Josiah Grout
Encyclopedia
Josiah Grout, Jr. was an American lawyer and politician in the US state of Vermont
.
Born in Quebec
, Canada to Vermonter parents, he served in the American Civil War
as a Union Army
officer
before entering the legal profession after the war. A Republican
, he entered politics and was elected to both houses of the Vermont General Assembly
, serving as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
. Grout was elected the 46th Governor of Vermont
and served from 1896 to 1898.
, 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 at Glover, Vermont
. He was a student at St. Johnsbury Academy
when the Civil War broke out, and he left to enlist.
in Company I, 1st Vermont Cavalry
. He mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant, Company I, on October 21, 1861. He was promoted to first 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. Mosby
, at Broad Run, Virginia
, and was discharged due to his wounds on October 1, 1863. After the St. Albans Raid
, he was commissioned captain, Company M, Vermont Frontier Cavalry
(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 Volunteers
.
, who was also a Civil War veteran and served several terms in the United States House of Representatives
. He was admitted to the bar
in December 1865 and in 1866 moved to Island Pond
, where he was in charge of the Customs House for three years. His appointment included the districts of Newport
and St. Albans
).
In October 1867, he married Harriet Hinman, daughter of Aaron and Nancy (Stewart) Hinman. In 1874, he moved to Chicago, and afterward to Moline, Illinois
, where he was one of the supervisors of Rock Island County
for two years. He returned to Vermont in 1880, where he took up farming, and raised some of the finest Jersey cattle
, blooded Morgan horse
s and Shropshire sheep
in Vermont.
Grout represented Newport in the Vermont General Assembly
in 1872 and 1874, and Derby
in 1884, 1886 and 1883. He was elected state Senator
from Orleans County
in 1892. In 1874, 1886 and 1888 he was Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
. 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 County
, 325 acres (131.5 ha), in Caledonia County
435 acres (176 ha), 600 sugar trees, 50 cows, 30 young cattle, 60 sheep, breeder of regular Jersey
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. Stickney
's 336. He easily beat his Democratic opponent, J. H. Jackson, receiving 54,426 votes to Jackson's 14,855.
Grout's term was highlighted by enhancement to the state's educational system, the establishment of the post of Vermont Attorney General
, a visit to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition
. The Spanish-American War
broke out during Grout's term, and at the start of the war Grout tended the services of a regiment of infantry and a battery of six guns from the Vermont 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 Smith
, son of one of Vermont's previous governors, J. Gregory Smith
.
Grout again represented Derby in the General Assembly in 1904. Grout died in Derby, and is buried in the Derby Center cemetery.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Born in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada to Vermonter parents, he served in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
before entering the legal profession after the war. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he entered politics and was elected to both houses of the Vermont General Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The 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...
, serving as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
. Grout was elected the 46th Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected 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...
and served from 1896 to 1898.
Early life
Grout was born in Compton, QuebecCompton, Quebec
Compton 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 at Glover, Vermont
Glover, Vermont
Glover 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 Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA, 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 privatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Company I, 1st Vermont Cavalry
1st Vermont Cavalry
The 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, Company I, on October 21, 1861. He was promoted to first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
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. Mosby
John S. Mosby
John Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
, at Broad Run, Virginia
Broad Run, Virginia
Broad Run is a small, unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia. It is on Bust Head Road just north of Interstate 66 and State Route 55, near the Prince William County line. Broad Run is named after the river that flows through the town...
, and was discharged due to his wounds on October 1, 1863. After the St. Albans Raid
St. Albans raid
The St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War, taking place in St. Albans, Vermont on October 19, 1864.-Background:In this unusual incident, Bennett H. Young led Confederate States Army forces...
, he was commissioned captain, Company M, Vermont Frontier Cavalry
Frontier Cavalry
The 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
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
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
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, l5th Vermont Volunteers
15th Vermont Infantry
The 15th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
.
Career in law and politics
After the war, he studied law in Barton with his brother, William W. GroutWilliam W. Grout
William Wallace Grout was a U.S. Representative from Vermont.-Biography:Born in Compton, Province of Quebec, Grout pursued an academic course and graduated from the Poughkeepsie Law School in 1857....
, who was also a Civil War veteran and served several terms in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in December 1865 and in 1866 moved to Island Pond
Island Pond, Vermont
Island 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...
, where he was in charge of the Customs House for three years. His appointment included the districts of Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
and St. Albans
St. Albans (town), Vermont
St. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont. The population was 6,392 at the 2010 census. The town completely surrounds the city of St. Albans, which was separated from the town and incorporated in 1902. References to "St. Albans" prior to this date generally refer to the town center, which...
).
In October 1867, he married Harriet Hinman, daughter of Aaron and Nancy (Stewart) Hinman. In 1874, he moved to Chicago, and afterward to Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. 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. The Quad Cities has a population of...
, where he was one of the supervisors of Rock Island County
Rock Island County, Illinois
Rock Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 147,546, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 149,374 in 2000. Its county seat is Rock Island...
for two years. He returned to Vermont in 1880, where he took up farming, and raised some of the finest Jersey cattle
Jersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
, blooded Morgan horse
Morgan horse
The 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 sheep
Shropshire (sheep)
The Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840s. 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 Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The 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
Derby, Vermont
Derby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line...
in 1884, 1886 and 1883. He was elected state Senator
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from Orleans County
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. 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 Vermont House of Representatives
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
. 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 County
Essex County, Vermont
Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
, 325 acres (131.5 ha), in Caledonia County
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. 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....
435 acres (176 ha), 600 sugar trees, 50 cows, 30 young cattle, 60 sheep, breeder of regular Jersey
Jersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
and Ayrshire cattle
Ayrshire cattle
The Ayrshire cattle is a breed of dairy cattle originated from Ayrshire in Scotland. The average mature Ayrshire cow weighs 1,000-1,300 pounds . Ayrshires have red markings. The red can be an orange to a dark brown, with or without coloured legs. They are known for low somatic cell counts,...
.
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. Stickney
William W. Stickney
William Wallace Stickney was a Vermont lawyer and politician. A Republican, he served as the 48th Governor of Vermont from 1900 to 1902....
's 336. He easily beat his Democratic opponent, J. H. Jackson, receiving 54,426 votes to Jackson's 14,855.
Grout's term was highlighted by enhancement to the state's educational system, the establishment of the post of Vermont Attorney General
Vermont Attorney General
The Vermont Attorney General is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. It was created by an act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1790, repealed in 1797, and revived in 1904. The office began as a one-person operation...
, a visit to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition
Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition
The Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition was an exposition staged between May 1 and October 31 of 1897 in Nashville. It celebrated the 100th anniversary of Tennessee's entry into the union in 1796, although it was a year late....
. The Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
broke out during Grout's term, and at the start of the war Grout tended the services of a regiment of infantry and a battery of six guns from the Vermont 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 Smith
Edward Curtis Smith
Edward Curtis Smith was an American politician from the US state of Vermont. He was a Republican. He was married to Anna Bailey James, the granddaughter of Amaziah Bailey James on October 3, 1888, and they had four children; James Gregory, Edward Fairchild, Curtis Ripley and Anna Dorothea...
, son of one of Vermont's previous governors, J. Gregory Smith
J. Gregory Smith
John 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. Grout died in Derby, and is buried in the Derby Center cemetery.