William Short was born February 7, 1863 at Wyskoff, Minnesota. His family moved to Iowa near Riceville. He married Myrtle Miles of Riceville on May 3, 1890. After making their home in Iowa they came to McHenry about 1903. Mr. Short was a carpenter and he built many of the structures in McHenry. Later the family moved to Juanita when the Great Northern Railroad was being built and the new town was being established.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 79B