William was born in the small town of Welgesheim, Rhein-Hessen, Germany to John Anton and Anna Barbara Hessert Scherffius. His date of birth has been in question until now. His gravestone has July 22, 1844, his Bible has July 24, 1843, the LDS translator recorded July 19, 1841. The original page of the birth record from the Roman Catholic Church in Godramstein, Pfalz, Bayern written in Latin lists his birth as "19th Julie 1841". His name is given as Wilhelmus Scherffius.

William immigrated to America with his father, mother, and six brothers: Jacob, John Anton (Jr.), Henry, George, Charles and Frederick. The family sailed on the Andacia leaving Antwerp, Belgium on 5 December 1845. They arrived in Galveston, Texas on 29 March 1846. John Anton (Sr.) had signed an application for 320 acres of land through the Fisher-Miller Colony. Upon their arrival the Colony had not made arrangements for travel to the land. William's mother must have perished here on the beach at Galveston where the immigrants were forced to live awaiting the trip to the Colony. With the yellow fever and hurricanes that have devastated Galveston, records are very sparse.

The Scherffius family stayed in the Galveston area, and when the War Between the States began 4 of the 7 Scherffius sons as well as the father who was 46 years of age enlisted in the Confederacy.

According to his wife's application for pension, William enlisted in the Fall of 1861 with a unit assembled by a local wealthy sugar planter, Benjamin Terry. The unit was called "Terry's Texas Rangers". In a letter written by William he indicated he served in the Battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Chickamauga. When the war was over, William came to Lynnville, Graves Co., Kentucky with a friend from the war. He met a neighbor lady, Lenora Elizabeth Howard, who he married. They had 7 boys and 7 girls who were all together only one time in their lives for a reunion. The annual Scherffius Reunion was begun in 1906. For many years descendants met on the first Saturday in August at the Seay Graveyard where their ancestor now rests. They would then adjourn to the old homeplace for a potluck meal with reminiscing and picture-taking during the afternoon.