William was raised in Downers Grove. Seeking fortune in the Colorado gold rush of the 1880s, he left Downers in 1886 for Leadville. He made his home in Colorado. While the exact circumstances are not known, William was killed in rioting between union and nonunion mine workers on the night of July 7, 1904. His body was returned to Downers Grove to be buried in the family plot.
Note: The date of birth on the replacement headstone is incorrect.
