Was a farmer and miller. He had flour mills in Morris and Pontiac. He also raised cattle and sheep.116 Andrew Jackson Hartle worked for him after his first wife died. William fed the livestock the mash left from making whiskey. It is said that William hanged himself. The story is that he sent his son-in-law, Smith Shelton, to Chicago with 2 carloads of cattle. Shelton received over $1900 from the sale, but refused to hand over the money. William owed creditors and went to his father to borrow the money. His father refused. William drove his buggy home, unhitched the mule, took a rein and looped it over a hickory tree limb, attached it to his neck and gave the mule a kick.