The Reverend Dr. William Clarke Hauser was a minister, medical doctor, teacher, composer, and music publisher. He was born December 23, 1812 in Bethania, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA, and died September 15, 1880 in Wadley, Jefferson County, Georgia. He was the son of Martin Hauser and Leah Billiter.
William Hauser united with the Methodist Church in 1827 and was licensed to preach in 1834. In 1837, he married Eliza M. Renshaw (1813-1880), and they had three children. He attended Henry College in Virginia, beginning in 1839. After moving to Georgia in 1841, he began the study of medicine. He later taught at Oglethorpe Medical College in Savannah.
Hauser made two significant contributions in the area shape note music: (1) The Hesperian Harp: a Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Odes and Anthems, published in four shapes at Philadelphia by T. K. Collins, Jr. in 1848; and (2) Olive Leaf: A Collection of Beautiful Tunes, New and Old; the Whole of One or More Hymns Accompanying Each Tune, for the Glory of God, and the Good of Mankind, published in seven shapes at Wadley, Georgia, by Hauser and Benjamin Turner in 1878. The Hesperian Harp was probably the largest shape note tune book of its day, containing 552 pages of music, including 36 songs composed by Hauser. His Olive Leaf was produced in the seven shape notes of Jesse B. Aiken and contained only eight of his compositions from the older book. But his new compositions numbered forty-eight. The Moravian Music Foundation calls Dr. William Hauser "Appalachia's most significant contribution to American music."
William and Eliza Hauser are buried on their plantation, Hesperia, in Jefferson County, Georgia.