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Note: H4869
Note: Family members recall that Billy, as a child, was frequently at the home of his father, Eli, although he was never well-received by Eli's wife, Nancy. They also recall that it was a common sight to see Billy walking in the snow with rags around his feet and his feet tied to boards.
Billy was a Methodist circuit rider preacher for many years. He would move into a town and live there for one to two years. From that central location, he would travel by horseback to different towns in the area, preaching in a different town from week to week. Then he would move on to another area. He wasn't ordained until he was thirty years old when he switched denominations from Methodist to Baptist due to the lack of a Methodist Church. Billy was a "fire and brimstone" type preacher and was known to conduct prayers for an hour at a time. At one time, he served as a minister in the Pomeroy Baptist church.
He was referred to by the family as "Uncle Billy".
The birth records of all of his eight children less that of his daughter Juda AKA Julia, state that Billy's profession was farming. On Juda AKA Julia's record, his occupation is listed as "Lumberman".
In the 1900 Wyoming County, West Virginia Census, Billy and Mindy and their children reside at Huffs Creek. Billy is a farmer.
In the 1910 McDowell County, West Virginia Census, Billy and Mindy and their children reside at Twin Branch. Billy's occupation is listed as coal miner.
In the 1920 Carter County, Kentucky Census, Billy and Mindy and their children Lena, Luna, Juda, and Juda (later to be known as Julia)'s daughter, Lucille Martin, age 3 9/12 reside at Grayson. Billy is a minister. The record states that both of his parents were born in Virginia.
In the 1930 Wyoming County, West Virginia Census, Billy resides as a boarder in the home of his nephew and niece-in-law, Fred and India Blankenship, in Huffs Creek. Billy is a minister of the Gospel who was married at age 24 years and is identified as married.
Because Billy moved frequently and his wife, Mindy, was not well for some years prior to her death, Mindy lived with their daughter, Frances. Billy spent the latter years of his life in Wyoming County, West Virginia, where he lived with various ones of his brothers and his nephews.
Billy was originally buried in the Lane Blankenship Cemetery. Lane Blankenship Cemetery was a family burial plot, consisting of 70 graves, that was located beside the Guyandotte River in Wyoming County, West Virginia, across from the mouth of Leatherwood Creek. In the early 1970's, a reservoir, the R. D. Bailey Lake, was built in the area and all of the burials, except two which were relocated to a different site, were reinterred in the Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny, Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Billy died from stomach cancer.
The informant for his death certificate was his nephew, Duff Blankenship. The record states that Billy was a widowed farmer who resided in Justice, Mingo County, West Virginia at the time of his death. The record states that his father was "Eli Blankenship" and lists Unknown for his mother's name. His birthdate is given as 12 September 1870.
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