When William Nelson Travis was born on 19 June 1894, in Arcadia Township, Lapeer, Michigan, United States, his father, Sillamon Travis, was 41 and his mother, Florence Koyl, was 34. He married Bera Dee Lawrence on 30 November 1920, in Isabella, Delta, Michigan, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Union Township, Isabella, Michigan, United States for about 30 years. He died on 12 April 1991, in Mount Morris, Genesee, Michigan, United States, at the age of 96, and was buried in Flint Cemetery, Genesee, Michigan Territory, United States.