William Flint Thrall

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: 1898, Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; : McKendree College

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Methodist minister
• Graduation: 1872, Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; : McKendree University

Leonidas married Edith Flint on 19 Sep 1873. Edith (daughter of William Flint and Mary) was born on 16 Feb 1845 in Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; died on 10 Nov 1898 in Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; was buried in Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Graduation: 1870, Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; : McKendree College
• Occupation: Until 1871, Lebanon, St. Clair, Illinois, USA; School teacher
• Obituary: Nov 1898; Vandalia District Methodism mourns. At one o’clock Thursday morning, November 10, death came to the home of our beloved presiding elder, Dr. L. W. Thrall, and took away his wife. Our tears mingle with the fast-flowing tears of the dear, bereaved family in their great sorrow. They are sustained, and we rejoice with them in the great fact that to the hour of her going away the good wife and mother rested in full assurance of faith, and was comforted by a lively hope of a glorious immortality.

  I can not say, and I will not say, That she is dead — she is just away! With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand She has wandered into an unknown land. And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be since she lingers there.

  Funeral services were held in the Chapel of McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 12th, at one o'clock p.m. It was singularly fitting that the funeral services should be held in this place. Her father, was one of the staunchest supporters and most devoted friends of the college. Her brothers, Geo. W. and John W., and herself, are graduates of the college. Her husband graduated here in '72. Her daughter, Edith L.[^5], took her degree here in '95. Three of her sons, V.W., W.F. and C.H., are now entered as students here. The pastor of our church in Lebanon, the Rev. Frank W. Loy, was assisted in the services by the Rev. Messrs. S.P. Young, of Salem, J.B. Ravenscroft, of Centralia, T.H. Herdman and C.W. Bonner, of Lebanon, J.G. Tucker, of Vandalia, J.N. Eason, of Odin, and N.D. Sweeney, of Trenton, and President Chamberlin. The memoir that follows was read by Rev. F. W. Loy, and addresses were given by Rev. S.P. Young and President Chamberlin. The choir touchingly sang “Jesus Lover of My Soul”, “Home of the Soul”, “Nearer Home” and “Come Ye Disconsolate”. The remains were laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery in Lebanon. Her husband, a daughter and four sons, her mother, and two brothers, Geo. W. and the Rev. John W. Flint, our pastor at Belleville, and a great throng of friends mourn her taking away. The unstinted sympathy and earnest prayers of many score friends are poured out in behalf of our dear brother in the ministry and his family. In the Old Testament Scriptures we read of many worthy persons, simply that they lived so many years then died and were “gathered unto their fathers”. How very faintly does an outline on paper represent the throbbing, glowing, loving life. Not chiselled in marble nor inscribed in books or on manuscript does the true life continue on the earth, but in the influence and works which "follow after”. Yet when the course of one who has run well is finished, it is fitting for our comfort and inspiration that the life should be reviewed. Edith Flint, daughter of Wm. and Mary Flint, was born in the vicinity of Lebanon Feb. 16th, 1845. When a little girl she was converted to God at a camp-meeting, on old Shiloh camp ground. She united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was from childhood a very active worker. Her early life was spent in or near Lebanon. From the place where her natural and spiritual life began she has entered upon the eternal life. She attended the Lebanon Seminary, and when women were admitted to McKendree college, in the fall of 1869, she entered as a senior, and graduated the following June. She was the first woman graduate of this noble institution. She was the leader in the organization of the Clionian Literary Society and wrote the first constitution of that organization. She had previously taught school in country districts and after her graduation taught one year in the public school of Lebanon. On September 19, 1873, she was married to Rev. L.W. Thrall. As his help meet and inspiring supporter in his work, she accompanied him to Freeburg and Pinckneyville, this conference; Hartford, Columbus and Independence, Kansas; then back to Illinois to Ashley, Grayville, Metropolis, Salem and Greenville. Since Bro. Thrall was appointed presiding elder of Vandalia district she resided two and a half years at Salem and a little over the same length of time at Lebanon. Sister Thrall was active in all the departments of church work. The Epworth League received much thought and help from her. She was especially interested in the work of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Two or three times she has been a delegate to the annual meeting of the North-western Branch of this society. For over two years she conducted a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society department in the Vandalia District Advocate. This department teemed with valuable information and thrilling appeals in the interest of the great and noble work of this Christian society. She was also connected with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Her gifted pen was used and earnest voice lifted in behalf of “God and home and native land". The frequent meeting place of these societies was her own home, not only for her own satisfaction, but that the members might have the benefit of her presence and counsel. Sister Thrall has written a number of beautiful poems, which have had a wide circulation. She was “mild and gentle” in her disposition; cheerful, hopeful, trustful. She was unselfish and seemed to forget herself in her interest in others. She was an unusually gifted woman. Her mind was stored with knowledge so that to converse with her was not only a source of interest but also of profit. She has been a severe but patient sufferer for twenty-three years from asthma and bronchitis. Because of these afflictions she was kept from mingling with her fellow-beings in the activities of life. Hers was, to a great extent, a “shut in life”, but the Lord has “set her feet in a large room”. Free from wasting and weakening disease, with powers of soul and mind untrammelled, led by the Divine hand, drinking at the fountains of immortality, she now roams over the broad realm of the Kingdom of Heaven and views with ever increasing rapture and delight the glory of God. Sister Thrall was deeply pious. Her religion was not of the demonstrative or obtrusive type, but her faith was well-grounded, and her communion with her Heavenly Father sweet and uninterrupted. She was ripe for glory. She lived a number of years looking death in the face. Frequently the “shadow of death” fell athwart her pathway. Two years ago when it was thought by her physicians and friends that death had laid his ruthless hands upon her, folding her hands she said without a tremor in her voice, “Well, it is all right". Only a few days ago as I sat by her side, when she was so weak she could not speak above a whisper and suffered much, I said to her, “Sister Thrall, doubtless the Saviour is very precious to you now". She answered, pausing after each word on account of her weakness: “Yes, He is precious”. But after such a life words are not necessary only as they testify to the sustaining, comforting power and blessedness of the religion of Jesus Christ. She departed this life November 10, 1898 aged 53 years, 8 months and 24 days. Is this the end? Has this light been extinguished forever? No; it cannot be. “We sorrow not as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the arch angel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord”. Of those who believe Jesus has said: “They shall never die”. We look upon the cold, lifeless remains; upon the hands that shall never touch us more; the eyes that shall never look good will and love into ours again, and say “She is dead”. But the angels on the other side, as her ransomed spirit released from its prison house of clay, washed in the blood of the Lamb, sweeps through the gates of the New Jerusalem, shout: “Another soul in holy triumph has quit the walks of men and entered upon the higher eternal life before the throne of God”. While our hearts are filled with sympathy for those who have been bereaved by this event, through out tears we thank God for the life of Sister Thrall and for her influence that lingers still among us. Of such the Master has said, “They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy”. May God sustain our brother in the ministry in this his “lonely night of sorrow”. May God comfort and keep the aged mother, the brothers, the daughter, the sons, and all connected with this family by nature or association, and when at last all of God’s children are gathered home may not one of you be left out. How blessed the thought that free from pain and care our friends wait to greet us, and to bid us welcome home.

  There is an hour of peaceful rest To mournful wanderers given; There is a joy for souls distressed, A balm for every wounded breast, ’Tis found above in Heaven. There is a home for weary souls, By sin and sorrow driven, When tossed on life’s tempestuous shoals, Where storms arise and ocean rolls And all is drear, ’tis Heaven. There fragrant flowers immortal bloom And joys supreme are given; There rays divine disperse the gloom, Beyond the confines of the tomb Appears the dawn of Heaven.”; Happy, happy soul, having suffered with thy Lord, thou are crowned at last and the dawn of eternity is upon thy brow.

Notes:

Graduation:
The first female graduate of McKendree College.

Notes:

Walter G Thrall's 1862 genealogy book says that he had four children.

Worthy married Hannah JamesOhio, USA. Hannah was born in 1809 in Ohio, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Bone Gap, Edwards, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Married:
Had four children.

William married Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]