The following information is from James E. Coughlin, who has collected work of the artist and interviewed local people in Free Acres, New Jersey about him:

Uncle Bill organized the Lochsley Archers in his home community called Free Acres, New Jersey. In a few years time, they were winning state competitions. He often wore a special outfit during his daily routines.

Will was an expert archer. I had interviewed a woman in the area and she had stated that when she was young Will had seen her sister crying. Will asked what the problem was and found out that she had broken her"store bought" long bow. In two days time Will made her a long bow from wood he had, carved his LA monogram above the grip and gave it to the young girl with his compliments.

Everyone in his community, "Free Acres",referred to and called him Uncle Bill. He was cherished by everyone who knew him. He was a free spirit and went out of his way for everyone or anyone in need. He had created marionettes, carved and painted all the street signs in Free Acres ( a one tax community ) which is now in Berkeley Heights, N.J. He was into conservation. If anyone in the community wanted to cut a tree down with a diameter of more than four inches, they had to plead their case to Will Crawford.

" Uncle Bill " had carved and painted signs for friend's front doors, everything from elves and gnomes to Pegasus, in flight, with his friend Thorne Smith (famous author ) falling off his back. That particular sign was titled "The Flop" because Thorne's career was not doing well at the time. Will also had designed and built some furniture with hand wrought iron legs.

He was a master craftsman. When he decided to build a log cabin as an art studio, he hired Jimmy Cagney for fifty cents an hour to help him build it. Jimmy was unemployed at the time from stage dancing in Vaudeville, and took the job readily. Jimmy was about eighteen to twenty years old when he helped Will with his project. Jimmy and Will were to become life-long friends. They corresponded with one another throughout their lives. In later years, Will was working for Cagney in Hollywood, for Cagney Productions and had carved eight wooden panels for Jim's home.