His parents were probably Thomas Draper and Priscilla Breeden. He had a brother named Thomas (FAG #120501738). Both brothers left Virginia. William migrated to Butler County, Ohio, and Thomas migrated to Decatur County, Indiana. (William later moved to Decatur County as well.)

William Draper had five wives. He first married Rachel Skiles (or Skyles) on September 11, 1807.

After she died, he married Deborah Jennings, on March 8, 1822.

After she died, he married Grace Hunter, on October 27, 1830.

After she died, he married Rachel Hilmar, on September 17, 1837. (Some people claim Rachel's last name was Havelik, but the marriage certificate clearly says it was Hilmar.)

After she died, he married Mrs. Sarah Harris Jennings, on August 9, 1842. Sarah was a widow, and her first husband was Isaac Jennings. Isaac was a brother to Deborah Jennings, William Draper's second wife. So Sarah married her dead husband's dead sister's husband.

William Draper buried his last three wives in the Asbury Cemetery in Decatur County, Indiana, all in a row with matching gravestones. Each one was identified by which wife they were: "3rd wife of William Draper," "4th wife of William Draper," and "5th wife of William Draper."

He then moved to White County, Illinois, and lived with some of his children.

He was buried in a small family cemetery, on his farm, which is now owned by some other people. But they have no respect for the dead and they have destroyed the cemetery. They flipped over the gravestones and now use them as a walkway to their front door.

Thankfully, one of William Draper's descendants happened to find his gravestone laying on the ground and took this photograph, before the little cemetery was destroyed.

William Draper may have been from Front Royal, Virginia. If you have any information about William Draper, please contact me.