WILSON, William "Blind Billy"
William Wilson was born in Fleming County, Kentucky on the 23rd day of September in 1808 and died 26 March 1891 Russell Township, Putnam County, Indiana. His wife, Susanna Goff was born in North Carolina 19 June 1810, died in Putnam County 3 June 1883. She was the daughter of William Goff and Mary Oliver. Blind Billy was the son of Thomas and Jennie Hughes, Thomas born coming to America 12 June 1775 and die4d 3 March 1850 and is said to have been the first person buried in the Hebron Cemetery. Blind Billy was named after his grandfather Wilson (William 1749-England died June 1814 - wife Nancy Ann Bell). From notes of Rose Sheldon Newton and Anne Coakley, it is known that by 1833, Thomas owned over 500 acres of land in Russell Township, and he paid $82.75 state and county taxes for it.
Billy found the Lord early. Church was held in their home early on and in August of 1829, "Elder Hughes held meetings in the homes of Andrew and Phillip Gardner at which time 42 persons made their confessions and were baptized." At that point there were 80 people members of the "Hebron Christian Church." The first confessor that day was "William Wilson, the blind son of Thomas and Jennie Hughes Wilson." Thomas was an elder in the church until his death in 1850 and the property and the wood for the log church in the early 1830s was donated by Thomas. In 1864 this church was burned, but the new church that replaced the cabin in late 1869 with timber and materials from Blind Billy's farm and built exactly like the first.
From Billy's day of reckoning with his Lord on, he preached. Of course, he could not read the bible, but he prayed hard that he would become a good minister knowing the New Testament, so his father, mother and other friends and relatives read it to him. He memorized the New Testament in its entirety. His particular expertise was to begin new churches and Fincastle Christian, Parkersburg and Parkville Christian, Old Somerset Christian and Haw Creek were some of the area churches he began. At least one of Blind Billy's and Susannah Goff's children went on into the world of preaching, Newton born October 31, 1841 on the family farm near Russellville. He sometimes helped his father organize the above mentioned churches.
The other children of Billy and Susanna Goff Wilson were:
Jasper (10-2-1838 Putnam County 30 Jan 1920 buried Hebron Cemetery). Never married
Emily Nov 1839 who married Jackson Oliver and had six children. (Isabel; Franklin V; Rena; James William; Charles Aaron and Jesse Jackson. She passed away in May of 1921.
John H. (March 1843 - may be the one that was called, "John the Baptist!" Married Sophia Flint and they had at least three daughters).
Susannah born 14 Nov 1844 died 23 July 1926 married 1 October 1890 to Uriah Brown. No children.
Hattie, Hettie or Nettie/Nattie born in July 1846 and died after the 1900 census. Do not see anything resembling that name or dates so not sure what happened to her.
This man accomplished way beyond his capabilities for his time frame and was well-admired by not only his parishoners, but his family, neighbors and friends. ---- kbz
BLIND BILLY WILSON – Hebron cem.
Source: Daily Banner, 11 July 1964 p 4
The Hebron Christian Church of Russellville ranks as one of the oldest in Putnam County. It was organized in 1826 and became a Christian Church in 1829. One of its famous ministers of the pioneer days was a man named “Blind Billy Wilson,” who is accredited with the founding of 16 churches in Indiana pioneer settlements. Legend has it that Blind Billy had no trouble riding the wilderness circuit except “when his horse threw him he had a hard time finding it.” He was recognized as one of the 10 outstanding pioneer ministers in Indiana in the early 1880s. During the Civil War when all Christian Churches refused to take sides in the bloody conflict the old church was burned to the ground by marauding night riders. This quaint structure pictured was built by the congregation in 1905. The minister of the 400-congreation church is Rev. Charles Davis.