This collection is made up of Civil War diaries, correspondence, military-related documents, and photographs all pertaining to the Union Army service of Levi S. Graybill, a soldier in the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and, later, a captain in the 22nd United States Colored Infantry.

Levi S. Graybill, who was probably born in 1842, was the son of Daniel Graybill who moved to Ohio from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1859. Before the Civil War, Levi worked as a carpenter and studied law with Martin Welker in Wooster, Ohio. In June 1861 he enlisted in the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and fought in Virginia and West Virginia. In September 1863, Graybill was discharged from service in the rank of Sergeant of Co. E. His discharge certificate qualified him as “not fit for Invalid Corps” due to “disease contracted in service.” In January 1864 he was appointed captain in the 22nd United States Colored Infantry. The regiment fought in Virginia, participating in the occupation of Richmond in April 1865; it also took part in the funeral of President Lincoln and was in pursuit of John Wilkes Booth. In May the regiment was moved to Texas and was on duty along the Rio Grande until October 1865. At the end of the war, Graybill tendered his resignation. However, his petition was declined and he remained in Texas until he was discharged in November 1865. Levi had two brothers killed in action in the war. In 1870, Graybill married Frances S. Haynes and in the 1880s they moved to Florida and then to Sunnyvale, California. The family later dropped the “y” in their name and used Grabill instead. Levi Graybill died sometime between 1897 and 1908.

108 items in 2 boxes.

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