Williem was a merchant and storeowner, and quite a leading citizen in the coummunity. He was listed as a witness on the 1880 wedding certificate of John W. Van Beynum. He was listed in the 1860 federal census in the 9th District of Milwaukee, which is where his wedding was conducted in 1862. His name is misspelled in the census, and appears as Van Bynam. The census information is interesting, he was 24 years of age, and a painter, with two sons (John W. 3 years and Hermann, 5 months).928