William and his brothers are supporting their widowed mother.  William helps run the home farm and works in Porter’s lumber mill. By 1891, he is living with his older brother Lowry in a house of their own next to their mother’s place. William belongs to the Loyal Orange Lodge and the Independent Order of Good Templars.  He is very interested in politics at the local and federal level and often copies political news from the newspaper.  In January 1892, he records that he has passed his civil service exams.