1910 Pennsylvania Mirocode Census Index
Peter S Clapper
Age: 56 State: PA
Color: W Enumeration District: 0084
Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0237
County: Blair
Relation: Head of Household
Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place
Wife Barbrah L 51 Pennsylvania
Son Henry M 21 Pennsylvania
Daughter Mary Elizabeth 19 Pennsylvania
Daughter Iva Blanch 17 Pennsylvania
Daughter Bertha May 12 Pennsylvania
Daughter Helen Irene 12 Pennsylvania
NR Lydia Burket 10 Pennsylvania
Brother John S Clapper 65 Pennsylvania
___________________________________________1920 Pennsylvania Census: Blair County, Taylor Twp
roll T625_1540, page 6a, edition 116, 19 Jan 1920
dwelling 100, family 102, lines 26-29
P. S. Clapper, owns home, 66, laborer-public highway, born pa, parents born pa
Barbara, wife, 61, born pa, parents born pa
Lizzie, 30
Lydia, 19
___________________________________________From "The Clappers in America" Engle/Helsel 1980
Peter S. Clapper was a widely known Taylor Twp. citizen, retired farmer and for many years a leading figure in township politics. He lived near Roaring Spring borough and during his life won some distinction as a weather prophet - known far and wide as the township weather guage. His methods were never disclosed but it is said he had the uncanny ablity in predicting or forecasting changes in the weather. He served several terms as township school director, supervisor of roads, county committeeman and tax collector. He and his wife were active members in the Church of the Brethren.
From "Recollections of By-Gone Days in the Cove" - Ella M. Snowberger ("The Clappers in America" Engle/Helsel 1980)Pete Clapper was a great fellow to play tricks and tell tall stories. The boys nicknamed him Honest Pete because he always insisted the whoppers he told were the gospel truth.
"Did I ever tell you the story of the time a bunch of fellows carried Pete across the mountain?"
"Well, Pete was shantying at the tunnel on the other side of Tussey mountain. He sent word to Henrietta that he was very sick. George Stonerook, Andy and Jake Benner, Dave and Alex Miller, George Hartman and a couple of others hiked across the mountain to see him.
"He was too sick to sit up. So they decided to carry him home in a litter. They spelled each other off carrying him over the old zig-zag pack trail and finally got him as far as Miller's blacksmith shop on this side of the mountain.
"I happened to be there at the time. The men were so played out, they dropped down to rest on anything that was handy. Pretty soon Pete asked for a drink of water. Then he got up and said he believed he'd walk the rest of the way home. The men were mad enough to knock his block off." Vol. X p. 37
Herald of Dec. 2, 1897 ("The Clappers in America" Engle/Helsel 1980)"Peter Clapper of Roaring Spring area slaughtered a hog weighing 633 pounds. The hams weighed 66 pounds. The butchering season was at its height in the Cove, and Mr. Clapper challenged any of the local farmers to beat the mark set by his porker"
Blair County Courthouse - Adm. Bk. 32 - 286 (From "The Clappers in America" Engle/Helsel 1980)
Letters were granted 4 Oct. 1926 for Peter S. Clapper - late of Taylor Twp.
Barbara - spouse - age 68
Henry M. age 38 son
Mary Elizabeth Leydie - age 36 daughter
Iva Blanch Yingling - age 34 daughter
Ella Irene Helsel - age 28 daughter
Bertha May Garver - age 28 daughter
Lydia Margaret Wertz - age 26 daughter
__________________________________________________________
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/blair/bios/sell/c-cra.txt
PETER S. CLAPPER, a well known general farmer of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., who owns an excellent farm of ninety-six acres situated near Roaring Spring, is a prominent citizen and is serving in the office oftownship collector. He was born in N. Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa.,April 6, 1855, and is a son of Joseph N. and Barbara (Strayer) Clapper. Joseph N. Clapper was born in Bedford County, Pa., and he lived there until after his marriage when he moved to N. Woodbury Township, Blair County, where he resided until his death in 1879. He married Barbara Strayer, who was born in Blair County, and three of their children survive: John S., of Taylor Township; Henry S., of N. Woodbury Township; and Peter S. Peter S. Clapper had but meager educational opportunities when he was young but he went to school long enough to gain a solid foundation, and practical experience and the associations of life have made him a well informed man. Farming has been his life work and he has made it profitable.In 1893 he removed from N. Woodbury Township to Taylor Township and then settled on his present farm near Roaring Spring. As a citizen he has always enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors to a large degree. For three years he has been a member of the school board of Taylor Township, having previously served for the same length of time in N. Woodbury Township. He has also served for four years as road supervisor in Taylor Township and in 1909 was elected township collector. The duties of these offices have been taken seriously and have been faithfully performed.Mr. Clapper married Miss Barbara Miller, who was born in Bedford County,Pa., and they have had eight children, the survivors being: Henry M., Lizzie,Iva, Ella and Bertha. He is identified with the P. O. S. A., at Roaring Spring, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Martinsburg, Pa.
Sell, Jesse C., Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County,Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold,1911, pp. 720-723.
________________________________________________________Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death
Place of Death: Blair County, Taylor Twp.
Full Name: Peter S. Clapper
Sex: M
Color: White
Marital Status: Married
Name of Wife: Barbara Clapper
Birth date of deceased: April 6, 1853
Age: 73 yrs, 5 mos, 13 days
Birthplace: Curryville. Pa.
Occupation: Salesman
Name of Father: Joseph Clapper
Birthplace of Father: Bakers Summit, Pa.
Maiden Name of Mother: Barbara Strayer
Birthplace of Mother: Bakers Summit, Pa.
Informant: Barbara Clapper, Roaring Spring, Pa.
Burial: Sept 22, 1926, Albrights Cemetery
Funeral Director: Rearick Miller, Martinsburg, Pa.
Date of Death: Sept 19, 1926
Cause of Death: Heart Trouble
_____________________________________________________
1930 Pennsylvania Census: Blair County, Taylor Twp, roll T626_2005, page 1a, edition 73, 2 Apr 1930, dwelling 12, family 12, lines 46-47
Barbara Clapper, owns home, 71, born pa, parents born pa
Alexander Miller, brother, 73, salesman-brush co
________________________________________________Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death
Place of Death: Blair County, Taylor Twp.
Full Name: Mrs. Barbara Miller Clapper
Sex: F
Color: White
Marital Status: Widow
Name of Husband: Peter S. Clapper
Birth date of deceased: Jan 15, 1859
Age: 85 yrs, 10 mos, 26 days
Birthplace: Henrietta, Pa.
Occupation: None
Name of Father: James Miller
Birthplace of Father: Blair Co., Pa.
Maiden Name of Mother: Nancy Loose
Birthplace of Mother: Blair Co., Pa.
Informant: Henry Clapper, Roaring Spring, Pa.
Burial: Dec 14, 1944, Albrights Cemetery
Funeral Director: Hite Brothers, Roaring Spring, Pa.
Date of Death: Dec 11, 1944, 4:30 am
Cause of Death: Chronic Hyocorditis, Hypertension
Usual Residence of Deceased: PA, Blair Co, Roaring Spring (Rural), R.D.
_____________________________________________________
Twin to Ella Irene
Twin to Bertha Mae