William J. Crangle, who has become prominently identified with the legal profession during the dozen or more years he has been practicing in St. Johnsville, was born in Williamstown, New York, September 13, 1886, the second child in the family of seven born to Marvin D. and Mary (Whalen) Crangle. His parents are both natives of the Empire state and reside in Fonda, whither they removed in 1891. The father is a blacksmith by trade, but is now retired to enjoy the fruits of forty years of hard labor at the forge.
As William J. Crangle was a little boy of five when the family took up residence in Fonda, it was there that he obtained his early education, attending the public and high schools. After graduating from the latter in 1904 he entered the Albany Law School, where he took his LL. B. degree in 1908. A year from the following autumn he was admitted to the bar of New York and immediately embarked upon the private practice of his chosen profession in his home town of Fonda. In May, 1911, he moved his office to St. Johnsville, where he has been located ever since.
Mr. Crangle was married on the 22d of April, 1913, to Miss Mary Kennedy, daughter of James Kennedy of Johnstown, New York. The young wife died on June 26, 1916, leaving a little son, William J. Crangle, Jr. Mr. Crangle was married the second time, Miss Florence Porter becoming his wife on June 30, 1920. Mrs. Crangle is the daughter of Charles Groff and comes from one of the old families of this section her ancestors having been living here at the time of the Revolution. She belongs to the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a member of the Eastern Star and secretary of the Century Club, in whose work she is most active.
In politics Mr. Crangle has been very active as a republican supporter and for seven years served on the county republican committee. He was village attorney for six years and village clerk from 1917 to 1921, in addition to which he served as justice of the peace for eight years. Although he was registered in the draft during the World war, he did not see any active military service, for he had not been called to the colors when the armistice brought a welcome end to the great conflict. On the home front, however, he was an energetic participant in the war activities. He made innumerable speeches throughout this section as one of the Four-Minute men and acted as treasurer for the local Red Cross drives. His interest in civic affairs is indicated by his membership in the Exchange Club, in which he is serving as a vice president and he is also affiliated with the St. Johnsville Club. Fraternally Mr. Crangle is an Elk, a member of the lodge at Amsterdam, a Knight of Columbus, belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose, and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. In connection with his professional life he maintains membership in the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Crangle is a good lawyer and has conducted the cases entrusted to him in a manner that has caused the other members of the local bar to remark the quality of his mind and the soundness of his reasoning, while the generous patronage he receives from his fellow citizens reflects the good opinion they have formed of his abilities. When this busy attorney seeks relaxation from the cares of his profession he turns to baseball, camping and fishing. He has a summer home at Piseco Lake, New York, where he spends his vacations in the enjoyment of outdoor life and sports.