Olive Smith

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA

Family/Spouse: Jonas Sparks. Jonas and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Larissa married Ira Thrall on 18 Oct 1826 in Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA. Ira (son of Daniel Thrall and Susan Baker) was born on 24 Sep 1803 in Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Jul 1878 in Colchester, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Died young

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rockville, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Susan married Chauncy Smith on 9 Sep 1847. Chauncy was born on 16 Apr 1824; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Finisher and farmer
• Residence: Rockville, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

Julius was a Republican, member of the City Council and socially connected with the Golden Cross Society.

Occupation:
Learned the trade of a finisher, and took charge of the fimishing room in a mill in Stafford Springs. Later went to Coventry where his uncle D. B. Bacon had charge of a mill. In 1857 he entered the shuttle business, getting out the square blocks of timber his arm came into contact with the saw, inflicting an injury which cripplrd him. He returned to farming at his father's home, and later went into the livery business.

Julius married Mary Ann Holmes on 18 May 1853. Mary (daughter of John Holmes and Sabrina Case) was born on 2 Jan 1832 in West Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut, USA; died on 25 Jan 1924 in Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rockville, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Lucia married Myron Eldredge Tuttle on 16 Oct 1856. Myron was born on 31 Jun 1835 in Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Secured his education at the home schools. When he reached the age of eighteen years he came to Rockville and secured employment in the finishing room of the Rock Mill. In this establishment, and also in the American Mill, he was engaged for some five years, and then worked at Hartford for a time. At Stafford he was made a quarry foreman, and while in that city became acquainted with his future wife, Miss Julia E. West.

In 1865 Mr. and Mrs. Thrall returned to Vernon and located on the old Thrall homestead, which he had inherited from his father. This land was originally purchased by his ancestors from the Indians, and has been in the possession of the family from that remote day.

At one time this homestead was very extensive comprising many hundred acres, but, as it was passed through the various generations, was much broken up and divided, so that only a fraction of the original body is in the hands of Mr. Thrall. Tradition has it that the Indian chief, Tankanhoosen, is buried on this farm, and the stream that runs though it bears his name. Indians were undoubtedly numerous in this vicinity for many generations, as arrow heads and other evidences of their presence are frequently unearthed.

Since their location in this neighborhood, the Thralls have built four homes. The one now occupied by Mr. Thrall was built by his grandfather, and reconstructed by himself. The third house, which stood some two or three rods east of his present location is well remembered by Mr. Thrall. The other two were a little less than a quarter of a mile south from the present location, and they stood close together. The ruins of the old well can still be traced. A more charming spot particularly in summer can hardly be imagined than the place Mr. Thrall has his home. The house is in a valley surrounded by hills. From a bay window at the south of the house, through a break in the hills, Talcott Mountain may be seen. Mr. Thrall owns a farm of a hundred acres, and engages in general farming quite extensively. Before 1890 he was much engaged in tobacco culture, but since that time has been giving his attention to dairying on a large scale.

In 1888 he was one of the organizers of the Vernon creamery, of which corporation he has since 1896 been the president, and has always been on the board of directors.

This creamery is well managed, and has an enviable reputation for its butter, of which it produces about ten thousand pounds a month. The present directors are John Risley, E.B. Lathrop, H.P. Rick, Henry Burke, George Dart, George Fisk and A.O. Thrall. Probably to Mr. Thrall more than any other man, is due the credit for valuable services in the early start of this institution.

Mr. Thrall cast his first vote for James Buchanan, but since that time has supported the Republican party. He has always interested himself in local matters, and has held various positions of trust and honor, serving as assessor, justice of the peace, and at present is a member of the board of relief. At one time he allowed his name to be presented as a candidate for the Republican nomination to the General Assembly, but before the meeting of the convention withdrew in favor of Mr. Kuhnly, of Rockville.

Mr. and Mrs. Thrall united with the Vernon Centre Congregational Church in 1869, and from time to time have served in important places in that society. Mr. and Mrs. Thrall, and their daughter, Mrs. Smith, belong to the Vernon Grange. Mrs. Smith is lecturer of that grange, now serving her second term. Mr. Thrall has been treasurer of the Vernon Grange for years. At the request of the committee having in their charge the preparation of sample Connecticut farm products, Mr. Thrall selected a few ears from his crib, and sent them for exhibition at the Columbia World's Fair at Chicago. When the awards were made, Mr. Thrall received a bronze medal for Yellow King Corn of the best quality. It was planted May 1st, in hills 3x3 1/2 feet in soil well fertilized, and was harvested Sept. 15th. The yield was from forty to seventy bushels to the acre, and the weight fifty-six to sixty-four pounds to the bushel.

Birth:
Now Talcottville

Land:
After the Civil War, Alfred and his wife returned to the old homestead which he had inheireted from his father, loctaed in Vernon, Connecticut. His ancestors had lived on it ever since the land was ourchased from the Indians. Tradition has it that the Indian Chief, Tankanhooson is buried on this farm, and the stream that runs through it bears his name. Arrow heads and other evidence of their presence are frequently unearthed.

Occupation:
Alfred was engaged in tobacco raising for a while then turned his attention to dairying on a large scale. He experimented with corn and selected a few ears to send to the Columbian World's Fair in Chicago. He won a bronze medal for the best yellow corn exhibited. The yield harvested on September 5th was from forty to seventy bushels to the acre and the weight was fifty-six to sixty-four pounds to the bushel.

Alfred married Julia E West on 11 Mar 1856. Julia (daughter of Asa D West and Mary Converse) was born on 23 Aug 1836 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: Veteran of the US Civil War
• Residence: New Britain, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
• Alt. Birth: 7 Jan 1842, Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Wells married Catherin Julia Wills on 7 Aug 1862. Catherin was born on 27 May 1839; died on 12 Jul 1908. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Carrie married Arthur Kingsbury on 29 Oct 1880 in Dunlap, Harrison, Iowa, USA. Arthur was born on 2 Oct 1854; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Florence Preston on 25 Oct 1887 in Wapping, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Florence was born on 2 Sep 1863; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Chiropodist
• Alt. Birth: 17 May 1864, Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

Occupation:
New York City and Long Island

Dwight married Elizabeth Layer on 25 Dec 1893 in New York, New York, USA. Elizabeth was born on 9 Nov 1870; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Hobbies: For years, Charles spent hundreds of hours each summer in the Historical Library in Hartford and among the State archives, writing up the history of the Thrall family. He arranged his findings in an orderly fashion and made it possible for many of the Thrall clan who left Connecticut, to trace their ancestry. we are all indebted to him for the research he did and of organizing the information he collected. The handwritten records of his findings are preserved for posterity in the Historical Library in Hartford, Connecticut.
• Education: 1888, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Charles was attending Yale until the great blizzard of 1888. At the height of the blizzard, he was helping his father, Julius, with his livery business, located in the center of Rockville. He was driving a sleigh and became unconscious and was not found for some tune. Some eye damage resulted and after living in darkened rooms for several months, at the suggestion of a doctor, he left for the warmer climate of Florida in 1889.
• Occupation: c. 1895, Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba; He worked as an electrician for a year or two in Florida and then was convinced by friends of the opportunities in Havana. Upon his arrival, he went to work for the electric company, where he became chief electrician after a short time. Two or three years later, his American friends set him up in business, the Charles H. Thrall Electric Company. As the Charles H. Thrall Electric Company company prospered, he purchased a stone quarry across the bay at Jesus Des Monte. Both operations prospered and Charles made many important friends.
• Note: 15 Feb 1898; He had dinner with some of these friends aboard the battleship USS Maine one evening, and as he was being rowed back to shore by one of his supervisors, the USS Maine was blown up and the Spanish American War had begun. Sixteen years later, when the USS Maine was raised. The Charles H. Thrall Electric Company, supplied the electric power on the job.
• Military Service: Mar 1898, Morro Castle, Havana, Cuba; Leaving directly for Florida, he was enlisted by the Navy to serve as a spy. He was listed as correspondent by the New York Daily Telegram and worked from the flagship which lead the blockade off Havana. He was put ashore on four occasions, his primary mission was to evaluate gun placements. The first mission went smoothly. On the second mission, he rescued a woman news correspondent serving as a spy who had become suspect. As a result; he became suspect, and a reward for his capture dead or alive was set at 2000 pesos. The third mission took him to Cabanas fortress directly behind Morros Castle. He successfully entered the fort as a peddler with a push cart full of fruit and candies. He obtained the required information and left, but he was realised almost immediately afterward and a full scale search began. Charles managed the 7 kilometers to the rendezvous, however, he could not make contact because of the search. He stood in a coral swamp for sixteen hours which caused severe lacerations and infection to his legs.
• Publication: 8 May 1898; Stephen Crane wrote about Charles for the New York World after interviewing him on a warship off the coast of Cuba.
• Military Service: 18 May 1898, Cuba; On his fourth mission, he was captured and chained to the floor of a four foot high cell, in the dungeons of Cabana's fortress. The date of his capture was May 18, 1898. He was held several weeks, expecting execution at any moment. However, President McKinley had been informed of his capture and negotiations were underway to trade prisoners. Eventually, the brother-in-law of General Weyler, head of the Spanish forces and two other officers were traded for Charles' life. At least one newspaper carried an illustration of President McKinley and Charles shaking hands, with Charles thanking the President. A full account of which was printed in the on May 22, 1898.
• Occupation: 1899, Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba; After the war Charles returned to Havana, reclaimed his quarry and reorganized the electric company. Both prospered for many years (25-30) He also built the first modern sugar mills in Cuba. There were several other interesting business ventures, including sugar beets in Texas power stations on the Rio Grande, and real estate.
• Note: 22 Sep 1909
• Note: abt. 1938; In spite of the tremendous abilities of this man of old five feet two inches, his personal life was a series of unhappy developments. His first wife, Ida, spent most of their married life in semi-seclusion in a beautiful home in West Hartford. In the late 30's, he discovered he had cancer of the tongue and throat. A great deal of money went for treatment and operations, not to mention years of pain and suffering. His daughter, Corrinne, who was extremely frail and delicate, became a suicide in her mid-twenties. His second wife, Florence, seemed to bring him the only personal happiness he knew.

Charles married Ida A McPherson on 9 Oct 1895. Ida and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Florence. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Holyoke, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA
• Education: 1893

Notes:

Education:
Edna graduated from Rockville, Connecticut High School, Glass of 1893. She attended Boston School of Oratory, and Dr. S. S. Curry's School of Expression. She taught physical culture and elocution before her marriage.

Edna married Edward Kohler on 30 Jun 1905. Edward was born on 29 Mar 1867; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ? Hutchinson. ? and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Earl Warren. Earl and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ? Root. ? and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Herbert Holmes. Herbert and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Albert C Thrall

Eva married Harry C Smith on 16 Oct 1895. Harry died after 1903. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alice married C Rossberg on 18 Feb 1897. C and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]