Henry Clapp was born at Angelica, Allegany co., New York. His parents were Agile L. Clapp and Julia Ann Francisco. His parents moved to Friendship by 1840.
Henry Clapp enlisted in the Army in 1861, in the 85th NY Volunteers. He was at the battle of Fair Oaks. Henry was stationed at Plymouth, NC. Henry remembered, "We were attacked... my Company was sent out to the brest works, I being sick with the diarrhea was left behind and I had to go to the river bank to the privy while there one of the gun boats run up and stopped right behind me and about the same time the rebels commenced shelling the town, I stepped across the road to a shade tree and stood wondering how I would get back to camp, when all at once the gunboat fired and I dropped onto my [stomach], the shell went very close to my head and made it ache ... and I could hear scarcely any thing for nearly a week and then it seemed to settle in my right ear and gradually grew worse until I became entirely deaf in that ear and I am somewhat deaf in the other." Henry spent 11 months and 24 days in the southern prison camps at Andersonville, Florence and Charleston. He was able to escape.
Henry tells the story in his own words: "I with other prisoners was shipped from Florence to Goldsborough and while there escaped with a Comrade named Clark C. Knowlton, belonging to the 5th NY Calvary, I think that his present address is at Syracuse, NY.... We escaped... I could not walk without the help of a cane, we were ten days getting through, we could only travel nights and hide daytimes and 5 days and nights we were wet continually, on account of the big flood that was raging at that time. The last night out I staggered and fell several times and finally gave out before daylight and crawled into the woods and laid down to die. Our guide saw some Cavalry go past, he came and told us and we asked him how they were dressed, and we knew by his description that they were our Cavalry. We told him to watch and if they came back to tell them that we were in the woods. We were awakened about four o’clock in the afternoon, and to our great joy found ourselves surrounded by 9 of the 12th NY Calvary. For a space of ten minutes seemingly they stood speechless gazing at the two horrible looking objects that we were. After getting onto my feet, which required the greatest effort I was helped to the road where the rest of the Company were waiting there I was helped on a horse, but only rode a short distance before I could ride no farther, and a cart was procured to finish our journey. We were found 9 miles from the out posts at Newbern. I became unconscious after I was taken off from the horse and knew no more until we reached the outposts about dark. That night was full of horrible misery, I was suffering with C. Rheumatism and also coming down with typhoid fever but did not know it."
"Next morning we were taken in a buggy 6 miles to Newbern, to the Hospital. I think it was the general Hospital the medical Director’s name was Hand.... The last that I remember I stripped and while being washed became unconscious and remained so for a period of 16 days. The latter part of March orders was received to ship all sick and wounded soldiers to their respective States. The day that we were to be shipped I was taken with diphtheria. The Doctor’s insisted that I should not go, but I begged so hard that they finally consented. On my way to Beaufort I was given a drink of whiskey by the Captain of the boat, that was the last that I swallowed for over four days.... At Beaufort I was put on board of a Hospital boat with 500 sick and wounded. On reaching New York, I was taken to a Hospital on David’s Island, had a relapse while there, and could not be shipped for some time, I do not remember how long I was there, from there I was shipped to Elmira, NY. I think to the general Hospital. It was near the place where the rebel prisoners were confined. As soon as I was able to leave I was granted a furlough home to Friendship, and was not able to return for my discharge until July 21, 1865. It was nearly a year before I was recovered sufficiently to begin work."
Henry suffered the rest of his life from chronic rheumatism, deafness, lameness, and stomach problems. He was discharged in 1865 and returned home to Friendship. The next year he moved to the town of New Hudson. On Jan. 16, 1870, Henry married Lucy O. Searl, daughter of Abraham and Mary Ann (Harris) Searl. Henry and Lucy were the parents of 3 daughters: Ella Ola, Daisy Mary, and Cecile Ardella.