The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-09-09
Death of Hon. N. K. Trout.

q Nicholas X. Trout was born at Greenville
= Augusta county, on the 18th OF December, 1917
8 When about - months old his father and moth
& er removed tothe vicinity Of Port Bepublic, i
3 buckingham county, where he remained unit
The was about fifteen years of age, when h
= came to Staunton to enter the County Clerk
4office then under the control of the late Jeffel
son Kinney-his relative-as clerk. The Cir
s. uit clerks office was then conducted by Nicho
elias c. Kinney, as clerk, and in the two offices
Eshc remained until he was about 81 years old
whcn, having applied himself diligently to tn
&study of the law during the period he was en-
Kgaged in the clerks Offices, he applied for ant
gobtained license to practice that profession
aOn the 18th of June, 1s43, he was married t
miss Matilda K. Stribling, daughter of Mr.
Erasmus Stribling, decd, and sister of the lat
$Dr F. T.. Stribling, the distinguished physi
Il clan and Superintendent of the Western Lu
$ matte Asylum.
81 Mr.. Trout had filled numerous positions Q
&trust and honor in this community. He ha'
#been at various times visitor to the Deal
ISDumb and Blind Institution. and Director il
&thc Western Lunatic Asylum, by appointment
3of the Governor, had filled the position of di
#rector In several of the banks of the city, AM
&after the death of VIM. Kinney, Esq, wa
sselected President of the Old Central Bank 0
#Virginia He was elected Mayor of Stauntol
lin 1s42 and for % years, consecutively. dischar
sed the duties of that office with singular fideli
Hty and acceptability, and continued to hold tn
Zposition up to the time Of his death, which oc
Ycurred OH the evening Of the Sd of September
&lS75. He was elected to the State Senate tt
Xrepresent Augusta in the Legislature of 1866
Immediately after the war, without opposition
Wand served in that body with marked ability
n Mr.. Trout had been in declining health TO
AseveIal months previous to the sad termination
&of his earthly existence. His disease baffie'
1.-THE ingenuity OF the medical fraternity, ant
D mis- friends were compelled to realize the trutl
What a fatal result to his affection was only
gquestion of time. Although confined to hi
Groom for weeks previous to his death, and con
@scous himself tina: he could not long survive
Mthe insidous advances of the painful malady-
@Bright's Disease of the Kidneys-yet he main
Z tanned a remarkable composure, and contem
IL plated the stealthy approaches of death, with
u philosophical equanimity. that found its source
hin confiding faith in che efficacy OF the bloo'
Eof Christ.
N While conversing with his son-in-law, Capt
lei. NJ. McIlhany, on a matter of business, III
Hcomplained of a suffocatng sensation, and a
Mthat gentleman was removing him from hi
wctair to the bed, his spirit passed to the othe
Hworld.
IA In the various positions to which Mr.. Trou
81 was called to fill during his active and usefll
&lfe, he met the responsibilities and discharged
#the duties pertaining thereto. with remarkable
Fidelity and business. With mind, quick il
9its perceptions, comprehensive in its under
Mstanding, fertile in its resources, and intuitive
Elv Just in its conclusions, lie seemed to be gift
Med with the faculty of meeting all the obiiga
Mtions imposed upon him, without offending ever
Esthose who differed with him, inspiring thu
Eahigllest respect in all with whom he associated
MHis equable temper, genial nature, and gencr
sEous impulses brought around him true friends
Hin all the relations of life, and exerted mag
&netc influence over those who sought his coun
I 81 and listened to his advice. He was EN-
Isphatically peace-Elaker. ford OF the smiles
ssthat spring from reconciled friendships,and Tho
Enclosures that bud ard bloom under the genia
asoul-f1ow Of reciprocal kindnesscs.
81 In his profession, he achieved an envablc
F&listinction in the line OF his practice, and, as
Twas remarked by Judge McCue, probably few
esscr of his declarations and bills were demurred
Tito than of any ether lawyer who ever practice6
HAT the Staunton bar. His fidelity to his clients,
Nhis readiness in comprehenGing the cases sub
Emitted to him, and his high qualifications in
|spreparing and presenting them, brought un-
CIDER his management very large chancery
Hpractice. and an equally extended fiduciary
sbusiness, bringing him in contact with III
sclasses and conditions of his fellow-citizens. In
a this way he became more intimately known te
: the people of Augusta, especially, and many ir
: the adjoining county of Rockingham, than any
aother gentleman of the county, and wherever
&many generous and noble qualities of head and
81 heart that illustrated his life.
q AS citizen, Mr.. Trout was alive to every
Senterprse that had for its object the advance
Hment of the city, and the prosperity of the peo-
#ple. His name, his means and his influence
( were ever on the side of enlightened progress.
In his intercourse with the people, he uniformly
i manifested that courtesy and Kindness that
Aspring from genuine manhood and elevated
Anatures. He was approachable by all classes
&Sand conditions, invariably commanding their
Arespecr and good WILL and extending his sym
#patliy and aid to the needy with a liberalty
aand generosity that evidenced the kindness Of
Shis being. The deep hold he had upon his
Swide circle of acquaintance, and the respect
entertained for him by all conditions of society,
! were forcibly illustrated in the immense con-
course OF people who followed his remains to
their last resting place-reaching at least 800
persons.
Indeed, when we review the life Of Mr..
Trout, we are forced to the conclusion that
there was something more than ordinary in his
> composition, With but common school edu-
cation, acquired during the tender years before
! he came to Staunton, to have worked himself
j up to the high position he held at the bar and
! in the community, and to have acquired an in
8duence and popularity second to that Of no
man who ever enjoyed the confidence Of the
people in this county, implied the possession Of
unusual mental and moral attractions.
In all the relations of life-as husband ia
sther, citizen, friend-he exhibited the highest
4attrihufeS Of true manhood IT. ic raro1v yya