His death certificate records William Joseph Adkins, age 69 years 29 days, born 24 Mar 1854 in Kentucky, died 23 Apr 1923 in Portsmouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, residence 2017 5th St., married, farmer, father Owen Adkins, mother’s maiden name Fannie Lewis, both born in Kentucky, cause of death traumatic pneumonia, informant Henry Adkins, burial in Fairview, Ky.

It is likely that the birth date is off by two years; he was recorded as age 4 in the 1860 census, with an older brother Brackston age 6.