WILLIAM H. ARRISON was born in Camden, New Jersey around 1856. His father passed away at some point during the 1860s. It is possible that his father may have been William Arrison, a machinist, who died in November of 1868. 

The 1870 Census William H. Arrison living with his widowed mother Elizabeth, younger siblings Maggie and John, and his older sisters Sarah and Mary. Mary had recently married David Sparks, a veteran of the Civil War who worked as a cigar maker. When the census was taken in 1870 Sarah Arrison was also working as a cigar maker. William H. Arrison, then 12,  would learn the cigar maker's trade in the early 1870s, and would follow it and operate tobacco shops in Camden until 1930.

The 1872 Camden City Directory shows the David Sparks and the Arrisons living at 515 Benson Street. By 1878 William H. Arrison had learned his trade and had opened a tobacco shop at 443 South 5th Street. He was still living with his mother, who had remarried. the 1878 Directory shows his residence as 569 Berkley Street. The 1879 Directory and 1880 Census show him 570 Berkley Street.

Directories during the 1880s and 1890s show William Arrison moving around South Camden and working in the cigar trade. The 1883 Directory show William H. Arrison at 588 Clinton Street. The 1885 edition states that he was living in Philadelphia, but coming back to Camden to work for George Grant and his brother William Grant, who had a saloon and a cigar factory on Market Street. The Directories from 1887 through 1894 indicate William H. Arrison lived and did business at 1642 Ferry Avenue. 1895 and 1896 Directories show William H. Arrison in business at 929 Broadway.

By 1898 William H. Arrison had opened a cigar store at 701 Clinton Street, which he operated until December of 1930 when he retired and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida to live with his daughter Mary and her husband, Charles Ketcham.

William H. Arrison married Mary J. Hazleton. On September 20, 1890 in Camden a daughter, Mary S. Arrison was born.