William W. Root was born around 1844 in Ohio to Timothy and Adeline Root. His father was a farmer who owned $4,500 of real estate and $2,050 of personal property by 1860. Root grew up and attended school in Austinburg, Ohio. He enlisted in the Union army on February 24, 1864, and he mustered in as a private in Company C of the 60th Ohio Infantry on April 5. He died at North Anna River, Virginia, on May 25, 1864.