, Mass. They have four children living, namely: Frederick Gardner, born July 20, 1879. Who is now taking the geological course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston; Clifford Blake, born July 18, 1881, also a student at the Institute of Technology; Prescott Jones, born November 14, 1883, who is studying at the Mechanic Arts School; and Chalmers Stevens, who was born December 27, 1884, and is attending the Roger Clapp School in Dorchester. A son, Robert, died in infancy.
Mr. Clapp is a member of the Knights of Honor, Dorchester Lodge, No. 541, having been the Chaplain of the organization. He belongs also to the Boston Florists’ Club, the Society of American Florists, and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. In politics he is independent, and in religion a Unitarian.