Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-10-16
Gen. w. w. Grout.

death occurred Oct. Z at his home il
Kirby, had been In poor health fol
years, suffering from a stomach trouble
caused by prostate disease. He had
not left his room for six weeks previ
Gus to his death, his nephew, DR.. VIM
Grout Dwinell of Boston attending him
during his ilne SIS in the double capa.
city OF physician and nurse.
He was born in Campton, Quebec,
May "a, 1886. and traced his ancestry
TO DR.. John Grout, who came to Amer.
lea in 1880 and settled in Waterfowl,
Mass. Through his great-grandfather
Elijah Grout of Charlestown, n. H.,
who served as commissary in the Rev
olution, Gen. Grout was eligible to
membership in the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution and always wore on
his coat the blue, white and yellow
button of that order.
He was educated in the common
schools and attended St. Johnsbury
academy. In 1857 he was graduated
from the PoUghkeepsie, n. Y, law
school and the same year was admit
ted to the Vermont bar, locating at
Barton for practice. When a company
was organized at Barton for the civil
war he was made captain and was
later promoted to the rank of lieuten-
ant-colonel in the 10Th Vermont, which
was attached to Gen. STANDARDS bri Q
ade, afterwards famous for the repulse
OF Pickett's charge at Gettysburg.
August, 1868, Col. Grout was mustered
out with his regiment on account of
expiration of term of service.
In the fall Of 1864, the enemy raided
st. Adams, robbing banks. ETC., and
by order of the governor of Vermont,
Col Grout was placed in command OF
the provisional forces raised on the
east side of the mountain to guard the
Canadian frontier. The legislature
then in session organized three brig
AIDES of militia. and Col. Grout was
elected brigadier-gene ral and assigned
by the governor 10 the command of
one OF them.
In 1878 he was nominated for con-
gress by the republicans OF the third
district, but was beaten by Bradley
Barlow, a greenbacker. In 1880, he
was elected to the 47th congress from
the third district. BY the tenth census
Vermont lost a member, and the third
was absorbed by the first and second
districts. Gen Grout was a candidate
for nomination in the second district
in 1882, but was beaten by Judge Po-
land.
In 1884 Gen. Grout was nominated
by the Republicans of the second dis
trict and was elected TO the 49th Con-
gress by a majority of $4,000. He was
reelected TO the 50th, 51st. sd, SD,
oath. 55th and 56th Congresses, always
by large majority.
General CIRCUITS love of family was
shown not only in his fraternal rela-
tions, which were of the closest and
most tender, but in his fondness for
the old homestead. his grandfather's,
then his fathers, and for most of his
life his own home. The land was first
cleared in 1899 by his grandfather,
Theophilus Grout, who came from
Charlestown No. in New Hampshire
to make himself home in the wilder
ness. In ls4s Theophilus decided the
land TO his son, Josiah, who, in turn,
decided il in 1865 to his son, George,
and son-in-law, George o. Ford.
Through them, in 1875. the deed pass
ed to General Grout, and the old farm
was always one of his proudest posses
sions. At the time he bought the
place il consisted of $50 acres, 10
which he added 10, so the present
size OF the farm is 400 acres. There
have been only four houses on the
place. The first, log house, and the
second and third, frame houses, were
destroyed. The fourth was built in
1874 and now forms the ell to the pres
ent house. of which the front part was
built in 1888. On Sept. &c. 1899, Gen.
Grout invited all the descendants of
his grandfather, Theophilus Grout, to
gather at the old homestead and be his
guests on the centennial anniversary
OF the settlement of the farm. OF the
125 descendants, large proportion
accepted the invitation and the day
was one which those present will new
er forget. Some of the generals own
love OF the paternal acres was instilled
into the hearts OF his relatives and
many saw him in a new light that day,
not as the congressman whom all hon
ored. but as the loyal descendant OF a
sturdy pioneer.
The funeral was held Oct. 9 and was
attended by distinguished citizens
from all parts of the state. Delega-
tons were present from both the
House and Senate. The bearers were
Gen. CIRCUITS four brothers.