Krebill, Samuel

Notes:

Samuel, the second son of Friedrich and Anna Krebill, was undoubtedly named after his miller grandfather Samuel Grehbiel of Altleiningen, Germany.

His life was interrupted when as a young man he contracted what was then called "consumption", now known as tuberculosis. At that time this affliction usually proved fatal and Samuel succumbed to the dreadful disease before his 23rd birthday.

Four years before his demise, Samuel was still taking an active part in the farm work so perhaps his illness was of short duration. He had not married.

Source: Olga A. Krebill Hirschler, The Altleiningen Krebills 1730-1966 (Paul and Olga Hirschler, 020 Lassen Street, Richmond, CA: 1966), Newberry Library, Chicago, also personal collection of Michael Hervey.

Notes:

Altleiningen, near Grunstadt, Germany

Friedrich married Risser, Anna on 16 Dec 1816 in Friedelsheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Anna (daughter of Risser, Sr Johannes and Strohm, Maria) was born on 15 Nov 1794 in Friedelsheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; died on 17 Jan 1857 in Hayesville, Ashland, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: 1885

Notes:

Friedelsheim, near Durkheim, Germany

Notes:

Miller Samuel Grehbiel

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries a Samuel Grehbiel family occupied what was known as the Altleiningen mill in the RheinPhalz area in southwestern Germany. The mill stood on the banks of a stream called Echbach, a short distance down stream from Altleiningen towards Grünstadt. These flour mills Were typical in this part of Europe wheresoever streams of sufficient flow existed to turn the water-wheels which operated the mill machinery . Much of the water which spilled from these wheels would find its way back into the stream and continue down to turn the wheel for other mills.

In those times flowing streams were the principal source of power for many industries.

About two centuries before there existed a protestant movement called Anabaptism. This was somewhat more radical than that which was initiated by
Martin Luther.

This movement was met with vehement actions by State and Church. Many were destroyed, many more tortured and driven into the vallys of the Alps or into the swamps of the low-lands. A converted catholic Priest, Menno Simons, made an effort to gather some of these refugees into groups and under his leadership formed the branch known as Mennonites. In the 1600s and 1700s many of these Mennonites fled to America and settled in the state of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

By the time of the Grehbiels at the Altleiningen mill, the Mennonites were starting to conform to the practice of other protestant Evangelical churches. In certain areas officials permitted Mennonite members to erect their own churches. However, all young men were required to serve two years of military training and be subject to conscription in case of war. This was contrary to the belief of the Mennonite religion and so these people were still at odds with the Church-State government and therefore not accorded full citizenship.

In addition the farmers were subjected to exorbitant rents and taxes. Because of the scarcity of land young men were unable to prwide a home and in consequence were not permitted to marry. Teen-aged boys were required to serve a four year apprenticeship in sane craft or trade and after being discharged they were permitted to travel as journeymen and work for others or perhaps ultimately establish a business for themselves.

Abraham, a son of Samuel and his first wife Katharina, was Mayor of Altleinigen for a period of time. While he was thus in office he signed all Official papers spelling his name, Abraham Krebill instead of the way his father spelled it. There is evidence that the rest of this family followed his Practice from then on.

Source: Olga A. Krebill Hirschler, The Altleiningen Krebills 1730-1966 (Paul and Olga Hirschler, 020 Lassen Street, Richmond, CA: 1966), Newberry Library, Chicago, also personal collection of Michael Hervey.

Mill Location: 49° 30' 39.28" N 8° 5' 3.72" E

Samuel married Würtz, Agnes in 1774. Agnes was born in 1750 in Munchhof Bhochspeyer, Germany; died on 22 Jun 1838 in Altleiningen, Rheinpfalz, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She came from Munchhof near Hochspeyer, Germany.

Johannes married Strohm, Maria. Maria was born in 1750. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Abraham married Lehmann, Anna on 2 Jun 1746. Anna was born in 1725 in Geisberg, Alsace; died on 18 Sep 1782 in Friedelsheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]