William W. Morrell was born around 1838 in Virginia to Jacob and Mary Morrell. His father was a farmer who owned $10,000 of real estate and $15,000 of personal property by 1860. He grew up in Washington County, Virginia, and by 1860, he was also working as a farmer. He owned $300 of personal property.
He enlisted in the Confederate army on May 14, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. The regiment took part in the First Battle of Manassas, the Peninsula campaign, the Seven Days’ Battles, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg. He died near Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on July 16, 1863.