Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

so much so, that he has not been very
active in fraternal organizations, but is
a member of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen, and with his family is a regular
attendant of the Union Congrega-
tional Church, of Rockville.
He married (first) at Rockville, February
5, 1885, Nellie Lydia Mc Pherson,
born there March 29, 1866, died February
17, 1893, daughter of John and Emma
(Bilson) Mc Pherson. He married (sec-
ond) March 28, 1895, Agnes Eva (Rheel)
Mac Gregor, born March 29, 1868, at
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, daughter of
Henry William and Mary Jane (Smith)
Rheel, and widow of James Mac Gregor.
By his first marriage, Mr. Grant was the
father of two daughters : Bernice Louise,
born December 8, 1888, married George
Bluteau, of Springfield, and is the mother
of a son, George Grant Bluteau; Nellie
Agnes, born February 6, 1893, married
Walter S. Billings, of Wapping, Connecti-
cut, and has one son, Stanley Russell Bill-
ings. By his second marriage, Mr. Grant
is the father of a son, Harlow Rheel
Grant, born July 10, 1898.
THOMSON, William Wallace,
Florist.
A descendant of worthy Scotch ances-
tors, William Wallace Thomson has in-
herited those qualities which make for
success, and through his business acumen
has attained a prominent position among
the business men of West Hartford. Mr.
Thomson was born May 21, 1881, son of
Paul and Jeanette D. (Metcalf) Thom-
son.
Paul Thomson, his father, was born
April 15, 1846, in Perthsire, Scotland, and
died in February, 1909. He was a son of
William and Annie (McArthur) Thom-
son. His early education was acquired
in his native town, and until his emigra-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
100
tion to America in 1871, he was engaged
in agricultural work with his father on
the paternal homestead. During those
years he laid the foundation of the practical
knowledge which proved of immense
helpfulness to him afterwards in his flor-
ist business. A year after coming to
Hartford he purchased the Powell farm,
located in West Hartford, and until 1899
did a large and thriving wholesale market
gardening business. His complete mas-
tery of his work and his indefatigable
efforts to make it a successful one, re-
sulted in its being one of the largest busi-
nesses of its kind in the vicinity. In the
latter year he disposed of the land which
he had formerly owned, and devoted his
attention to gardening purposes and built
extensive greenhouses. From that time
he devoted all of his attention to floral
work, making a specialty of English vio-
let cultivation, in which he was highly
successful. Mr. Thomson continued in
this line until his death, at which time the
responsibility passed to his son, William
Wallace Thomson. Mr. Thomson was a
staunch adherent of the Republican party
and was several times honored with offices
of trust. He served as justice of the peace
of West Hartford in 1897 anci 1&9&, and
for several years was master of the West
Hartford Grange, an organization devoted
to the interests of those engaged in agri-
cultural work. Mr. Thomson was an
active worker in the Congregational
church and was a member of its Ecclesiastical
Society for many years. He married,
June 24, 1880, at Keene, New Hamp-
shire, Jeanette D. Metcalf, of that place.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were the parents
of three children: William Wallace, Rupert
Roy, and Carlyle C. Thomson.
The elementary education of William
Wallace Thomson was received in the
grammar and high schools of West Hartford,
and during the intervals between