The name of William B. Thrall deserves a special niche in the Temple of Ohio Freemasonry, for few men enjoyed the success and admiration that he did, both as a citizen and a Mason. Brother Thrall was born in Rutland, Vermont on June 18, 1789, the son of Jesse and Mabel Rose Thrall. Of Puritan decent, he was educated in Vermont and at an early age learned the art of a printer in the office of The Rutland Herald. Upon completing his apprenticeship at the age of nineteen, he traveled on foot to Granville, Ohio. In 1819 he moved to Circleville, Ohio and there established a paper known as The Olive Branch. Published under several names, it finally, in 1832, became known as The Circleville Herald. In 1846 Brother Thrall acquired the controlling interest in The Ohio State Journal of Columbus, Ohio, and was its manager and Editor-in-Chief for four years. His eloquent writings, both for the Masonic Fraternity and for the newspaper world, are a joy to read, and certainly are a marvel of achievement for one who left school at an early age to learn a trade.
In 1822 Brother Thrall was married to Nancy Graham, who died the following year. In 1825 he married Marie Rockwell, to which union were born nine children.
In Circleville, Brother Thrall occupied at various times the position of Recorder, Mayor, from 1830 to 1838, member of the State Legislature 1837-1839, Judge of the Common pleas Court of Pickaway County 1845-1846. He was the first controller of the Ohio State Treasurer from 1858-62 and a Trustee of the Central Ohio Lunatic Asylum from 1864-1873.
Brother Thrall was raised a Master Mason on November 2, 1820 in Pickaway Lodge No. 23, Circleville, Ohio, and served as Worshipful Master in 1825 and 1826. Upon moving to Columbus, he affiliated with Columbus Lodge No. 30, and in 1848 was elected Master of that Lodge, a position he held for eight years.
In the Grand Lodge of Ohio, he was elected Grand Junior Deacon in 1825 and 1829, Grand Junior Warden in 1834, Deputy Grand Master from 1835 to 1843, and Most Worshipful Grand Master from 1843 to 1846.
Upon the formation of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia in 1865, M. W. Brother Thrall was privileged to install the first Grand Lodge Officers of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia.
Of particular interest one should note that M. W. Brother Thrall was the first Mason in Ohio to preside over The Grand Lodge of Ohio, The Grand Chapter of Ohio, The Grand Council of Ohio, and The Grand Commandery of Ohio.
Death came to M. W. Brother Thrall on June 7, 1873, while a resident of Columbus, and he was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus Ohio, Section G, Lot 53, with Masonic honors.
Thrall Lodge No. 170 of Fredericktown, chartered on October 18, 1849 is named in honor of M. W. Brother William B. Thrall.