William is the grandson of the famed A. D. Shadd and nephew of diarist Garrison Shadd. He farms with the help of his growing children and they help others thresh around North Buxton. He ditches, plants barley, corn and sugar beets and makes several trips into Chatham. His children attend SS#13, a mixed race school and have a piano. In September he travels by train to a church convention in Sandwich. On his return he takes his daughters to the Chatham fair to see the fireworks.