WILLIAM H. STRANG, a retired farmer living in White Hall, is one of the native sons of Greene county, his birth having there occurred on the 23d of October, 1839. He is thus a representative of one of the old pioneer families and his life record has been in harmony with that of his father, who for many years aided in the substantial improvement of this section of the state. The Strang family had its origin in England. The grandfather, Daniel Strang, came to America from England at an early day, landing at New York, whence he afterward went to Baltimore, where he engaged in merchandising for many years. It was there he was also joined by his wife Sarah, who, also a native of England, had become a resident of Baltimore on crossing the Atlantic. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years, while his wife was ninety-years of age at the time of her death.

Solomon Strang, their son and the father of our subject, was born in Woolworth, England, in 1802, and when only three years old was brought to America. He was reared in Baltimore, Maryland, and after arriving at years of maturity he married Eliza Robinson, was born in Rockland county, New York, a daughter of Alexander Robinson, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Ann McNeil, was also a native of Glasgow. At an early day Solomon Strang came to Greene county, Illinois, and here followed the occupation of farming, transforming a tract of wild land into a richly cultivated farm. He died, however, in 1847, when his son William was but eight years of age. His wife, surviving him for some time, passed away at the age of sixty-five years.

As has been indicated, William H. Strang is of English and Scotch lineage, and in his career has manifested many of the sterling traits inherited from his ancestors of the Anglo-Saxon race. He was but eight years of age at the time of his father's death. He remained, however, upon the old homestead farm, upon which he had been born and which is still in his possession, acquiring his education in the public schools, and early becoming familiar with the labor incident to field and meadow. As his age and strength increased he more and more largely assumed the management of the property until he was in full charge and for many years he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits there, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation and annually adding to his income through the sale of excellent crops. He continued the operation of his farm until 1899 and in 1903 he became a resident of White Hall, where he is now living a retired life and richly merits the rest from further business cares which he is now enjoying.

In 1866 Mr. Strang was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Morrow, a native of this county, and they have four children: Frank who is living in Greenfield, Illinois, and is married and has five children: Mary E., the wife of M. Baldwin; Ella, the wife of T. A. Giller, a resident farmer of this county, by whom she has two children; and Howard, who is living on the homestead farm.

Mr. Strang's father was a Whig in his political views and served as a delegate to the state convention of his party held in Peoria in 1844. The son has become a stanch Republican and has served as school director and supervisor of this township, but while keeping well informed on the issues of the day, he has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to devote his energies to his business affairs, whereby he has own signal success. He is a Presbyterian in his religious faith, and his belief has prompted considerate treatment of his fellowmen, straightforward dealing and honorable conduct in all life's relations and thus gained him an unassailable reputation.