William S. Denison was born in Colrain, Massachusetts on November 13, 1794 as the youngest of eight children.
Denison attended Ohio University studying scientific farming methods.
Denison was a longtime member of the Salem Baptist Church in Adamsville.
In 1853, William S. Denison pledged $10,000 toward the Granville College, which was a Baptist school.
Honoring an earlier commitment, the trustees accordingly changed the name of the institution to Denison University.