hɪz ɡɹˈændfɑːðɚ, ɹˈɛv sˈæmjuːl lˈɛvɪs ɡɹˈeɪsi wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈaɪv dˈæʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ɪlˈɛvən wʌzɐ mˈɛθədˌɪst klˈɜːdʒɪmən hˌuː hæd sˈɜːvd ɪnðə sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ æz ðə tʃˈæplɪn fɔːɹ sˈɪksθ pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə kˈævəlɹi ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt"ɹˈʌʃᵻz lˈænsɚz", fˈɜːst dᵻvˈɪʒən kˈævəlɹi kˈɔːɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹmi ʌvðə pətˈoʊmək, ænd sˈɛkənd pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə kˈævəlɹi ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt.
His grandfather, Rev Samuel Levis Gracey (1835-1911) was a Methodist clergyman who had served in the Civil War as the chaplain for 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment ("Rush's Lancers"), 1st Division Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment.