Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-03
w eatmInster..

GOLDEN WEDDING.
A large number of the relatives and
friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Sylvester Grout of
Westminster assembled at their house last
Tuesday afternoon, to congratulate them on
the semi-centennial anniversary of the mar
ried life, five children and twelve grand
children from different parts of Vermont,
New Hampshire and Massachusetts, a good
number Of nephows and nieces, among whom
were Rev. Lewis Grout and Dr. II. d. Hol-
ton with Mrs. HoltOu of Brattleboro also
Rev. and Mrs. Dascomb and other neighbors
After half an hour Of happy gathering and
greetings, the ever-ready and du fat Doctor,
who was asked to act as master of ceremo-
mics, suggested that brief sketch of the
genoa ogy and history of the welded pair
whom We had met to honor might not be
devoid of interest, and called on Rev. Lewis
Grout to read the sketch he had been invited
to prepare for the occasion. After this, one
of the grandchildren, Miss Gertrude Spooner
gave beautiful piece Of poetry she had pre-
pare to recite. Then followed the reading
of an original poem which a friend had furn-
ished, in which some of the cherished remem-
brances of social and domestic life in olden
time were sung by bard who had evidently
been there and knew their charm for us Of to-
day. In presenting the gifts of friends DR..
Hulton happily remarked that the beautiful
bouquets were doubtless Intended to symbol
ize the many sweet and pure eBjoyments
which the fifty years of married life had
brought the recipients Of these gifts, while
the presents i'll gold i'll various forms well
represented the more substantial and endur-
ing results, the blessed and gracious attain
ments to which they had come, together with
the bright hopes they are permitted to cher
ish respecting the future. The reply Of ac-
acknowledgement and thanks expressed by the
Rev. Mr. Dascomb, in behalf of the host and
hostess, WAS in his usual happy vein of
though, and speech. Among other things he
would say that, if it were possible for him to
put himself in the bridegroom's place fifty
years ago, he had no doubt he would have
felt that be was getting the best of all the
young ladies in New Hampshire nor could
he doubt that she was getting the best young
man in Vermont; nor was he again less sure
that their fifty years OF hand in hand happy
life had only perpetuated and strengthened
their first impression. His prayer, which
he was asked to offer, was full of thanks to
| God in their behalf for the good way in which
he had led his faithful servant and handmade,
for the deep, steady, practical interest they
had always taken in the welfare of the church
and society in which their lot had been cast,
| and an earnest invocation of the best of Di-
vine blessings upon them for all the remain
ing years of their pilgrimage here on earth
and for the life beyond. The rich and tempt
ing refreshments now furnished for the out
er man" seemed to open the mouths and
meet the taste of all, and so put the remain
der of the occasion more into the hands of
General Good Time, in whose lively lead,
without at all hindering the feast of reason
aud flow of soul" it continued till the hour
of retiring arrived.
The following is brief extract from the
Il, al 70 rla
| bridegroom of the occasion, Sylvester Grout,
of Westminster, is a native of this town, be-
ing the youngest son of John and Elizabeth
| (Upham) Grout, who, in their early married
| life, came from Massachusetts, TO Vermont,
| settled in Westminster and had thirteen chill
| dren. John Grout of Westminster, VT, was
| son of Thomas of Spencer, Mass, who was
son of John of Sudbury, who was son OF
John of the same town, who was the son of
| Capt John of WATERFOWL and Dudley, who
came over from England about 1854 at the
age of IS, and is supposed to be the son of
Richard Grout of Walton, in the county of
Derby, England, whose family is believed to
have settled in Cornwall, in the west part of
England, during the reign of Henry ii. llJ4
| 49, and to have originated in Germany, where
they have the name of Grotius or Groot, alias
| Grote Gross, Gros, or Graus who are thought
| to be the descendants of the Gradii, or the
Great, of whom Caesar speaks as among the
daring tribes of Belize Gaul, upwards of fifty
| wears previous to the Christian era. The
| bride of the hour, Mrs. Casandra Grout, was
daughter of Joseph and Prudence (Wether-
ell) Hunt of Westmoreland, N. H., where the
marriage of our host and hostess was solem-
nized by the Rev Mr.. Within fifty years ago.
| During these years of their welded life they
| have had born to them seven children, two
sons and five daughters. The sons, Henry
and George, died in infancy. The daugh-
tiers are all living. Mary E. married John
Jenuison, Jr., of Walpole, N. H. She has
| two sons and two daughters. Fannie M. mar
ried Is. W. Spooner of Petersham, Mass, and
has five children, of whom -four are daugh-
ters Anna l.. married X. f. Smith of Sax
tons River, who had one son, besides whom
| they now have four children, two sons and
| two daughters. Miss Nora and Katie E. re-
side with their parents. Such brief outline
of the genealogical and domestic life of the
welded pair we this day delight to honor.
And from what we know of their hallowed
enioyments during their half century of
hand inland life through which they have
passed. we are sure they are on this day
ready 10 witness to the truth of what another
has said of matrimonial pleasures
Though fools spurn Hymen's gentle powers,
We, who improve his golden hours
| BY sweet experience know
That marriage, rightly understood
| Gives to the tender and the good
| paradise below"
The Vermont Valley Railroad company
are building a watering tank and small depot
at Groutss crossing,
--Deacons II. S. Stafford and Geo. F. Her
rick alternate in a Sabbath reading service
while we are destitute of a minister. =.