Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
Death ofex- Congressman Grout.

While it was generally known that Gen.
Gus malady, the announcement of lis
death will be shock to the people of
Vermont with whose interests he was so
long and so colsely identified. He had been
in delicate health for many months and
when he became confined to his bed about
six weeks ago it was understood that he
was in a critical condition. 1t was recent
~ announced by family friends that he
had improved and hopes for his recovery
We're entertained. The next information
was that General Grout was dead.
1t falls to comparatively few men to be
identified with the public life of State
longer than was General Grout. A new
generation has come upon the stage of
political action since he began to partici-
pate in the affairs of state, but he con-
tinued to be a forceful factor in Yer
mont's every day life up to the very last
He had hardly become est ablished in the
practice of his chosen profession of the
law when he obeyed the call to which so
many other gallant men responded to help
save the Union Through successive and
deserved promotion he became lieutenant
colonel of the Fifteenth Vermont Regi-
ment Of which United States Senator
Redheid Proctor was colonel and
which was assigned to General
STANDARDS brigade. Upon the expiration
OF his term of service he was honorably
mustered out, and the St. Adams raid
having alarmed our people along the Ca
madam boundary, he was appointed by or
der of Governor J. Gregory Smith to the
commend Of the provisional forces raised
on the east side Of the State to guard the
border. Later he was made brigader-
general and assigned to the command Of
a brigade of militia.
! General Grout had natural aptitude
for legislative affairs, and from the time
of his election to the lower branch of the
Legislature, in 1868 he was not long sep
arated from legislative service in various
capacities, After serving four terms in
the Vermont House of Representatives
he was elected to the State Senate. The
famous Bradley Barlow campaign in the
then third district resulted in his defeat
for Congress, but he was elected to the
lower house OF Congress in the following
election in 1880, and except for the two
years in which Judge Poland represented
the new second district from 1882 to 1854
he continued to represent that district I'M
til 1900.
| General CIRCUITS name was identified
with various important acts of Congress
in one form or another, and his voice was
heard on the right side of the great ques-
tons before the country at different times
during his congressional career. His pc,
sition on the House committee having
charge of the affairs of the District OF
Columbia brought him into close touch
with the residents of Washington, and
his faithfulness to their interests won fol
him a host Of friends at the national CAPT
tai. Congressman Grout was assidious II
his attentions to the interests and de
mands OF his constituents and he gained
powerful following in the State. He never
posed as a great statesman. but he mad,
more useful lawmaker for his State ant
nation than many who make greater pre-
tentlons than did he. and his COMPRESSION
al career was creditable to his constit
} uents as well as to himself. Genera
Grout was honored In life and in his dealt
! he will be sincerely mourned by the peo
pie of Vermont