Stoddard, William Osborn (1835-1925), was an American author, journalist, and inventor. He was among the first to write that Abraham Lincoln should be elected President of the United States. He served as one of Lincoln's private secretaries from 1861 to 1864. He was United States marshal in Arkansas from 1864 to 1866. Stoddard patented nine inventions and wrote 76 books, including five on Lincoln, 10 on other United States Presidents, and many novels for boys. He was born in Homer, New York.