William Vance Williams was born in Evalin (Iredell County), North Carolina, on September 5, 1860. Williams grew up in Statesville, where he owned a hardware store for several years. He moved his business to North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County) around 1910, where he later became employed as a depot agent for the Watauga and Yadkin Railroad Company. He died at his North Wilkesboro home on September 12, 1920.