When William Schlesser was born on 13 March 1892, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States, his father, John Schlesser Sr., was 50 and his mother, Roselia Harter, was 30. He had at least 1 son and 5 daughters with Linda Muench. He lived in Glencoe, Buffalo, Wisconsin, United States in 1910 and Lincoln, Buffalo, Wisconsin, United States for about 10 years. He died on 3 August 1953, in Wabasha, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 61.