 While playing for the Pekin Celestials of the Illinois–Missouri League in 1911 and 1912, he met Jennie Piro of Pekin, Illinois.They were married on December 31, 1912 in Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri and the wedding license reads that he was William L. Smith of Adair, Mayes County, Oklahoma.As late as June 5, 1917 he registered as William Lincoln Smith on his U.S. World War I draft registration card and stated that he was employed with the Bloomington ball team in Bloomington, Illinois.