William was born on June 5th, 1846 in York, Pennsylvania, USA.  William's father was John GRIEST and his mother was Hannah EDMUNDSON.  His maternal grandparents were Thomas EDMUNDSON and Elizabeth MORSELL.  He had two brothers and eight sisters, named Lewis, John, Miriam, Rebecca, Maria, Eliza, Emily, Amanda, Leander and Elizabeth.  He was the eighth oldest of the eleven children.  He died at the age of 79 on March 1st, 1926 in Jay, Indiana, USA.

Source: REDSHAW