SIMEON GRAYBILL, DECEASED, was one of the well-known pioneers of Pottawattamie County. Born in Jackson County, Ohio, March 26, 1816, he was a son of Michael Graybill, a native of North Carolina, and of German ancestry. His mother's maiden name was Polly Stocker, and she was born in the Carolinas. Mr. Graybill was reared to manhood in Ohio on a farm, but for a time he was engaged in mining at Mt. Vernon, that state. He was first married March 16, 1837 in Jackson County, Ohio, to Amanda Hill who died in Adams County, Illinois, February 21, 1848. In the fall of that year Mr. Graybill came to Pottawattamie County, and he was afterward married to Mrs. Frances (Graham) Downs, who was born in Kemper County, Mississippi, a daughter of Thomas and S. Ann (McCrary) Graham. Her parents came to this county in 1846; her mother died in the eastern part of this state; in 1852 her father went to Utah, where he was some time afterward killed by a grizzly bear, which was afterward captured and found to weight 800 pounds.

Mrs. Graybill was first married to Ezekiel Downs at Downsville who was born in North Carolina and came to his county in 1846. By this marriage there was one child, John W., Mr. Downs died in 1860.

Mr. Graybill settled on his present farm in 1848 where he resided until his death, June 27, 1889. By his first marriage there were four children, three of whom grew up to years of maturity, viz.: William, who now resides in New Yorkshire, Harrison County; Andrew, who is living near the same place; and Aaron L., who was killed at Camp Creek, Georgia August 32, 1864 as a member of an Iowa regiment.

By his second marriage the subject of this sketch has had six children, four of whom are living: Emily Jane, Willis M., Amanda M. and Mary Ellen. Politically Mr. Graybill was a Republican. He had a landed estate of 320 well-improved acres on which he lived for over forty years. His death was lamented by all the community.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini