The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-12
Aged Citizens of Portland.
[Hon. William Goold.l

Aged Citizens of Portland.
Hon. William Goold.l
Charles Z. Barrett. now Sc years old, was
born in Mortified, the most northerly town
In Massachusetts,, January 9th, 1904. The
town is situated ON both sides Of Connect
cut river and has long been noted for its
beauty. Mr.. Barrett came here in 1918 and
soon entered Bowdoin College. from which
he graduated in 1922 in the class with Judge
Appleton of Bangor, and David Humphreys
Storer of Portland, now Of Boston; read law
with Woodbury. Storer. and was admitted to
Cumberland bar in 1926 but never practiced
law as profession. Business came to him
as a conveyancer, trustee, and administrator.
In 1926 he married Miss Baker, daughter
Of the junior partner Of the firm Of Bartels &
Baker Of Fore street. They began house,
keeping in three story house Of wood on
the corner where now stands the church OF
the Second Parish. Mr.. Barrett was an act
i've prom ter Of the scheme for a railroad
from Portland to Montreal In 1856, and on
the organization Of the company he was
made its treasurer and held the Office until
1888 when he resigned. He has held Offices
In several monied institutions. He was at
one time President of the Bank of Portland
and afterwards held the same Office in Canal
Bank. He had also been president Of the
common council. He always seemed indiffer-
ent to preferment, and pursued the noiseless
tenor of his way. His health and faculties
appear to be unimpaired. and in good wealth
er he visits the scenes Of his active days.
Mr.. Barrett had a brother now deceased,
DIR. John Barrett. who twas practicing ply
stefan here. Mr.. Charles E. Barrett's two
sons are well known in their fathers walks
of life, and the only daughter presides over
the household at No. 126 Deering Street.
A. W. II. CLAPP.
hon. Asa w. FL. Clapp,. now IS, was born
in two story house of wood which stood
until the fire Of 1866, on the north corner of
Middle and Pearl streets, in March 1905. He
attended Portland schools. but completed his
education at the Norwich (Vt) Military and
Scientific Academy, then under the superin-
tendence of Capt. Alden Partridge. This in
stitution was founded by the State. Mr..
Clapp's chums while there, from Portland,
were Thomas Robinson. John Dicks, George
Bartol, Phineas F. Varnum. VIM. P. Wild
gerry and WIN. Brooks. The last was son
of Cotton B. Brooks, an iron merchant OF
Long Wharf. The son William became the
father of Rev. DR.. Philips Brooks Of Trinity
Church, Boston. This military academy es-
tablshed in 1920. was very popular, having
pupils or cadets from nearly every State in
the Union. Capt. Partridge was graduate
OF west rVint, auu transferred the tactics
and discipline Of that institution to his own
The West Point Cadets marched to Boston
by the way Of Albany in 1921, which was thu
origin Of military pleasure excursions. No
to be out done, the next year Capt. Partridge
marched his cadets to Mount Washington
with complete camp apparatus.
After gradu alton at Norwich In 1928, Mr.
Clapp returned to his home and wen
through a strict co urse Of mercantile train
ing in his fathers counting house. He then
engaged in foreign commerce on his own &C
count, which he pursued until age untitled
his father to manage his large property
alone.
Capt. Asa Clapp, the father, had been one
of the most active shipping merchants Of the
town since 1876. He was born in Mansfield,
Mass, in 1862. He rose to be a master mar
liner and merchant. He died in 1913, aged
Sc, leaving large estate from which he
made several liberal public requests. The
son. Col. Clapp, was appointed Aid to Gov
ernor Smith in 1881, with the rank of Lieut..
Colonel. He was elected to Congress from
his distrct in 1S41, and while there he was
instrumental In the passage of an act for the
purchase by the government of the City Ex-
change building for a custom house and
postofice. Col. Clapp has been director In
the Atlantic & st. Lawrence railroad, the
Public Library and the Maine General
Hospital. @
In 1884 Mr.. Clapp was married to Miss
Julia NJ, daughter Of Gen, Henry A. s.
Dearborn, the first mayor of Roxbury. She
died in 1867. Their only child, Miss Mary
f. E. Clapp, is in charge Of the ancient home
stead, and dispenses its generous hospitality
This conspicuous old residence occupies
the large central lot bounded on the south
and west by Congre IS and Elm streets The
house was built In 1894 (then Of two stories),
by Daniel Davis, the first lawyer that came
to Maine after the close of the Revolution.
His law office occupied the south corner of
the front yard. Mr.. Dayis's Office of Solicit.
tor General of Massachusetts required him
to live in Boston, whittier he removed in
in 1904. He sold his house and lot to Capt
Asa Clapp for $4,000. Capt. Clapp remod.
eled it under the supervision Of Capt. Alex.
ander Paris, the architect, who added the
third story and the architectural ornaments,
including the cupola. which was the first
built in town. The interior was also remod-
eled-the hall was enlarged, and the elegant
open circular staircase was built which leads
to, and is lighted from the cupola. Since the
breaking up Of the collection OF art treasures
in the Wingate house, there is no hall and
corridors so richly ornamented in any re-
naming old mansion in town. In the par
lor hang the full stature portraits of Capt,
Asa Clapp and Mrs. Clapp in the costumes
worn at the close of the last century.
Here at levee, President Monroe was en-.
tertained in 1917. Here President Polk
called in 1S47 to pay his respects to its pro-
prietor, then in his S5th year. James Blu.
chanan, then Secretary Of State, and Com
modore Stewart were Of the party. On the
occasion Of the expected visit Of President
| jackson to the town in 1881, Capt Clapp
| rendered the use of his house to the authori-
| ties, which was accepted. Great prepare
lions were made for the reception. but from
some unexplained cause the President
turned back at Concord, N. FL.