The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-04
Death of Colonel Clamp.

ihough our community were not taken al
together by surprise on seeing the announce
ment of the death of our esteemed fellow
citizen, Charles Q. Clapp-knowing that for
several months he has been laid aside from
the activities of life by mortal disease-the
event itself has left void which can hardly
be filed. Identified from his birth with Port
land, where he was born in May, 1899, actively
concerned by sympathy and interest in its
growth and prosperity, having expended his
energies in making large additions to its mate
rial wealth by engaging in extensive improve
ments, and being connected with many of the
enterprises which have occupied public after
ton, his sagacity and counsel will be greatly
missed in business circles, and the loss of his
influence in the community be seriously de-
plored.
Having received liberal and commercial
ing at majority, were devoted to mercantile
pursuits. But his natural inclination led him
soon alter to abandon this field, and to engage
in improving his real estate. Possessing. an
unusual taste for architecture, in which he
was excelIed by few, every building erected
under his auspices was designed and modelled
by himself, and many, notwithstanding
tie desolations of the great fire, remain in
different parts of the city to attest his skill
and perpetuate his enterprise. He has erect
ed, PROBABLY larger number of buildings on
his own account than any other person.
The most notable perhaps, of all his i'm
provements, was that of filling up, in conjunc-
ton with his surviving brother A. w. ID.
Clapp, many acres of the flats connected with
Back Cove some of which are now traversed
with new streets, lined with neat and conven-
lent houses, by which means very large
amount of property has been added to the
valuation of the city. Had his original de-
sign been consummated, which the conflict
ing views and rights of other parties rendered
impracticable, his genius and forecast would
have left monument still more honorable to
his memory. We refer to the design of inn
proving Back Cove for water power and the
erection of docks and wharves, a survey and
plans for which were made at his own expense
by skilful engineer, and if carried out, would
have added immensely to the material wealth
and prosperity of the city.
Latterly his thoughts and energies were de.
voted more particularly to the Portland and
Rochester railroad, of which he was the Faith
err and which he, in common with many OF
our citizens, regarded as of great interest TO
the people of Maine having busin ess relations
with the West, and of prominent importance
ofP ortland.
His energy was perhaps never more signally
displayed than when, while suffering from a
disease which was liable to terminate his life
instantly, he personally supervised the recon-
struction of some ten stores over the almost
smoking ruins of those destroyed by the fire
Of July4 1866, all built of durable materials
ornamental to the city, all occupied, and this
all accomplished within the period Of about
eight months.
Though possessing qualities which eminent
ly fitted him for public life with broad and
liberal views, and endowed with intellectual
power which would have placed him in the
front ranks of distinction and influence, he
continually declined political Office from the
Democratic party with which he was warmly
identified, and with the single exception of
representing Portland in the Legislature many
years ago, and being pressed by his friends ON
repeated occasions for Mayor of the city, he
yielded to others honors which otherwise he
gracefully would have worn.
Though possessing large estate he was un-
ostentatious in his bearing; though his CHI ari
ties were never paraded III the press he al
ways remembered the poor, and the humblest
of our population often in him found warm
and generous friend.
He leaves widow, the daughter of the late
Gen. Wingate, and two daughters, one the
wife OF our estimable friend and fellow citizen
j. b. Carroll of this city, and the other the
wife of Winthrop G.. Ray of New York city.
G. f. e.