William A. Scouton was born May 20, 1861, and was raised in New York. He moved to Missouri in 1877. In the spring of 1884, Scouton moved to Inkster, North Dakota, where sometime later he purchased a 400-acre farm. On February 4, 1891, Scouton married Nancy Mahon. Both Scoutons participated in Inkster organizations. She was a member of the Ladies Aid Society at the Methodist Episcopal Church, while he pitched for Inkster's baseball team and later acted as its secretary.

After a few years in Inkster, Scouton turned from farming to business. His first business involved selling farm machinery. His second, "W.A. Scouton Broker, Loans, and Collections," dealt with the purchase and sale of farms in the Red River Valley. "Reiton and Scouton" was his third business and it sold furniture, carpets, and undertaking goods. In connection with this business, Scouton acted as Inkster's funeral director. In addition to his farming and business interests, at times Scouton served as a deputy sheriff and as Inkster's postmaster.

William A. Scouton died August 22, 1936.