William R. Bach, son of William and Sophia (Koehler) Bach, was born December 10, 1871 in Bloomington, Illinois. He was an attorney in McLean County, Illinois, for over 60 years until his death on December 26, 1955. He served as Bloomington City Attorney from 1897-1901 and 2 terms as states attorney for McLean County in 1905 and 1913.

He first practiced with Sig Livingston until 1917 and later practiced law with his son William J. Bach with offices in the Livingston Building in downtown Bloomington. He was a senior counselor for the Illinois Bar Association and past president of the McLean County Bar Association and Third District Bar Association. In 1900, he authorized a history of the city of Bloomington, Illinois.

He became a 33rd degree Mason in 1913 and was only the second man in Bloomington to achieve the rank. He served as Commander in Chief of the Bloomington Consistory in 1915-1916 and was active in the building of the Bloomington Masonic and Scottish Rite Temple. He served as a president of the Bloomington Rotary Club and was an active member of Wesley Methodist Church.

He married Lelia Frances Means June 17, 1897 they had one son, William J. Bach. She preceded him in death in 1954.