William W. GROUT was born of American parents in Compton, P.Q. on 24 May 1836. His ancestry is traced back to New England as early as 1640.  His grandfather, Theophilus came to VT in 1792 and settled in Kirby. His father, Josiah was born in Kirby.  He was the second of ten children born to Josiah and Sophrenia Ayer Grout. He entered law school at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and graduated in 1857. He entered the law office of Hon. Thomas Bartlett of Lyndon, admitted to the bar in Caledonia County in December of the same year. He was nominated States Attorney by the Republicans in 1862 but declined, and entered the army. Capt.Grout was made lieutenant-colonel of the 15th VT Regiment. Mustered out in August of 1863 and became brigadier-general of the state militia. In 1880 elected to the 47th Congress of the U. S. He married Lorraine Smith in 1860 and they had two children who died in infancy and his wife died in 1868. 
 
 
 

[Source: Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, VT; 1764-1887, by Hamilton Child, May, 1887, page  224D.]

Additional information available from Tom Dunn who provided this photo and biographical sketch.