William Ezra Northey was born February 11, 1869, to William M. Northey (1829-1900) and Margaret (Anthony) Northey (1833- ); he was one of four sons born to them. William M. was engaged in maritime trade, partial owner of three vessels, and worked at the Salem Marine Insurance Company. He also invested in railroad stocks for himself and his family and by 1871 was sufficiently affluent to fund the erection of a building on the corner of Washington and Essex Streets.

William E. was a shareholder in the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company. In the 1920 census, he is listed as an insurance agent. Northey appears to have had an interest in ship architecture and model ships. He married Mary Daland Shreve on September, 7, 1907. They had three children, William S., John T., and Cynthia W. He died on November 8, 1942.