William Jasper Srofe was born around 1842 in Ohio to David Srofe and Sarah Thompson. His father died sometime before 1850, and he grew up with his mother and grandparents in Pike, Ohio. His mother married Francis Myers in May 1851, and Srofe was living with them in 1860. Srofe enlisted in the Union army on April 25, 1861, and mustered in as a private in Company I of the 12^th Ohio Infantry on May 4, 1861. On November 23, 1861, he was promoted to sergeant and transferred to Company K of the 48^th Ohio Infantry. He was captured at Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana, on April 8, 1864, and imprisoned in Tyler, Texas. He was exchanged on October 23, 1864, and returned to his regiment. He was eventually promoted to 1^st lieutenant of Company D of the 83^rd Ohio Infantry, and he mustered out in May 1866.

 

Srofe married Sarah Melissa Espey in Scott, Ohio, on May 9, 1867, and they had at least four children: John, born around 1870; William, born around 1872; Louanna, born around 1878; and Charles, born around 1882. He graduated from the Medical College of Ohio and began working as a doctor by the late 1860s. The family lived in Brown County, Ohio, and Srofe owned $1,500 of real estate and $400 of personal property in 1870. They moved to Dodson, Ohio, sometime between 1880 and 1900. Srofe died there on November 21, 1912.

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