William Henry Medill was born at Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, where his parents and older siblings moved in 1832. After 1855 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, probably because his older brother Joseph Medill had become the editor of the Chicago Tribune. In Chicago, William Medill worked for the Chicago Tribune. There is no record of a marriage or children.
In the Civil War, he joined the 8th Illinois Calvary and participated in several battles and rose to the rank of Major in the Union Army. After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, he joined the pursuit of Lee's army. At Williams-port, Maryland, on the Potomac River, where the Confederate army was trying to cross into Virginia, Major Medill was shot, and died of his wounds a few days later, perhaps at Willaimsport or perhaps at Frederick, Maryland. His body was returned to Chicago where he is buried with his brothers in Graceland Cemetery.
William Medill and his brothers James, Joseph, and Samuel have memorials to them inscribed on the grave monument of their parents at West Lawn Cemetery, Canton, Ohio. See Find A Grave memorial #31662242.
Bio by Ronald Decker, Chicago, Illinois.

William Henry Medill was born at Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, where his parents and older siblings moved in 1832. After 1855 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, probably because his older brother Joseph Medill had become the editor of the Chicago Tribune. In Chicago, William Medill worked for the Chicago Tribune. There is no record of a marriage or children.
In the Civil War, he joined the 8th Illinois Calvary and participated in several battles and rose to the rank of Major in the Union Army. After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, he joined the pursuit of Lee's army. At Williams-port, Maryland, on the Potomac River, where the Confederate army was trying to cross into Virginia, Major Medill was shot, and died of his wounds a few days later, perhaps at Willaimsport or perhaps at Frederick, Maryland. His body was returned to Chicago where he is buried with his brothers in Graceland Cemetery.
William Medill and his brothers James, Joseph, and Samuel have memorials to them inscribed on the grave monument of their parents at West Lawn Cemetery, Canton, Ohio. See Find A Grave memorial #31662242.
Bio by Ronald Decker, Chicago, Illinois.