Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-02-17

4AC oSdtAA VI SoPloAh SOAn -
Grabill marks the breaking of al
unique connection between a man
and an institution. for the odd
Herald" crowned with more than a
hundred years of continuous exist
ence, holds a place all its own
among the journals of Virginia. For
more than half of its long life. the
name of John H. Grabill has been
connected with it as owner and edi-
tor.
The eighty-three years of his life.
extending from 1889 to 1922, cover
the most momentous period of our
nations history. In the making of
this history he was an active par
ticipant and bore a mans part in
the sphere where Providence had
placed him.
Born March s, 1889, at Mt. Jack
son, Va. he was the son of Ephraim
and Caroline Donaldson Grabill.
When but an infant two weeks
old, his parents moved to Wood
stock where he spent the remainder
of his life. His earlier education
was acquired in private schools in
Woodstock and in the Harrisonburg
Academy for Boys. Being of alert
mind, and ambitious to equip him
self adequately for his lifework, he
was not content with the attachments
of these secondary schools. He en-
tered Dickinson College. of Carlisle,
Pennsylvania. and graduated in the
class of 1860. He was aAcharter
member of Epsilon Chapter Phi
Kappa Sigma fraternity and attended
the fiftieth reunion of his Class al
Dickinson College eleven years ago
In later life he retained vivid mem
cries of his college days at Carlisle
of the men with whom he came
in contact, of the events which were
even then foreshadowing the grea1
civil conflict which was so soon tc
burst in storm over ais native land.
He had scarce returned to his
home in Woodstock when Old Vir
GINA flung to the breeze her MARTA
standard and called her sons tt
arms. How they responded ha:
long ago been committed to thu
brightest page of her history ane
need not be repeated here. Suffice
it to say, that none needed her cal
more promptly nor came to her de
fence more quickly than the men O
the Valley.
Among them was the young col
lege graduate, not the white hairee
veteran as most of US knew him
moving about the streets of Wood
stock weighted by the burden o
advancing years,-but the young
soldier. erect, of form. firm of step
eyes glowing with the fire of a fin.
enthusiasm, marching away to thu
field of battle with his comrades il
arms, - Lieutenant Grabill of Com
pany &C." Thirty.third Regiment o.
Virginia Infantry, Jackson's Brigade
The awful day of Manassas came
that July Sunday of long ago,
when the gallant Bee of Georgia
facing fearful odds, saw his devoted
bands broken by the overwhelming
onslaught of the enemy and sought
to rally them by pointing to the
firm gray line on the shell-torn
slope.-in that immortal line, a part
of it. stood Lieutenant Grabill, all
eye witness of his baptism of fire
and blood of one of the great cap
tains of all time,-"Stonewall" Jack
son.
After serving for time as an
ofhcer of infantry. at the request of
Col. E. v. White. he was transfer
red to the cavalry and promoted to
the captaincy. of Company, e"
whites Battalion" (35th Battalion
of Virginia Cayalry.) AS an officer
in this command he participated in
the greatest cavalry engagement of
the War.-Brandy Station.-where
he had two horses shot from under
him and was captured. He was
coafined first in the odd Capitol"
prison at Washington but was later
transferred to Johnson's Island
where he remained until February,
1855. when he was released on pa
role. About sixty days after his
ret,ra home the eud came with the|
surrender Of Lee at Appomattox.
On December 10Th, 1866. he was
happily married to Miss Mary Ho)-
lingsworth, who. after Gfty-six years.
of welded life, survives her honoredI
Shelly afbg the close Of the WasJ