Son of Albert D. and Sarah Nash Voyles. Very little is known about William's parents and what information that is available is conflicted. Albert appears to have been born about 1856 in Stauton, Illinois; census of 1880 shows Albert Voiles, age 24, a laborer in Salem, Dent County, Missouri (father born North Carolina, mother born Canada) with wife Margaret, age 23, born Texas (father born Pennsylvania, mother born Tennessee) and son William L. Voiles, age 3 months, born Missouri. There is conflicting information as to if William was born in Dent or Shannon County. Albert appears to possibly have died about 1890 in Iron County, Missouri. Alternately, William's mother is given to be Sarah E. Nash, born Shannon County, Missouri. The census of 1870 found in Moore Township, Shannon County, a Sarah Nash, age 14, born Missouri (about 1856), daughter of David Nash (farmer, age 40, born Kentucky) and Louisa Nash (age 30, born Kentucky); and is possibly the Sarah Nash Voyles who died in St. Louis, Missouri 26 Jan. 1915 and is buried in Concordia Cemetery (though records indicate she was born in 1832 and so would have been too old to have been the mother of the given children).

[There was an unconfirmed early marriage for William -- Application for License to Marry, Cole County, Missouri, 22 March 1901; W.M Voiles of Jefferson City, age 20; and May Smallwood, age 29. Marriage License, Cole County, Missouri, 22 March 1901; W.M. Voiles, of Jefferson City, County of Cole, age under 21; and Miss May Smallwood, age over 18; Mrs. Sarah M. Voiles, mother of W.M. Voiles gives her assent to marriage.]

William Louis Voyles married Katie Ann Wilson 11 Nov. 1905 at Festus, Jefferson Co., Missouri. The marriage records name him as "W.M. Voils". His name was given as "W.M. Voyles" in his wife's 1927 obituary. The couple later separated and in 1917 their living children were placed at the Girls' Industrial Home in St. Louis. At one time he served in the United State Cavalry, probably sometime between 1908 and 1912.

1918 World War I Draft Registration shows him to be a laborer at Crundon Martin Metal in St. Louis, nearest relative Mrs. Mary Williams (of E. St. Louis, IL). Census of 1920 has William Voiles living with his brother Jackson Voiles in St. Louis; William is listed as married, but no other family is shown with him.

In the late 1920's, William lived with his daughters in Massillon, Ohio. In 1930 he was with his daughter Ethel in Bangert, Dent Co., Missouri. By 1940 he was living in Bonne Terre, Missouri, in the house of his sister and brother-in-law, Mae and Coy Williams; he was not working. When he died in 1946 he was living with his brother, Jackson I. Voyles, also in Bonne Terre. His Death Certificate lists cause as stomach cancer.

William's brothers, Calvin M. Voyles and Jackson I. Voyles, and their sister, May Voyles Williams are all buried at Bonne Terre Cemetery. At this time, it appears that the graves of 3 brothers are all unmarked.

Missouri Death Certificate:

William Louis Voyles

407 Ash St., Bonne Terre

St. Francois County

widower of Katie Wilson Voyles

born Feb. 28, 1880; Shannon Co., Missouri

died=Sept. 25, 1946, @3:15 P.M.

age=66y 6m 27d

Carcinoma of Stomach, after 1 year

father=Albert Voyles, b. Illinois

mother=Sarah Nash, b. Shannon Co., Missouri

veteran; retired

Benham Und. Co., 313 Benham, Bonne Terre

burial=Sept. 28, 1946, B.T. Cemetery

information from=Mrs. Mae Williams, 53 Mound, Bonne Terre