OBIT: Shem GRABILL, 1881, Blair County, PA

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AN AGED CITIZEN GONE.

At 9 A.M. yesterday Shem Grabill, a resident of Taylor township, was
laid away to rest in the silent city of the dead.  Mr. Grabill was an
honorable man, an excellent citizen and an exemplary Christian, having
been a member of the German Baptist Church for, perhaps, forty years.
By his pure and conscientious life he was designated as one of the
"Peace Commissioners" in his church, whose duty it was, a short time
previous to the holding of the annual "Love Feast," to visit every
member of the church at his home, and learn of him personally whether
or not he or she entertained "Peace and good will toward all men."
This position Mr. Grabill held ever since the writer can remember him.
A short time since, from some imaginary cause, this old man became
demented and supposed for some act of his life he would be finally
lost.  His most intimate friends and acquaintances did everything to
dispel this cloud that hung over his mind, but without effect.  A few
days ago some persons conceived the idea that the old man must go to
the asylum.  Accordingly he was taken to Harrisburg, at which place he
remained but a few days, and was brought home in a dying condition to
breathe his life out on Tuesday evening sweetly, surrounded by his
family.  The day before his spirit took its departure his mental
faculties were all restored and reason reigned supreme, and as calmly
as the setting sun the night gathered around him, and he was not, for
God took him.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, June 3, 1881

IN MEMORIAM.

Shem Grabill was born in Franklin county, Pa., October 4, 1803, and
died May 31, 1881, in his 79th year.  Mr. Grabill came to the Cove
when about 7 years old, has lived just beyond Sharpsburg for forty
years and owned the farm upon which he resided.  His losses during the
panic were such as to embarrass him, and he so dreaded being in debt
that his reason became dethroned.  Money was offered him to pay his
indebtedness on long time, but he preferred to sell his farm, which he
lately did, realizing a fair price and after paying all his debts he
had some $4,000 left.  His friends now hoped for his recovery.
Disappointed in their hopes, however, they took him to the asylum in
Harrisburg.  After being there for a week or two he was very cheerful
and satisfied with his treatment.  Less than a week previous to his
death the authorities informed his friends of his sickness and upon
repairing to the asylum they found his condition changed, he
complaining very much that he was roughly handled.  He was immediately
taken home and his constant dread since, till death, has been that
they would take him back and punish him more severely for coming away.
Mr. Graybill [sic] paid all that was asked for his treatment while at
the asylum.  Circumstances compel the belief that he was not treated
as well as he might have been.  Mr. G. has been for forty years a
faithful member of the Dunkard church and for nearly thirty-five years
an officer in the same.  His death has cast a gloom over this
community but it is now well with him for he has received the summons,
"Come up higher."  He leaves no children, but an aged wife, who has
the sympathy of the entire community in her sad bereavement.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, June 4, 1881

1880 Sharpsburg, Blair County census -
Samuel Grabill, 76
Hannah Grabill, 68
Mary J. Grabill, 23, daughter

1870 Taylor Township, Blair County census -
Samuel Grabill, 67
Hannah Grabill, 58
Mary Grabill, 13

1860 Taylor Township, Blair County census -
Saml Graybill, 56
Hanna Graybill, 48
Alfred Rolland, 17
Francis Moore, 20, Domestic
Mary J. Moore, 3