Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

daughter of Calvin and Submit (Denselow)
Wilson. Calvin Wilson was born
1758-59, in the town of Stafford, Connec-
ticut, and settled after the Revolution, in
the town of Windsor, where he died May
20, 1809. He was a soldier of the Revolu-
tion, a member of Captain Steven Pot-
ter's company, Colonel Hermann Swift's
regiment, the second regiment of the Con-
necticut Line, appearing in the roster of
February 1, 1783, credited to the town of
Windham. His wife, Submit (Denselow)
Wilson, born 1766, died December 10,
1840, at the age of seventy-four years.
She was undoubtedly a member of the
ancient Denselow family of Windsor.
Probably her husband belonged to the old
Wilson family of that town, but unfortu-
nately no records can be discovered to
show the parentage of either. Horace
Thrall and his wife were parents of a
large family: I. Charles W., born September
19, 1824, was a farmer and merchant,
and at one time a grist mill owner;
he died, unmarried, at Poquonock, Janu-
ary 14, 1862. 2. Horace H., born July 7,
1825, was a leader among the Democrats
of the town, served many years as selectman,
and died December, 1897; for more
than a score of years he was employed in
a paper mill, during much of which time
he was foreman ; he was also interested in
mercantile business at Poquonock, and
later in farming; in November, 1856, he
married Charlotte A. Watrous, and they
had two daughters : Gertrude A., wife of
W. G. Clark, of Poquonock, and Eliza M.,
wife of Leroy Sykes, of Suffield. 3.
Laura Z., born January 30, 1829, became
the wife of Salmon Clark, of Windsor,
whose history and ancestry are found
elsewhere in this work. 4. Oliver W.,
born July 11, 1830, was a farmer on the
paternal homestead, where he died un-
married, December 28, 1892. 5. Joseph
G., born September 14, 1831, lived in the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
268
town of Windsor, and married, September
8, 1880, Vesta E. Bartlett. 6. Samuel
C, born May 30, 1833, was engaged in
farming on the paternal homestead, and
later a purchaser of other lands ;
he never
married. 7. Edward F., born February
6, 1837, married Flavia A. Howe. 8.
Thomas M., born November 23, 1840,
died May 21, 1889; was long a successful
tobacco grower, and left to his children a
handsome competence and an honored
name; he married Emma I. Treadman, of
New London county, and left two children
: Fred H., and Cora E., who became
the wife of Arthur B. Cowan, and the
mother of three sons : Raymond T., Kenneth
B., and Thomas L. 9. Willard A.,
of further mention.
Willard A. Thrall was born August 24,
1842, in the town of Windsor, and has
there passed his life, attaining a promi-
nent position as a scientific and successful
farmer. Like most of his brothers, Mr.
Thrall has engaged in tobacco growing
on a very extensive scale, and is the pion-
eer in the production of peaches in his
locality, as well as the largest grower in
that section. For several years he was
associated with four of his brothers, in
the management and tillage of the pater-
nal homestead, and in the purchase of
large tracts in the vicinity. After a few
years this large estate was divided, and
Mr. Thrall continued independently with
excellent success. He attended the pub-
lic schools of Windsor, and during vacation
intervals assisted in tilling the home
farm. After four years at the Windsor
Academy, he received instruction for two
years in a private school at Poquonock.
Like all of the remainder of the family, he
adheres to the Democratic party in poli-
tics and has always exercised large in-
fluence in the direction of public affairs.
For a period of twelve years he served
efficiently and acceptably as assessor, and