Background
He was born in Rhode Island to a Yankee family on June 26, 1816.
He was born in Rhode Island to a Yankee family on June 26, 1816.
Lapham farmed before becoming involved in manufacturing in Burrillville, Rhode Island, and Palmer and Douglas, Massachusetts, and he managed a farm for the Albion Manufacturing Company in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Lapham attended Bushee"s Academy at Bank Village, Rhode Island studying mechanics and later worked several years as a carpenter and wheelwright. He then worked with the Tillinghast factory in East Greenwich, and the other mills in North Scituate, Centreville, Wallum Pond, Pascoag, and Warwick, Rhode Island.
In 1863 he purchased and funded the Smithville Seminary and gave it back to the Free Will Baptist Association.
lieutenant was renamed the Lapham Institute in his honor, but closed in 1876. He died on June 16, 1883 and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery.
Lapham served in the militia during the Dorr Rebellion and was a member of Rhode Island House of Representatives, Rhode Island State Senate, state commissioner of the Antietam Cemetery, president of the town council, Delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention, justice of the peace.