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- William left home when he was sixteen to make his home with his uncle, Richard A. Bradley. In 1855 he moved to Warren County, Illinois, where he remained until 1859 when he returned to Jackson County, Illinois.
In July of 1861 he enlisted in Company I, 10th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in as a Sergeant at Chester, Illinois on 3 August 1861 for the term of three years. In April 1862 the regiment was sent to New Madrid, and from there to Island No. 10. The regiment was engaged in the first campaign at Corinth, Mississippi and in Alabama and Tennessee, taking part in the march to Knoxville, and for several months on duty around Nashville. It took part in the engagements at Dalton Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. He was discharged at Resville, Georgia on 1 Jan 1864 and re-enlisted as a Private (Veteran) in his same company. After the capture of Atlanta the regiment was involved in the March to the Sea, the capture of Savannah and the subsequent campaign through the Carolinas and Virginia. The regiment took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C. William was honorably discharged on 4 July 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky. He was 5'10", dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.
After the war William bought a farm in Jackson County, Illinois, which he operated until 1875 when he moved to Watson, Effingham County, Illinois and started a truck farm. He was elected to numerous township offices, serving for four years as a member of the County Central Committee and as a delegate to numerous County and State conventions. He also served as Police Magistrate. He joined the Masonic lodge in 1865, belonged to the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, serving as Commander of the Watson Post in 1910. On 13 November 1890 he applied and recieved an invalid pension.
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1835 - 1917 (81 years)