William Sheehan Sr. was born in Nebraska in 1866. He came to Dakota Territory as a Missouri River steamboat hand.
He came to Carrington about 1890 and worked as a carpenter and steam engineer. Later he owned his own steam-threshing outfit. He served as police chief in Carrington for a short time.
He married Mary McCoy in August 1893. Mary was the daughter of an early pioneer, Patrick McCoy.
The Sheehans had six children: William Jr., Loretta, Louise, Cecilia, Marguerite, and James.
Mr. Sheehan spent his last years living with a daughter in Seattle. He died in December 1937. Mrs. Sheehan died in 1944. They are buried at Carrington.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 38B