Orleans County VT Archives Obituaries.....Grout, Theophilus February 1937
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/vt/vtfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Jordan jnrose@webtv.net September 20, 2005, 12:38 am

NEWPORT DAILY EXPRESS [VERMONT]   February 20, 1937 

 
OBITUARY
THEOPHILUS GROUT 

THEOPHILUS GROUT the (-blank space-) child of JOSIAH and SOPHRONIA AYER GROUT, was
born at Compton, Province of Que., Sept. 3, 1843. His education was received in the
common schools and in the Academies in Newbury, McIndoes Falls and St. Johnsbury. In
order to meet the expenses of his schooling he taught in the schools of Barton,
Concord, Passumpic and Brighton, Vermont. 

In the spring of 1870 he began the study of law in the office of BISBEE and GROUT in
Newport and at the September term of court in 1871, he was admitted to the bar of
Orleans county. On the 14th of the same month he was appointed inspector of Customs
at Newport. 

About a year later he formed a co-partnership with his brother, MAJOR JOSIAH GROUT,
whose partner, L. H. BISBEE, had removed to Chicago. This partnership prospered and
continued until 1875 when MAJOR GROUT withdrew and removed to Chicago. THEOPHILUS
GROUT then continued in the practice of his profession alone and with success until
November, 1901, when he went to Boston as special agent of the United States
Treasury Department. He was stationed there for sixteen years. 

The office of special agent was created about 1863, to do a work that the Custom
house could not do, to detect and prevent frauds on Customs revenues and other kinds
of work related to Customs. 

While he was practicing his profession in Newport, MR. GROUT served as State's
Attorney for the years 1878-1879. Then he represented the town in the legislature in
the sessions of 1880 and 1881, taking a leading and influential part as a member of
the committee on revision of laws and in championing some of the most important
measures that were enacted into law. 

In 1891 he purchased the Express and Standard and continued its publication until
1898, writing all the editorials and attending to the business details in addition
to his law practice and other interests. 
In 1917 MR. GROUT was transferred to New York City where he continued to officiate
in the same capacity in the revenue service. 

When he went into this service, Customs Collectors were permitted to charge a fee
for all blanks that had to be used in transacting customs business in Vermont. While
the salaries of these officials were nominal, this fee perquisite made the office of
customs collector one of the fattest plums at the disposal of the party in power. 

MR. GROUT was one of the leaders in the movement that finally resulted in ruling
that the income from the sale of blanks must be turned over to the government and
thus huge sums have since been saved to the general treasury. 

He was an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken all the
degrees in the York Rite and in the Scottish Rite, including the thirty-second
degree. He was a member of the Memphremagog lodge, No. 65, Free and Accepted Masons.

In 1887 he helped to organize Malta Commandery Knights Templar at Newport, and was
its Eminent Commander for the years 1896 - 1897 - 1898, and his tireless efforts
contributed to its success. He served as prelate of that body from the time of its
organization until he became its chief officer. 

He was a member of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of
Montpelier, also a member of the Vermont Society of New York City. 
He was the first person to sign the articles of incorporation of St. Mark's
Episcopal Church and his name heads the records of the parish register. 

He was a zealous and efficent worker in the church in Newport while a resident here,
later transferring his memberhsip to the Episcopal Church at Washington Heights, New
York, where he went to reside. 

It has been said that "To his liberality, energy and perseverance, as much as to
that of any other, is the Episcopal Society in Newport indebted for their beautiful
edifice and their flourishing condition". He was a lay reader of the church from the
time of its organization until he went elsewhere to reside. 

He was instrumental in putting a bill through the Vermont legislature to found and
organize the first military company in Newport which bore the name of the "GROUT
Guards", later known as the Newport Rifles. 
November 25, 1873, THEOPHILUS GROUT married ELLEN A. BLACK, daughter of CHARLES
BLACK of Galveston, Texas. Two Children were born to them. CHARLES T., of Bellows
Falls, Vt., who married ALICE B. CANON, to whom two children were born. WILLIAM
WALLACE and ROSANA; ADDIELOU, who married W. G. ROSEBERRY and had two children,
ELLEN A., deceased, and THEOPHILUS G., who resides with his mother in New York City.
He was a direct descendant of the first president of Harvard (HENRY) DUNSTER, also
of JOHN GROUT, first settler in Sudbury, Mass., and of MAJOR SIMON WILLARD, first
settler in Concord, Mass. 

His death occurred at his late home, 4030 Bronx Boulevard, New York City, Monday at
the age of 89 years. 
The remains were brought to Newport, where the Knight Templar service was performed
in the parlor of the Masonic Temple at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon by Malta
Commandery No 10 K. T. The services were conducted by EARL BROWN, Eminent Commander,
who gave the eulogy, R. W. SPEAR, Chaplain, assisted by L. C. DESAUTELS, Captain
Generalissimo. 
The burial took place in the family lot of the East Main street cemetery where REV.
A. B. CRICHTON, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal church, conducted commital services
and the Commandery burial services were performed. 

The bearers were GEORGE MACDIARMID, WALTER ABBOTT, R. W. H. DAVIS, FRANK SHERMAN,
CARROLL DAVIS and E. C. HUNTINGTON. 

The deceased is survived by his daughter ADDIELOU GROUT ROSEBERRY of 4030 Bronx
Boulevard, New York City, one son, CHARLES T. of Bellows Falls, VT and three
grandchildren. 

Among those from away to attend the funeral were MRS. ADDIELOU ROSEBERRY and son,
GROUT ROSEBERRY of New York City, MR. and MRS. CHARLES GROUT, and son WILLIAM and
daughter, ROSEMARY of Bellows Falls, and AARON GROUT of Burlington. 


Additional Comments:
Typed by JSR; posted with permission.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/vt/orleans/obits/g/grout33gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vtfiles/

File size: 6.5 Kb