Revised and Expanded (Second Edition)
Release Date – July 4th, 2026
Coming July 4th
Mystery surrounds the life of William Dragoo, a West Virginia boy kidnapped by the Shawnee in 1786. Follow his life among Native communities in the Ohio country and Great Lakes region, as well as his return to the settler world as “Indian Billy” after twenty years. Through the genealogical research of Vi Parsons, Billy’s second great-granddaughter, explore the life, ancestry, and the many legends of a man who lived between worlds. In this revised and expanded second edition, Parsons’ original work is complemented by enhanced illustrations, editorial refinements, and supplemental materials drawn from a range of historical sources.
What readers will find inside:
- Comprehensive Index of Names: More than 200 surnames and several hundred unique individuals are indexed to help readers trace people, families, and connections throughout the book.
- Extensive Endnotes: Includes carefully documented citations drawing on more than 175 unique sources.
- Supplemental Materials Section: Features selected periodical and book excerpts from historical publications related to Indian Billy. This section is intended to give readers a broader view of how William “Indian Billy” Dragoo has been portrayed, remembered, and honored over time.
- Easy-to-Navigate Layout: Part and chapter titles appear in the running heads, making it easier to locate sections, follow the structure, and use the book as a reference.
- A Rich Visual Record: Includes 50 photographs and illustrations that help bring the people, places, and historical setting of Indian Billy’s story to life. Compared to the first edition, selected images have been digitally enhanced for clarity, while others have been updated where needed for historical accuracy.
- Made to Last: Printed as a durable paperback with sturdy cover stock, acid-free archival paper, and a strong, flexible binding designed for repeated reading, reference, and family use.
From the Publisher’s Foreword to the Revised & Expanded Second Edition:
William “Indian Billy” Dragoo went down in the river to pray. If we listen carefully, we can hear his words, faint drops in a steady current of legend and speculation, but also of hard-won facts and even harder-won hopes—which are our prayers—that we may reconcile the many conflicting stories that have shaped our lives. The river, like William, marks the often-blurred boundary between worlds. The river flows, changes its course, and cuts out new territory not easily claimed by one side or the other. In her attention to both fact and legend, to both the personal and the collective stories, Vi Parsons honors the river, providing direction while still allowing William to flow where he may.
Parsons’ purpose in writing this book is to provide as complete a history as the available records allow. In an article published on Genealogy.com on April 28, 2002, she writes:
The Legendary William “Indian Billy” Dragoo
So many stories have been told about Indian Billy that it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. That makes the term “legendary” even more appropriate. My Mother Nancy, born in 1897, was a great granddaughter of Indian Billy and Rebecca Matheny. Nancy’s grandfather and great grandfather Dragoo had died years before she was born and she didn’t even know their first names –but she knew the stories. She believed she was half Cherokee Indian. She would talk about the Indian Chief in the family and spin some great tales. After joining the Dragoo Family Association, I found some of those same stories about my Great Great Grandfather Indian Billy.
How much is truth and what part is fiction or fable?
The histories written of old Monongalia County, Virginia verify the story of the Indian massacre in October 3,1786 near Barrackville and the kidnapping of William Dragoo. His Mother, identified as Elizabeth (Straight) Dragoo was killed. Again stories circulate that she had an infant with her and some that she was an expectant Mother. No proof has been found. James R. Ewing, (now deceased) did extensive research and wrote the story “Betsy’s Run”... In my opinion, this seems to be one of the most accurate stories available to us.Various researchers have tried to determine the age of William at the time he was kidnapped. It appears he was at least age seven or maybe 12. Using the 1850 Licking County, Ohio census and the grave marker in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, it is possible that he could have been as old as 16. While it seems difficult to believe that a young man could be overpowered and taken captive, it could have happened. Watch your local news and you will see horrific incidents of unsuspecting people caught unaware and taken captive. Generally, human nature is to fight for that which was taken away and to try to return home. This did not seem to be so for William Dragoo.
A document was produced by the Licking County, Ohio Historical Society as being the narrative of Indian Billy, dictated shortly before his death in 1856. Believing it to be accurate, in 1998 I used this narrative in my book about my great grandfather and his descendants, “Jacob Dragoo and Our Susanna Bright Side”. Maxine Fisher of Newark, Ohio has written a book called “A Captive’s Story”, using this same narrative. Delbert Osborn of Newark, Ohio has traveled the roads tracing the trail mentioned it the narrative and found it be reasonably accurate to the geography mentioned. Some of our families believe this Narrative to be another one of the fables. However, it does seem to coincide with most of the traceable events of William’s life. The major point is that after a while with the Indians, he learned to love them and their ways. It is so unbelievable that a young man who was abruptly stolen from home and witnessed the killing of his Mother and was torn away from his family could possibly love the people responsible.
He apparently knew the way home. About 20 years after his kidnapping, he learned that his Father, John Dragoo had never stopped looking for him. He went back home for a visit. This is where he saw his family, heard the Gospel preached, realized what he needed in his life and determined to move back home.
Why didn’t he look for his family sooner?
Now, more than 200 years later, we are still longing and searching to find all of our Dragoo relatives. I am researching and preparing to write a book on the children of Indian Billy. It will be factual and documented, written in story form, but will not be a novel.
Children of William “Indian Billy” Dragoo
Billy had children by his Indian mate. He brought two sons with him when he returned to Virginia to live. They have been identified as John and Isaac. Stories, which may also be fables, are that there were daughters also.
William married Rebecca Matheny December 1, 1814. She was much younger, being born June 9, 1799. Some researchers have seven children attached to this family, but there were only six.
#1) Jacob Dragoo, born September 13, 1815 (My Great Grandfather)
#2) Elizabeth Dragoo, born May 19, 1817
#3) Peter Dragoo, born April 30, 1919
#4) Ann Dragoo, born March 12, 1824
#5) Margaret Dragoo, born September 25, 1828
#6) Rhoda Dragoo, born June 7, 1838The discrepancy of the 7th child comes from a note written in the William Dragoo Bible of John W., born June 17, 1858. Indian Billy died February 21, 1856, so some believed that this child in 1858 was really 1838 and made changes to include John W. as a child of William and Rebecca. I can document that John W. was Billy and Rebecca’s grandson. He was the son of their daughter Rhoda and husband William B. [Documented in Rhoda’s Civil War Pension Application].
Fact or fable, real or legend, the stories of Indian Billy live on.Parsons, Vi. “William “Indian Billy” Dragoo.” Genealogy.com: Genforum & Family History Search, 28 Apr. 2012, www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/dragoo/432/.
Publisher : Carr Twins & Co. (July, 4, 2026)
Price : $24.99
Language : English
Paperback : 262 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-0-9789236-5-5
Item Weight : 16 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.46 x 9 inches