Josiah Grout

Josiah Grout Jr. (May 28, 1841 – July 19, 1925) was an American lawyer and politician from Vermont. A Republican, he served multiple terms in the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate, including holding the leadership post of Speaker from 1874 to 1876 and 1886 to 1890. He served as governor from 1896 to 1898.

Early life Grout was born in Compton in the British Canadian Province of Lower Canada on May 28, 1841, a son of Josiah and Sophronia (Ayer) Grout. His parents were native Vermonters, and they returned to Vermont when Grout was six years old. He received his early education in the public schools and at Orleans Liberal Institute at Glover, Vermont. Grout requested return to his regiment, but on October 1, 1863, he was discharged due to his wounds. After the Confederate St. Albans Raid in late 1864, in January 1865, Grout was commissioned as a captain and assigned to command Company M, Vermont Frontier Cavalry, which performed patrol duty along the Canadian borders with New York and Vermont. He was promoted to major in March 1865 and mustered out in June 1865.

Career After the war, Grout studied law in Barton with his brother, William W. Grout.

Grout again represented Derby in the Vermont House in 1904. He was buried at Derby Center Cemetery. His son Aaron H. Grout, served as Vermont Secretary of State from 1923 to 1927.