William Henry Stapley was born May 8,1865, at Toquerville, Washington County, Utah. He was the son of Thomas Stapley and Mary Ann Bliss. He moved as a young man to Arizona with his parents who were called to help build up the Arizona Territory. The family settled in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, before 1888.

While living in Mesa, William met and married Mary Ellen Billingsley on November 27, 1888. Mary Ellen was the daughter of Elijah Randolph Billingsley and Mary Degraw. She was born on August 20, 1864, in Provo, Utah County, Utah, and had moved to Arizona with her parents.

The young couple made their home in Mesa where their oldest three children were born. After the birth of their daughter, Mary Ellen, in 1893, the Stapleys moved to the Gila Valley, settling in Thatcher, Graham County, Arizona. They lived in Thatcher until 1899 when they moved to Eden, living directly south of the Eden School House. It was while living in this house that William and Mary saw the need for a store. Stephen Wilson had a small store in the Mormon Church's tithing office. When he moved from Eden in 1899, the Stapleys opened a small store in their home.

It was reported in the local paper in 1900 that Mary Stapley, the business woman of Eden, went to Pima to purchase goods. It also mentioned William's new show case as being a beauty, and that it showed off a fine assortment of jewelry, etc. to a good advantage.

In 1902, the family moved back to Thatcher where they lived for several years. About 1914, William and Mary again moved their family to Eden where they lived for about two years before moving across the river to Cork where they purchased a store. On November 22, 1916, a post office was established in Cork, and Mary Stapley was made post master. She continued at this job until November 30, 1918, when the post office was discontinued. The Stapley family moved to the Phoenix area where they lived the remainder of their lives. Mary died in Phoenix on March 24, 1926, and was buried in the Mesa Cemetery. William Henry lived alone until his death on July 22, 1951, in Phoenix. He was buried next to his wife in Mesa. He was 86 years old.

William Henry and Mary Ellen were the parents of eight children: William Henry (Bessie Ramsey), Thomas Leslie (Beulah Dee Waddell), Mary Ellen (Charles Boren), Myrtle (1. Charles Harry Spafford 2. Grover Lee Pickett), Alta Meleta (John Ivan Matthews), Delbert Leroy (Nina Belle Johnston), Leona Clarence Ellsworth ) and Jacquelina (1. Edward Emil Stein, 2. Albert Edward Moore).