William Henry Matkins was born on May 19, 1889 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Matkins was a farmer in McIver, North Carolina, when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was inducted into the service in September of that year and served in the 322nd Infantry and 119th Infantry. From May 1918 to April 1919, Matkins was deployed overseas. He was honorably discharged from the service on April 8, 1919. He died in Reidsville (Rockingham County) on July 12, 1954.