On 1 July, 1839, William and Rebecca Wheeler were organizing members of The Primitive Baptist Church of Christ at Stock Creek, Knox County, Tennessee, that opened its doors 1July 1839. Prior to this it is believed that they were members of the Miller's Cove Baptist Church, as the Wheeler name is mentioned in the Minutes Book of the church in 1812.

William and his older brother, John Wheeler, migrated to the area known now as Blount/Knox Counties, TN ca 1798.

William was in Captain DeArmand's Co. These men elected their captain, mustered and drilled once each month. One of their objectives was to be ready to protect themselves from Indians.

William and Rebecca raised 13 children. They remained in Bount County until their deaths and were cared for by their daughter Rhoda. They are buried in Blount County. In the estate papers left by William, it shows heirs "in the West - John, Samuel, James, Joel, Thomas, Calvin, Henry and Elizabeth." Nine of their children died in Missouri.