The Graybill Family
The name Graybill is Germanic and comes from a region in what is now Switzerland. The original spelling of the name was "Krayhill" which means "Crow's hill." The family lived on a hill frequented by crows and the tax collectors probably gave them this name.
Variations: Graybill, Grebiel, Greibiel, Greibill, Greybill, Kraybill, KrobielFirst Generation
A Christian GREIBIEL*, Jr. born c. 1748 in Lancaster Co. and died 2 Feb. 1826 in Warwick Twp. Apparently he was an immigrant from Germany. He married Elizabeth WESTENBERGER* who died 19 Mar. 1792. She is the daughter of Christopher & Catharine WESTENBERGER
The children of Elizabeth & Christian are: Susanna (A1), Catrina (A2), David (A3), Elizabeth (A4), Samuel (A5), Daniel* (A6), Maria (A7), Anna (A8), Christina (A9).
A1 Susanna Graybill was born 5 Mar. 1773 and died 5 Apr. 1814.
Second Generation
A1 Susanna GRAYBILL b. 5 Mar. 1773 at Warwick, PA and d. 5 Apr. 1814. She m. Abraham ESHLEMAN on 7 Jun. 1796 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster Co. One source lists her parents as John Peter & Barbara Graybill.
A2 Catrina / Catharina GRAYBILL b. 28 Nov. 1774 and d. 27 Sep. 1823. She m. David BOMBERGER on 14 Apr. 1795 at the Trinity Lutheran Church and later she m. Peter BOLLINGER.
A3 David GRAYBILL was born 25 Jun. 1776. He m. Mary A. CLARK. On 13 Sep. 1896 he m. Maria FLOR at the Trinity Lutheran Church.
A4 Elizabeth GRAYBILL was born 17 Aug. 1778.
A5 Samuel GRAYBILL was born 2 Sept. 1780 in Lancaster Co. He d. 23 Nov. 1862 in Pennville, Lancaster Co. On 15 Nov. 1803 he m. Salome EBY at the Lancaster First Reformed Church.
A6 Daniel GRAYBILL* was born in 1782 in Lancaster Co., Pa. and died 20 Jul. 1856. He was a large land proprietor in East Hempfield township, where he was involved in agriculture. He was listed in the 1850 East Hempfield census as living with Mary DOMMA age 37 years old. Daniel was living near/next to his son Jacob Grabill.
Daniel married Mary Magdalena HOLLINGER (see HOLLINGER A11115). Mary was born 12 Mar. 1782 and she died 14 Dec. 1847.
Their children were: Joseph (A61), Daniel (A62), Isaac (A63), Jacob (A64), Benjamin (A65), Martha (A66), Elizabeth (A67), Barbara (A68).
A7 Maria GRAYBILL was born 3 Nov. 1784. On 8 Mar. 1803 at the Lancaster First Reformed Church, she m. George MERCK
A8 Anna GRAYBILL was born 11 Feb. 1787. She m. John HOLLINGER and Christian WOLGEMUTH
A9 Christina GRAYBILLwas born 11 Nov. 1788 and died before 1816. She m. Abraham SHIFFER
Third Generation
A61 Joseph GRAYBILL was born 18 Mar. 1810 and he died 23 Dec. 1897. He married Anna ZUG and also a Sarah F.
A62 Daniel GRAYBILL was born in 1814 or 1816 in Penn Twp. He died in 1890 and is buried in the E. Petersburg Church of the Brethren Cemetery. As a child, he lived in East Hempfield where he was a farmer until he moved to Petersburg. He married Elizabeth WITMER (daughter of Dr. Herman WITMER of Manor township).
Daniel and Elizabeth had several children: Martha (A621), Herman W. (A622), Amos (A623), Benjamin (A624) and David (A625).
A64 Jacob GRAYBILL was born 13 Dec. 1822 and he died 27 Nov. 1900. He is buried in the E. Petersburg Church of the Brethren Cemetery. He married Sarah ???. Jacob and Sarah are listed in the 1850 census in East Hempfield, PA as living near/next to father Daniel. Sarah was listed as 22 years old, with Haritt (3 yrs old) and Anna (1 yr old) and Joseph Grabill (12 yrs old) and A??? Grabill (8 yrs old).
A65 Benjamin GRAYBILL was born 14 Jun. 1825 and he died 12 Feb. 1847. He is buried in the E. Petersburg Church of the Brethren Cemetery.
A66 Magdalena GRAYBILL* (also Martha) b. 6 Feb. 1820 and d. 14 Aug. 1896. In 1837, she married Joseph PFAUTZ* (see PFAUTZ)in Lancaster Co., PA.
A67 Elizabeth GRAYBILL(Betsy) was born 22 Feb. 1812 and she died 23 May 1884.
A68 Barbara GRAYBILL m. Jacob POUTZ.
Fourth Generation
A621 Martha GRAYBILLwas married to Daniel KREIDER.
A622 Herman W. GRAYBILLwas born 15 Sept. 1842. He was educated in Petersburg and then became involved in farming until he was 22 years old. He then began a tour of the Western U.S. When he returned he became a ticket and freight agent for the Reading and Columbia Railroad at Petersburg. He also became involved in the coal and lumber business. Herman, a Republican, was a member of the county committee, and the school director of his township. He was influential in the development of Petersburg, where he owned land. Although the Graybill family had been Dunkards, Herman's generation did not adhere to this faith.
He was married in 1867 to Martha LANDIS (daughter of Henry S. LANDIS). However, Martha died in 1868 and Herman married again to Mrs. Kate MINNICH (daughter of Jacob SWARR) who died in 1870. Herman married a third time in 1872 to Frances Augusta BASSLER (daughter of John BASSLER) of Petersburg.
Herman and Frances had children: Nora (A6221) and John (A6222).
A624 Benjamin GRAYBILL lived in Kansas.
kmcguinness@angelfire.com
Return to Surnames
Return Home
Last updated 22 July 2002