C.W. Thrall, one of the early pioneer settlers and today one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Winnebago county, was born in Johnstown, Montgomery county, New York, on November 25, 1818, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Ayres) Thrall, natives of New England. His grandfather, also John Thrall, was a descendant of the old Dutch family of that name who came to American in the seventeenth century and settled in New England. In 1837 during Mr. Thrall's youth he worked at various occupations in both Pennsylvania and Ohio for some seven years and then decided to try farming. He rented a farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where his parents and family joined him in 1844, coming here from St. Lawrence county, New York. They remained here for only eighteen months, however, having become interested in the new then territory of Wisconsin and the many advantages it held out to pioneers. They decided to brave the hardships incident to the settling of a new country and on May 5, 1846, gathered together their belongings and started for the West. They arrived in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, on June 9 of the same year and settled on the present farm in section 28, Utica township, where Mr. Thrall has since resided. His farm of over 200 acres is in a high state of cultivation, improved with a large new commodious and modern residence, barns and other outbuildings, and the place is equipped with modern labor-saving devices which to make this one of the most beautiful country homes in the county, and it is under the active management of his son, John W.

Mr. Thrall has always taken an active interest in public matters, and any movement toward the betterment of the public has always received his sanction and support. For ten years he held the office of assessor, and during the war days he was enrolling officer for his district. He has always contributed freely to the support of the church, although not a member himself. At this time (1908) he is hale and hearty at the age of 90 year and during the year 1907 he was proffered the office of justice of the peace and also the chairmanship of the town board, both of which he declined to accept. He has indeed served his town and county well and has ever been one of its foremost, honorable and respected citizens.

Mr. Thrall married Miss Frances McKee on June 2, 1853. She was the daughter of the Rev. Hiram McKee, a prominent minster and strong abolitionist of Champlain, New York. They reared a family of eight children, viz.: Hiram Wallace, Ella (now deceased), Mabel, Mary E., Hattie M., Charles M., Doretta F., Martha M. (deceased), Cyrus A. and Nettie H.

Mrs. Thrall died February 7, 1870. Mr. Thrall married Margaret J. Roberts, November 14, 1878, and by this marriage has two children- Myrtie Rebecca and John Wells.