On March 12, 1856, William's parents, Cyrus Doty and Charlotte Aplington, were married. When his mother was just 6, her father (William's grandfather) died at nearby Aplington, Iowa, a town which he and his brother Zenath had founded.

Mr. and Mrs. Doty became the parents of twelve children:
1. Samuel N, who died at age of 46
2. William N, of Butler County
3. Mary, at home
4. Edith, wife of Mitchell McDonald of OK
5. Charles, living in Osage, Iowa
6. James, who died in infancy
7. Nellie, wife of C N Richards, of IL
8. Rose, widow of W C Guptell
9. Simon Harvey, of Stillwater, Oklahoma
10. Lillian Catharine, who died at age 38
11. Myrtle, wife of Frank Davis, Butler Co.
12. Rev. Earl Isaac Doty, missionary and student
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: William A. Doty
Birth Year: abt 1858 in Illinois (Polo, Ogle, IL)
Home in 1880: Monroe, Butler, Iowa
Spouse's Name: Martha Doty
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members: William A. Doty (22), Martha Doty (20), Ada Doty (1).

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: William Doty
Birth: Mar 1858 in Illinois
Home in 1900: Clarksville, Butler, Iowa
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Martha A Doty
Marriage Year: 1879; Years Married: 21
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Day Laborer
Household Members: William Doty (42), Martha A Doty (39), Lottie M Doty (17) housekeeper, William M Doty (11), Mitchell R Doty (9), Grace E Doty (5).

1910 United States Federal Census
Home in 1910: Beaver, Butler, Iowa
Household Members: William N Doty (52), Martha Doty (50), Grace Doty (15), Byron Doty (9).

1920 United States Federal Census
Home in 1920: Butler, Butler, Iowa
Home Owned: Own
Able to Read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: William N Doty (61), Martha Doty (59), Mitchell Doty (29), Byron Doty (19).

Source: Ancestry.com Family Trees (accuracy not guaranteed)
Name: William Nathan Doty
Birth: 6 Mar 1858 - Polo, Ogle, Illinois
Death: 5 Mar 1941 - South Dakota
Father: Cyrus Doty (1834-1912)
Mother: Charlotte Aplington (1836-1927)
Spouse: Martha Pamela McCrery (1860-1923)
Married: 1878
Children:
Ada (1879-) or Ada Leona (1880-1935)
Cyrus (1881-1896)
Charlotte May (1883-1958)
Mark Cornelius (1885-1893)
Glenn (1887-)
William McCrery (1888-1969)
Mitchell Randolph (1891-1968)
Grace Eva (1894-1969)
Byron Luther (1900-1972)