When William Gibbs Long was born on 28 February 1827, in Jackson, Jackson, Ohio, United States, his father, Christopher Ware Long, was 25 and his mother, Mary Jane McBride, was 20. He married Pyrenee Ann Smith on 2 December 1849, in Columbia City, Columbia Township, Whitley, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Fayette Township, Decatur, Iowa, United States in 1860 and Rock Creek Township, Wabaunsee, Kansas, United States in 1880. He died on 27 July 1917, in Lewistown, Fergus, Montana, United States, at the age of 90, and was buried in Lewistown, Fergus, Montana, United States.