When William Parker Massey was born on 19 October 1846, in Wayne, Virginia, United States, his father, Basil Davis Massey, was 29 and his mother, Susannah "Susan" Epling, was 29. He married Ida Isadora May on 30 June 1874, in Wright, Minnesota, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Minnesota, United States in 1870 and Victor Township, Wright, Minnesota, United States for about 30 years. He died on 28 April 1930, in Howard Lake, Wright, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Howard Lake, Wright, Minnesota, United States.