William Charles Dexter was born on March 18, 1891. His parents were Henry C. Dexter and Clara Tisdale Dexter. He attended Black River High School through 1907. One year of advanced work at Black River High School, one year at Watertown High School and graduated in 1909. He attended Syracuse University from September 1909 to April 1910 and September 1912 to April 1915 and graduated with a degree in
Mechanical Engineering. His awards included the Valedictorian Class of 1915 at Syracuse University, Class Orator PHI BETA KAPPA KEY from Syracuse University and TAU BETA PI Honorary Engineering Fraternity Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Upon graduation from Syracuse University, William C. Dexter worked for Eaton & Brownell Engineering of Watertown, NY until entering the U.S. Army in April of 1917. On April 19, 1917, he reported to Camp Dix, NJ assigned to Foxtrot Company, 311th Infantry, 78th Division. He departed the U.S. on May 19, 1918 for duty in France. On October 17, 1918 while engaging in a mass attack on German Forces while trying to retake the West Bank of the Aire River in the Argonne Forest near Grand-Pre' France, William C. Dexter was killed in action at the age of 27. He was originally buried on November 18, 1918, but was removed and replaced at a designated U.S. Serviceman's Cemetery at Romagne, France (Sec. 29, Plot 2, Grave 74). He was then returned to the United States on October 6, 1921 for burial in Black River Cemetery. The Black River American Legion Post 673 was established in April of 1923 and the membership chose to name it in honor of William C. Dexter.
