Josiah Grout, Jr. (May 28, 1841 – July 19, 1925) was an army officer, lawyer, and politician of the U.S. state of
VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
. A native of
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he served in the
American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
as a Union officer before entering the legal profession after the war. A Republican, he entered politics and served in the in both chambers of the
Vermont General AssemblyThe Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
, including time as Speaker of the
Vermont House of RepresentativesThe Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
. He then was elected as the 46th
GovernorThe Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected biennially in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
, serving from 1896 to 1898.
Grout was born in
Compton, QuebecCompton is a municipality in the regional county municipality of Coaticook and the administrative region of Estrie. And Home Of the world famous Sanders Farm and Vallons Maraichers farm, organic vegetable growers in the Deep Root Organic Cooperative of Vermont....
, Canada, the son of Josiah and Sophronia (Ayer) Grout.
Josiah Grout, Jr. (May 28, 1841 – July 19, 1925) was an army officer, lawyer, and politician of the U.S. state of
VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
. A native of
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he served in the
American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
as a Union officer before entering the legal profession after the war. A Republican, he entered politics and served in the in both chambers of the
Vermont General AssemblyThe Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
, including time as Speaker of the
Vermont House of RepresentativesThe Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
. He then was elected as the 46th
GovernorThe Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected biennially in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
, serving from 1896 to 1898.
Early life
Grout was born in
Compton, QuebecCompton is a municipality in the regional county municipality of Coaticook and the administrative region of Estrie. And Home Of the world famous Sanders Farm and Vallons Maraichers farm, organic vegetable growers in the Deep Root Organic Cooperative of Vermont....
, Canada, the son of Josiah and Sophronia (Ayer) Grout. His parents, native Vermonters, returned to that state when he was six. He received his early education in the public schools and at Orleans Liberal Institute,
Glover, VermontGlover is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 966. It contains two unincorporated villages, Glover and West Glover....
. He was a student at
St. Johnsbury AcademySt. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, U.S., enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest...
when the Civil War broke out, and he left to enlist.
Civil War
Grout enlisted October 2, 1861, as a private in Co. I,
1st Vermont CavalryThe 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Cavalry was a three years' cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac....
. He mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant, Co. I, on October 21, 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on April 25, 1862, and captain on April 4, 1863. After participating in 17 battles, he was wounded on April 1, 1863 at a skirmish against the Confederate partisan
John S. MosbyJohn Singleton Mosby also known as the "Gray Ghost," was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
, at Broad Run, Virginia, and was discharged due to his wounds on October 1, 1863. After the
St. Albans RaidThe St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War, taking place in St. Albans, Vermont on October 19, 1864.In this unusual incident, Bennett H. Young led Confederate States Army forces...
, he was commissioned captain, Co. M, Vermont
Frontier CavalryThe Frontier Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized under special authority of the War Department, to serve on the northern frontier of New England for one year. It was created in response to the St...
(26th New York Cavalry), on January 10, 1865, and promoted to major of the regiment on March 22, 1865. He mustered out with the two Vermont companies on June 27, 1865.
He listed himself later in a business directory as Lieutenant Colonel,
l5th Vermont VolunteersThe 15th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the Defenses of Washington, from October 1862 to August 1863...
.
Post War
After the war, he studied law with his brother, William W. Grout, in Barton until December 1865, when he was admitted to the bar. In 1866 he moved to
Island PondIsland Pond is a census-designated place in the town of Brighton in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 849 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and was in charge of the Customs House there for three years (his appointment included the districts of
NewportNewport is the name of a town and a city in the state of Vermont:*Newport , Vermont*Newport , Vermont...
and
St. AlbansSt. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,086 at the 2000 census. St. Albans completely surrounds St. Albans City, which is incorporated separately from the town of St. Albans....
).
In October 1867, he married Harriet Hinman, daughter of Aaron and Nancy (Stewart) Hinman. In 1874, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and afterward to
MolineMoline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with an estimated population of 43,016 in 2007. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa...
, where he was one of the supervisors of
Rock Island countyRock Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 149,374. A 2008 estimate shows a slight decline in population to 146,886....
for two years. He returned to Vermont in 1880, where he took up farming, and raised some of the finest
Jersey cattleJersey cattle are a small breed of dairy cattle. Originally bred on the British Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs incurred by its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
, blooded
Morgan horseThe Morgan is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Tracing back to the stallion Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, the breed excels in many disciplines, and is known for its versatility....
s and
Shropshire sheepThe Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840's. The breeders in the area used the local horned black-faced sheep and crossed them with a few breeds of white-faced sheep . This produced a medium-sized polled sheep...
in Vermont.
Grout represented Newport in the
Vermont General AssemblyThe Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
in 1872 and 1874, and Derby in 1884, 1886 and 1883. He was elected state's senator from
Orleans countyOrleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. As of 2000, the population was 26,277. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
in 1892. In 1874, 1886 and 1888 he was Speaker of the House. He was an ardent Republican, serving as chief executive officer of the Republican Club at Derby, and was vice president of the Vermont League of Republican Clubs for four years, and one year its president.
In 1888, he is listed in a business director as owning farms in
Essex CountyEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 6,459, making it the least-populous county in Vermont...
, , in
Caledonia CountyCaledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 29,702. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
, 600 sugar trees, 50 cows, 30 young cattle, 60 sheep, breeder of regular
JerseyJersey cattle are a small breed of dairy cattle. Originally bred on the British Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs incurred by its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
and Ayrshire cattle.
At the Republican State Convention on June 17, 1896, Grout was narrowly nominated as the party's candidate, received 339 votes compared to
William W. StickneyWilliam Wallace Stickney was the Republican governor of Vermont from 1900 to 1902.Born in Plymouth, Vermont, WILLIAM W. STICKNEY graduated from Black River Academy in Ludlow, VT and at Phillips Exeter Academy. He went on to study law and practiced in Ludlow, Vermont. He was also president of the...
's 336. He easily beat his Democratic opponent, J. H. Jackson, receiving 54,426 votes to Jackson's 14,855. Governor Grout's term was highlighted by enhancement to the state's educational system, the establishment of the state's Attorney General, a visit to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, and Vermont's participation in the
Spanish-American WarThe Spanish–American War was an armed military conflict between Spain and the United States that took place between April and August 1898, over the issues of the liberation of Cuba. The war began after American demands for the resolution of the Cuban fight for independence were rejected by Spain...
. At the start of the latter, Grout tended the services of a regiment of infantry and a battery of six guns from Vermont's Militia, which was accepted by the Federal Government. On May 21, 1898, he dispatched a regiment of 47 officers and 980 men to the war. Due to the short duration of the war, however, the Vermont regiment saw no active service, and returned to the state on August 21, where it was reviewed by Grout at Camp Ethan Allen. In October 1898, Grout was succeeded by
Edward Curtis SmithEdward Curtis Smith was an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. He was a Republican. Son of John Gregory Smith . He was married to Annie Bailey on October 3, 1888. they had four children; James Gregory, Edward Fairchild, Curtis Ripley and Annie Dorothea Bradford.-External links:*...
, son of one of Vermont's previous governors,
J. Gregory SmithJohn Gregory Smith , railroad tycoon, politician, war-time governor of VermontSmith was born in St. Albans, Vermont, son of John and Maria Smith. The elder Smith was a pioneer railroad builder in Vermont, and a leading lawyer and public man of his generation...
. Grout again represented Derby in the General Assembly in 1904. Governor Grout died in Derby, and is buried in the Derby Center cemetery.