(GRABLE spelling is used for the some of his descents).
George Grabeel was the son of Jacob Grabeel and his first wife Mary [Burkhardt]. He was born in the area of then Knox County, KY, later known as Harlan County, KY. When George was five years old (1818), the family moved to Lee County, Virginia, on a farm lying along the waters of Hardy's or Trading Creek, about 10 or 12 miles west of Jonesville. George was a farmer, as was his father and grandfather who farmed the same land. [In the 1850 US Census for Lee Co., VA, George gave his birthplace as Virginia].

Mary Wells, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Wells, married George Grabeel about 1836 in Lee County, VA. They were the parents of seven children:
1. Jacob Grabeel, 14 Oct 1837-22 Dec 1913, m. 10 March 1870 to Elizabeth Ely daughter of John M. and Peggy Ely. They are buried in the Bethel Cemetery on Sugar Run, Lee Co., VA;
2. Elizabeth Grabeel, b. Dec 1838 (US Census 1900), m. 29 Nov 1867 to Henry Thompson, son of William & Sophia Jane Thompson;
3. Nancy Grabeel, b. 1842, m. 25 Jan 1874 to Jesse Perry, son of John & Susan Perry;
4. Mary Jane Grabeel, b. 1845 and was listed with the family in the 1860 U.S. Census;
5. Martha Grabeel, b. 1848, who married William Lowe;
6. Eli Grabeel, b. 1851;
7. Susannah (Susan) Grabeel, b. 1854, m. Andrew Harris.

Military: George Graybill, Confederate, Virginia, 37th Regiment Virginia Infantry, Company E, Private. Film M382, roll22.
Sources: EARLY SETTLERS OF LEE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, VOL II, 1977, pages 706-707; and
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=105-1883-038#img

1860 Census: George Grabill is also listed with his children in Harlan Co., KY.

"At a County Court began & held for Lee County, at the Court house, thereof on Monday the 20th day of January 1868, More than 3 months having lapsed since the death of Alexander K. Brent and George Grabill respectively, and no one having made application for Letters of Administrator thereon, it is ordered that the administration of said estate be committed to James W. Orr, High Sheriff of the County of Lee [Virginia]."
[signatures] A Cofry, Teste-James W. Orr, Clerk (source: Chancery Records)
The last day George Grabeel could have been alive was the 19th of October 1867.
To research: Are the deaths of these two men coincidental?

Chancery records: JAMES W. ORR, Admin of George Grabill, Dec'd. Copy of Order of Court document for non-resident heirs, dated 14 Sept 1874, published in "Lee County Sentinel," 30 Nov 1874.

George was deceased when his father Jacob's estate distribution went to Chancery Court in 1883, as George's son-in-law Henry Thompson and Henry's wife Elizabeth Grabeel, George's daughter, were two of four Orators on behalf of the heirs from Jacob's first family. Jacob passed in July of 1861, however, due to the damages around Jonesville, Virginia resulting from the Civil War, this case was not able to be closed until 1883.

Mary's oldest son Jacob Grable and his wife Elizabeth are buried in this cemetery and it is thought that George and Mary (Wells) Grabeel are also. However, they might be buried in the Milan-Hobbs cemetery, near George's father and Graybill grandparents, or in Harlan Co., KY. Information is welcomed, this is a work in progress.