William Scott Hersperger, eldest child of Julia Ann (née Scott) and Henry Hersperger, was born in 1817 in Frederick County, Maryland, and was named after his maternal grandfather. He was a merchant and farmer.

William S. Hersperger and Sarah Ann Willard (daughter of Catherine (née Biser) and Abraham Willard) were married on 16 February 1846 in Frederick County. She died only 16 months later. The couple had two children, Effagene and Joseph, who both died in infancy.

William S. "Hershberger" and Ann Biser were married on 23 October 1849 in Frederick County. Ann was a niece of her husband's first wife. The couple had five children. Ann died in 1874 at the age of 56.

William S. Hersperger married a third time, to Mary E. C. Keller, in the mid- to late 1870s, probably in Frederick County. (Neither the marriage record nor an announcement have been found.)

Notes

"William [Hersperger] was a teacher in early life, later becoming a farmer. He was a very successful raiser of bees and devoted his last years to that enterprise largely. During the war he organized a military company, of which he was chosen the captain. His death occurred when he was in this seventieth year." Graduated Mercersburg College in Pennsylvania. (Bio. of Col. Tilghman Thomas Hersperger in: Portrait and Biographical Record of the Sixth Congressional District, Maryland (New York: Chapman Publishing Company, 1898), p. 242.)

Marriage license: Ann Biser & William S. "Hershberger," 23 Oct 1849, Frederick Co., Maryland. (Ancestry.com. Maryland, Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.) (Wedding announced in: The Examiner News, Frederick, Maryland, 25 Oct 1849.)

1850 U.S. Census, Petersville Dist., Frederick Co., Maryland; dwelling 224, family 231, lines 27-28, p. 392B (printed), 25 Sep 1850.
27. William S. Hersperger, 33, merchant ($1,500), Maryland.
28. Ann -----, 33, Maryland.
[…]
38. Sophia Biser [head], 59, ($9,250), Maryland.

1860 U.S. Census, Jefferson Dist., Frederick Co., Maryland; dwelling 358, family 349, lines 35-40 & 1-3, pp. 48-49 (written), 17 Jul 1860.
35. William "Kershperger" [head], 43 ($6,300; $3,390), Maryland.
36. Annie -----, 43, Maryland.
37. Fannie -----, 10, Maryland.
38. Tilghman -----, 8, Maryland.
38. Daniel -----, 6, Maryland.
40. Mary -----, 3, Maryland.
1. George Reed, 12, Maryland.
2. Mary Scott, 60, Maryland.
3. George Keafanfer, 21, Maryland.

1870 U.S. Census, Dist. 14 (Jefferson), Frederick Co., Maryland; dwelling 1, family 1, lines 4-11, p. 535 (printed), p. 29 (written), 8 Aug 1870. (Post Office: Adamstown)
4. Hersperger, W. S., 53, farmer ($10,800; $3,000), Maryland.
5. ----- Ann, 53, Maryland.
6. ----- Fannie, 18, Maryland.
7. ----- Tighlman, 17, farm labor., Maryland.
8. ----- Daniel, 14, Maryland.
9. ----- Molly, 12, Maryland.
10. ----- Elizabeth, 10, Maryland.
11. Smith, Hattie, 11, Maryland.
• William Scott Hersperger's third wife, Mary E. C. Keller, enumerated on p. 533 (printed), p. 25 (written).

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 87, Jefferson, Frederick Co., Maryland; dwelling 61, family 64, lines 30-33, p. 435 (printed), p. 7 (written), 3 Jun 1880.
30. Hersperger, William 63 [head], retired farmer, Maryland.
31. ----- Mary, 42, wife, keeping house, Maryland.
32. ----- Mollie, 20, daughter, keeping house, Maryland.
33. ----- Lizzie, 18, daughter, at home, Maryland.

"Jefferson, July 5.—Mr. William S. Hersperger, an old and respected citizen, died at his residence in this place last Thursday [30 Jun...] The funeral took place from the Reformed church on Saturday evening at 4 o'clock. He was 69 years, 10 months and 25 days of age and leaves five children, two single daughters at home, one married in California and two sons near Denver, Colorado." (William S. Hersperger obit. in: "County Correspondence," The Daily News, Frederick, Maryland, 6 Jul 1887, p. 4.)

William S. Hersperger obit. in: "Jefferson Jottings," The Daily News, Frederick, Maryland, 6 Jul 1887, p. 4.

Reviewed 15 April 2022.