Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

William Ameliey Graybill

Male 1840 - 1920  (79 years)


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  • Name William Ameliey Graybill 
    Born 28 Jul 1840  Quincy, Adams, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 10 Mar 1920  Yorkshire, Harrison, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Valley View Cemetery, Persia, Harrison, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3557  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Simeon Peter Graybill,   b. 26 Mar 1816, Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jun 1889, Weston, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Mother Amanda Hill,   b. 1814, Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Feb 1848, near Quincy, Adams, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years) 
    Married 16 Mar 1837  , Jackson, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F257  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City): "Graybill, William A.; Birth: 28 Jul 1840, Adams County, Illinois. William A. Graybill was bapt. and conf. a member of the [RLDS] on 13 Jul 1860 by E.C. Briggs. Sources: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-71, book A, p. 99, 302.

      2. Verified Worldconnect 1 Aug 2003. Middle name also appears as Amsby with birth date 28 Jul 1840 in Quincy, Adams, IL with wife being Agnes Jane Spears born in Pittsburg, Alleghany, PA. Another variation is middle name of Anslisy b. 27 Aug 1840 at Quincy. 1900 census gives Jul 1840 birthdate.

      3. Reviewed LDS Ancestral File Oct 2003.

      4. Censuses:
      1840 US: Quincy, Adams, Illinois, the following related families living in near proximity to each other (with exception of John McDaniel and his wife Christina Stoker, all of David Stoker's siblings, children, and mother are accounted for and it confirms his father Michael was dead by 1840):
      P. 43a:
      David Stoker, males 5-10:1; 40-50:1//females 5-10:1; 10-15:1; 40-50:1. [David, his wife Barbara, and their children Sarah (13), Catherine (11?), and Michael (6). Note daughter Nancy not in census which means she was probably deceased by then.]
      Simeon P. Grabell [Graybill], males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [David's nephew: Simeon and his wife Amanda Hill and their two oldest children.]
      Jacob Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [Younger brother to David: Jacob and his wife Catherine and their oldest child.]
      P. 44a:
      Eller Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 60-70:1. [Youngest brother to David: Eller with his wife Margaret and their oldest child and probably their mother Catherine Eller.]
      James Walker [Welker], males 10-15:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1//females 5-10:2; 40-50:1. [Living next door to Eller and ages work perfectly that this is James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker, who is David's sister.]
      John W. Stoker, males 0-5:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 30-40:1. [John and his wife Electa Sarah and their six oldest children.]
      John Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 20-30:1. [David's son: John and his wife Jane and their children.]
      P. 52a:
      William Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 20-30:1 (father-in-law Samuel Winegar is next door). [David's son William and his wife Almira with their child.]
      P. 55a:
      Michael Stoker, males 0-5:2; 5-10:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1// females 30-40:1. [Michael, his wife Martha, and their five oldest children.]

      1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 128b, dwelling and family 1020:
      Michael Graybel, 63, labour, NC.
      Polly, 58, NC. [Wife]
      Cimiel, 34, M, OH. [Son; should be Simeon.]
      Michael, 22, OH. [Son]
      Elizabeth, 17, OH. [Daughter]
      Sidney, 14, OH. [Son]
      Almeda, 14, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
      Maridith, 12, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
      David, 7, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
      Amanda, 4, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
      William, 10, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Andrew, 8, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Aaron, 5, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
      Cathern Stoker, 77, NC. [Most likely Catherine Eller, Polly's mother; census was taken 11 Nov 1850.]

      1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
      Pugh: Hannah 76, Elizabeth 22, Martha 66. Also in household are Grabill: Simeon P. 34, William A. 10, Andrew J. 8, Aaron L. 5. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith. Also note that James Welker and Ann Pugh also show up in this census - James is the son of James Welker, Sr. and Elizabeth Stoker; Ann is probably related to these Pughs.]

      1856 Iowa: (From Ancestry.com) Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 21 of 63, 130/131:
      Simeon Graybill, 38, 8 years in Iowa, OH, farmer.
      Wm., 15, 8, IL.
      Andrew, 12, 8, IL.
      Aaron, 10, 8, IL.

      1860 US: Council Bluffs Post Office, Kane Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 362, dwelling 470, family 413, living next door to George W. and Hannah Graybill:
      Simeon P. Graybill, 44, farmer, $1500 real estate, $1000 personal property, OH.
      William, 19, farmer, IL.
      Andrew, 17, farm hand, IL.
      Aaron, 14, IL.

      1880 US: Washington, Harrison, Iowa; NA film T9-0343, p. 123D:
      William Graybill, marr., 39, IL OH OH, farmer.
      Agnes Jane, wife, 38, IL Sco PA, keeping house.
      Sabrina Jane, dau., 17, IA IL IL.
      Louisa Ann, dau., 16, IA IL IL.
      Margaret M., dau., 14, IA IL IL.
      George A., son, 12, IA IL IL.
      Simeon Peter, son, 10, IA IL IL.
      William A., son, 7, IA IL IL.

      1900 US: Washington Twp., Harrison, IA, p. 267A:
      William Graybill, Jul 1840, 59, m. 38, IL OH OH, farmer.
      Agnes J., wife, Sep 1842, 57, m. 38 years, 8 total children with 6 living, IL Sco PA.
      Clarence E., son, Jul 1881, 19, S, IA IL IL.

      5. A partial quote from the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT, from an article entitled: "Polly Stoker":
      "Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families. I will note the names of Michael and Polly's children and how they relate to other families in this book. I do have most family names if anyone wants to check it. [Kerry's note: the author lists each child and grandchild of Polly. See her file for the complete listing. I include only the immediate family in this individual's note.]
      "Simeon Peter Graybill, b. 3/26/1816, Jackson County, Ohio, m. (1) Amanda Hill, who died in Adams Co., Ill. in 1848.
      1. Rachael, b. Mar., 1838
      2. William Graybill, b. July 28, 1840 m. Agnes Spears, sister to William Spears. William Graybill, William Spears, Andrew Graybill and Orson Stoker were early settlers in Washington Township, Harrison County, Iowa. William's great grandson, Donald Nelson married Elaine Dollen, daughter of Harold Dollen.
      3. Andrew Graybill, b. Dec. 29, 1842
      4. Aaron Graybill, b. Oct. 30, 1848, killed at Camp Creek, Georgia Aug. 31, 1864 in the Civil War.
      m. (2) Frances Graham Downs, widow of Ezekial Downs, who named Downsville, Iowa.
      5. George A. b. 4/2/64
      6. Emily Jane b. 4/12/65
      7. Willis M. b. 1/22/68
      8. Amanda M. b. 5/8/69
      9. Almeda b. 10/8/70
      10. Mary Ellen b. 7/31/72"

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Mentioned in Orson H. Stoker's biography per the following two sources: www.rootsweb.com/~iaharris/ and FHL book 977.747-H2n: "History of Harrison County, Iowa," 1891, pp. 542, 543: "Orson H. Stoker, a farmer and stockraiser of section 32, Washington Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1863. He came in with William Spears, from Pottawattamie County, Messrs. Stoker, Spears, William A., and A. J. Graybill, had bought three hundred and twenty acres of land in a body in company." [See notes for Eller Stoker in this database for extensive biography of William Spears. William marries Lavina Stoker, dau. of Eller and Margaret (Judd) Stoker. He also appears to be brother of George Stoker, who marries a sister of Lavina, and Agnes Spears who is the wife of William A. Graybill, the brother of Andrew Jackson Graybill.]

      2. Two sources: www.rootsweb.com/~iaharris/ and FHL book 977.747-H2n: "History of Harrison County, Iowa," 1891, pp. 686, 687: "William A. Graybill, a farmer on section 32, of Washington Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since, 1864, settling on his present farm in the month of March in that year. He, in company with A. J. Graybill, William Spears, and O.A. Stoker purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in 1862, which was divided in 1865, Mr. Graybill getting eighty-five acres, upon which he built a log house in 1864, and moved his family there in the spring. They have occupied the same building ever since. When he came to the township there were but two farms opened up, and all looked new and wild. One log school-house on section 32 graced the fair domain now so thickly settled, and religious meetings were held at Union Grove usually in private houses. Mr. Graybill's present farm comprises two hundred and twenty-five acres of choice land, the most of which is situated in the Mosquito Valley. To learn something of his early career the reader will be informed that he was born July 28, 1840, in Adams County, Ill., and accompanied his parents, who were among the early pioneers to locate in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, coming, as they did, before Council Bluffs had an existence, that location then being known as Miller's Hollow. Our subject remained with his parents until 1864. For nine years prior his father, himself and brothers A. J. & L., kept bachelor's hall in Pottawattamie County. Simeon P. Graybill was born March 26, 1816, in Jackson County, Ohio, and was the son of Mr. Graybill, a native of New York and of German ancestry. The father, Michael Graybill, was the son of Peter Graybill, who was born in Pennsylvania and married Christena Wampler, who had been taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians when a child and kept with the tribe for seven years and then returned to her parents. Peter Graybill was a son of John Graybill who came from Germany in the days of the Revolutionary War. Simeon Graybill's father, Michael, was married to Polly Stoker, in Ashe County, N. C., May 1811, removed to Jackson County, Ohio, and reared a family of eleven children: David, Catharine, Simeon, Levi, George, Lenore, Julian, Michael, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Sidney. Simeon was married to Amanda Hill, in Jackson County, Ohio, March 16, 1837 and the same year moved to Caldwell County, Mo., and in 1838 to Davis County, of that State. They removed back to Caldwell County, remained until 1839 and went to Adams County, Illinois, where they remained until 1848. February 14 of that year, his wife Amanda, was taken sick and died February 21. The same week, her eldest daughter, Rachel, sickened and died March 22. In the autumn of 1848, the family started West and arrived in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, December 5. The mother of our subject was born in 1817 in Jackson County, Ohio, her maiden name being Amanda Hill. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. One son, Aaron A., was killed in the time of the Civil War. He was killed at Camp Creek, Ga. August 31, 1864. Our subject was united in marriage, January 8, 1861, in Pottawattamie County, to Miss Agnes J. Spears, by whom eight children have been born - Lovina J., born November 9, 1862, Louisa A., February 19, 1864; Margaret M., July 14, 1865; George A., August 10, 1867; Simeon P., January 14, 1870; William A., September 17, 1872; Clarence E., July 28, 1880; Maude A., October 27, 1881. George A., died September 10, 1884, and his sister, Maude A., died March 11, 1882."

      3. FHL film 934962 "History of Pottawattamie Co., Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pp. 502-506 has the following biography of William Spears who appears to be the brother of Agnes J. Spears who is the wife of William Ameliey Graybill. This biography has data on Agnes' parents. For William Spears, see full biographical citation in notes with Elller Stoker. Quote: "William Spears, a general farmer and stock-raiser of Minden township, is numbered among the extensive landowners of the county, having 800 acres, which returns to him a very gratifying annual income. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1848 and on his present farm since 1871, his home being now on section 7... Mr. Spears was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1836. His father, George Spears, was a native of Scotland and when a young man sought the broader opportunities of the new world, settling in Pennsylvania, where he followed the trade of a machinist and blacksmith. In 1839 he again removed westward, becoming a resident of Hancock county, Illinois, where he lived until 1846, when he came to Iowa. For a time he was in Council Bluffs and then went to Nebraska, where he lived for two years. He became entirely blind through an accident. While in Pennsylvania he married Miss Sarah Churchfield, of that state, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living. William Spears, the eldest of this family, was reared upon the home farm and enjoyed common school advantages. His father died in Florence, Nebraska, in 1846, and the mother afterward married again in that state, becoming the wife of George Sweet, who, in 1848, returned to Iowa, where he engaged in farming..."

      4. Per FHL film 934944 "History of Harrison Co., Iowa," 1915, pp. 373, 374, mentions four related parties [William Spears is related to Agnes Spears who married William A. Graybill; Orson Stoker is son of Eller Stoker]: "Washington Township. This is the extreme southeastern sub-division of Harrison county. It was constituted in 1872, and name for the 'father of his country,' George Washington. It comprises congressional township number 76, range 42. It is south of Cass township and Shelby county; west of Shelby county; north of Pottawattamie county, and east of Union township... The township, in 1885, had a population of 593; the federal census of 1890 gave it as having 1,222 including Persia and Yorkshire... The first man to come to this township for the purpose of making a permanent settlement was Hugh Walker. He arrived in 1849, settling at the beautiful grove, which was given his name by the pioneers. [Walker's Grove]... Orson H. Stoker, of section 32, came in December, 1863, from Pottawattamie county. It was in January, 1864, when he purchased land in this township, but he went away and remained until 1868. He bought a half section of land, which made his home farm, and later he owned, in all 662 acres of excellent land in Harrison county. Another who came in from Pottawattamie county in 1864 was William Spears. He located at Walker's grove, in section 32. In the eighties he removed to a place near Neola. William A. Graybill, of section 32, came to this county in 1864. Andrew J. Graybill, of section 32, came in 1865 and lived with his brother until 1878, when he purchased in section 32..."

      5. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 90-91: "William Graybill, b. 8 Jul 1840, m. Agnes Spears, sister to William Spears. William Graybill, William Spears, Andrew Graybill and Orson Stoker were early settlers in Washington Township, Harrison County, Iowa..."

      6. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 34-38: "William A. Graybill, b. 27 Aug (or 28 Jul ?) 1840, Quincy, Adams, IL; d. 10 (or 14?) Mar 1920, Yorkshire, IA; bur. in Valley View Cemetery, Union Twp., Harrison Co., IA; md. 8 Jan 1861, Potta. Co., IA to Agnes Jane Spears. She was b. 29 Sep 1841, IL; d. 22 Jul 1917. She was the d/o George Spears and Sarah Churchfield. She moved to Council Bluffs, IA with her parents in 1848. William's middle name, in various records, has been spelled Anslisy, Ansilisy and Ashley. He, with his father and two younger brothers, came to Iowa in 1848 and settled near Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs). In 1862, he and his brother-in-law, William Spears, and his cousin, Orson H. Stoker, bought 320 acres of land in partnership in Washington Twp., Harrison Co., IA. They divided the land in 1865; William got 85 acres upon which he built a log house and moved his family there. In the following years, he prospered and added more acres to his farm. Their children were Lavina Jane, Louisa Ann, Margaret Matilda, George Andrew, Simeon Peter, William Aaron, Clarence Elmer and Maude Adelia. [See book for extensive downline of this couple.]"

      7. Spears family relations are mentioned in the book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 107+, has the following biographies of the children of Eller and Margaret (Judd) Stoker:
      Orson Hyde Stoker: "Orson... grew up on the family farm in Garner Township. In 1863, when 20 years old, he bought government land at $7.00 an acre in Harrison County, Washington Township, section 32. Andrew Graybill, William Graybill, William Spears and Orson bought 320 acres in one body and helped one another clear the land. In 1867, he built a log house where he brought his new bride, Betty Oman, the following January. The oldest five children were born in this log house on Mosquito Creek, and Jess commented later it had quite a number of cracks, requiring one to shake the snow off of the quilts in the morning if it had snowed in the night. In 1879, Orson built the big family home just west of the cabin. The road at this time ran east and west and the house stood east of the present Highway 64 and across the road from William Darrington's home now..."
      Lavina Stoker: "Lavina was the first known white child born in Pottawattamie County. Her Mormon parents, Margaret and Eller Stoker, left Nauvoo with the migration of Mormons in the spring of 1846. She was born and reared in the log cabin just east of the Bluffs, leaving home when she married William Spears. William bought and started to clear land in Harrison Co., in 1863, along with Lavina's older brother and two Graybill cousins. William and Lavina had a log house just south of the Harrison county line in Pottawattamie County and lived there for many years before building their bigger house to the south... This old log cabin was near the conjunction of Interstate 80N and 80, north of Neola. When Minden Township was formed in 1877, William Spears was one of the three judges appointed." [Eleven children listed with a complete downline.]
      Margaret Calpurnia Stoker: Calpurnia married at 17, as did her older sister, Lavina. George Spears was a brother to William Spears; which was not unusual on the frontier, for sisters of one family to marry brothers from another. George was named after his father, George Spears, Sr., who came from Scotland, married a girl name Sarah Churchfield in Pennsylvania, moved to Illinois in 1839. While in Illinois the family became members of the Latter Day Saint Church and came to Florence, Nebraska, with the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846. Calpurnia and George raised Byron Stoker, son of Michael Stoker, after the death of his mother. George Spears was born in Pennsylvania." [Four children are listed and a very partial downline.]

      8. FHL film 702: "Journal of John Stoker, b. 1817; Journal starts November 1, 1869." John was the son of David Stoker and Barbara Graybill. The first 35 pages detail his mission taken from Utah to Virginia and Tennessee through Council Bluffs, Iowa, which I have summarized and included with his notes in this database. Pp. 36-227, the balance of John's journal, are genealogical notations of family. Many pages are blank. Besides family, the journal also notes many other unrelated Stokers who were probably gleaned from books and other sources. It appears as if maybe his son David may have taken over the book later. Many entries are repetitive at different times. Pertinent data for this family or individual is quoted verbatim as follows on pages:
      109: Simion Peter Graybill, born Mar. 25, 1813, died Oct 27, 1889. Amanda Hill. Children:
      Aaron Lenoer Graybill, born Oct 30, 1845, Ill., Adams Co., killed in the army near Atlanta, Georgia, 1864.
      Andrew Jackson Graybill, Dec. 29, 1842, Adams Co., Ill.
      179: Simeon Peter Graybill, Amanda Hill, children;
      Wm. Amlicy Graybill, b. July 28, 1840, Adams Co., Ill.
      Aaron Lenoer Graybill, b. Oct. 30, 1845, Adams Co., Ill, killed in the war at Atlanta, Georgia, 1864.
      Andrew Jackson Graybill, b. Dec. 29, 1842, Adams Co., Ill.
      184: Simeon Peter Graybill, son of Michael and Polly Stoker was born March 25th, 1815, State of Ohio, Jackson County, Bloomfield Township. Died 27th June 1889.
      Wm. Amliez Graybill, son of Simeon Peter Graybill and Amanda Hill was born July 29th, 1840, State of Illinois, Adams County.
      Aaron Lenoir Graybill, son of Simeon Peter Graybill and Amanda Hill was born October 30th, 1845, State of Illinois, Adams County. Killed in the Army near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864.
      Andrew Jackson Graybill, son of Simeon Peter Graybill and Amanda Hill was born Dec. 29th, 1842, State of Illinois, Adams County.

      9. Source: 1915 Harrison County Iowa History, pp. 898 accessed 13 Dec 2008 on the Internet at http://iagenweb.org/harrison/bio1915/1915bio12.htm:
      Lester D. Graybill. It is a well-attested maxim that the greatness of a community or state lies not in the machinery of government or even in its institutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish efforts and his devotion to the public welfare. In these particulars, he, whose name apears at the head of this review, has conferred honor and dignity upon his locality and, as an elemental part of its history, it is important that there should be recorded a resume of his career. With the object in view of noting his connection with the advancement of one of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the commonwealth as well as his splended personal attainments. Lester D. Graybill, farmer and stockman, of Washington township, Harrison County, Iowa, was born on December 20, 1892, in Washington township, on the farm where he now lives. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Miller) Graybill, the former born on December 29, 1842, in Adams county, Illinois. Andrew Graybill was the son of Simeon and Amanda (Hill) Graybill, the former born in 1816, in Ohio. He came to Iowa in 1848 and farmed in Pottawattamie county all his life. He died on June 27, 1889. His wife was born in 1819 in Ohio, and died in 1848. Simeon Graybill was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Frances (Graham) Downs. Three Children: Rachel, deceased; William; and Andrew, the father of Lester D., were born to the first union. Aaron, a fourth Child, died during the Civil War. There were six children born to the second marriage, three of whom are deceased. Andrew Graybill made his home with his grandparents on his father's side of the family. They were Michael and Polly (Stocker) Graybill, natives of Pennsylvania. Andrew Graybill freighted over the plains in the early days from Bellevue, Iowa, to Denver, Colorado, using oxen for his trips. In the spring of 1866, he came to Harrison county, Iowa, where he bought 75 acres of land. This farm was heavily covered with timber and Mr. Graybill began fencing it with the old-fashioned rail fence, stakes, and riders, some things that are not seen at this day and age in harrison County, Iowa. He cut timber, erected a frame house, which still stands, used for implements, etc., a very rare sight in those days. Andrew Graybill made extensive improvements on all of his farm property and now owns 580 acres of land in Harrison and Pottawattamie Counties. Forty acres of this land is covered with natural timber. At one time, he was a heavy cattle feeder and made a specialty of Polled Durham and Shorthorn breeds. He has since retired from farm life. Andrew Graybill was married in 1878 to Mary Miller, who was born in 1857, in Decatur county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Abraham and Sophronia (Champlain) Miller, both natives of Pennsylvania and now deceased. Lester D. Graybill attended the schools of Washington township and the Yorkshire village schools. He was reared on the farm where he lies and has always worked for his father. He is now engaged in extensive farming and the operation of the home place. Lester D. Graybill is unmarried and is not a member of any lodge. He is, however, a devoted member of the Church of Latter Day Saints and is an ardent Democrat. He deserves to rank as one of the rising young farmes of Harrison county. His friends and neighbors are convinced that sooner or later he will make a distinguished mark in his chosen profession."

      BIRTH:
      1. Per RLDS biography. The Pitt book quoted above adds Quincy to the RLDS reported Adams Co., Illinois.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Per FHL book 977.771 V2p" Pottawattamie Co., IA Early Marriages 1848-1869" and Internet site www.genexchange.org for Pottawattamie IAGenExchange marriage records: "William A. Graybill, Agnes J. Spears, 8 Jan 1862." The biography and Pitt book quoted above varies in the year noting 8 Jan 1861.

      DEATH:
      1. Gravestone Records copied by WPA Graves Registration Project for Harrison County, IA and as contained on the subscription website Ancestry.com: "P. 54, William A. Graybill, b. 28 Feb 1840, buried at Valley View Cemetery in Union."

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. PAF file sent 3 Jul 2003 by John P. Fisher, a descendant of Henry Fisher .