William Harold Sample was born April 13, 1844 in Coosa County, Alabama. His parents were Felix and Elizabeth Sample. He married Lucinda Francis Goolsby, daughter of Flemming and Charlotte Goolsby. William Harold Sample died in Prairie County, Arkansas on September 29, 1909 and is buried in the Center Point Cemetery.

William enlisted as a private in Captain Stubblefield's Company, Hilliard's Legion, Alabama Volunteers. He later became a 4th Corporal, Company "C" 59th Alabama Regiment.

Descendants believe William became a spy for the Confederate Army in 1863 according to his July/Aug 1863 Muster-in-Roll card located in the National Archives in Washington D.C. It reads: "Absent with leave sent into Ky by General Gracie on secret service May 23, 1863".

William joined the Union Army on December 29, 1863 as a private in Co. "K", 61st Regiment of Illinois Infantry Veterans Volunteers commanded by John G. McCoy. According to family research, Company "K" spent much of their time in Little Rock and points between Little Rock and DeValls Bluff, Arkansas.

A pension of $12.00 per month was granted to William on October 2, 1909 which went to his wife Lucinda. She died in Prairie County on July 7, 1927 and is buried next to William at Center Point.