William Wesley Rutledge was born on May 29, 1860 in the New Ireland community of Newton County, Mississippi. He was the eldest child of James William Obediah Rutledge and Mary Belinda Galloway Rutledge.

He died on May 29, 1860 and is buried at Seminary at River Cemetery in Covington County, Mississippi

On December 9, 1879 William Wesley married Mary Louise Miller, daughter of John James and Mary Jane Hudson Miller of Coffee County, Alabama.

They had nine children:

Aquilla Ida Frances Rutledge (1880-1909)

William James Obediah Rutledge (1881-?)

Mary Viola Rutledge (1883-1923)

Alice Victoria Rutledge (1885-1933)

Ella Eloise Rutledge (1890-1915)

Bishop Leroy Rutledge (1893-1939)

Margaret Rutledge (1895-?)

Nellie Ethen Vane Rutledge (1897-1983)

Andrew Emmett Rutledge (1901-1982)