William S. Stryker was born around 1838 in New Jersey to Abram and Harriet Stryker. His father was a postmaster who owned $1,000 of real estate by 1850. He grew up and attended school in Princeton, New Jersey. He married Mary du Bois, and they had at least four children: William, born around 1862; Edward, born around 1864; Mary, born around 1867; and Harriet, born around 1869.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on May 27, 1861, and he mustered in as a sergeant in Company D of the 83^rd New York Infantry. The regiment took part in the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg. He was promoted to 2^nd lieutenant on July 1, 1861. Then, on December 10, 1863, he was promoted to 1^st lieutenant and transferred to the Signal Corps. He mustered out on August 29, 1865.

 

He settled in New York City after the war, and he earned a living as a bookkeeper. A decade later, he was working as an accountant. He died of pneumonia on April 17, 1885, in Melrose, New York.

SOURCES