William Kirkwood was a Publican and owned the Railway Hotel, from 1876, which was at the corner of Grahams Rd and Macfarlane Crescent. His business became affected as a consequence of the Falkirk and District Tramways Scottish Office Provisional Order to lay tramways and the decision of the North British Railway to construct an overbridge (Grahamston Bridge) in the line of Grahams Rd and Vicars St, Grahamston to carry the street over the railway, which resulted in his hotel having to be knocked down and rebuilt.

He was married to Jane Shanks and their children were John Arthur Kirkwood, Marion Arthur Kirkwood or Sprout, William David Kirkwood (Spirit Merchant, Grahams Rd), Jeanie Cullen Kirkwood and Robert (1) Arthur Kirkwood.