Washington

GROUT, Dan DeForest

1st Biography of Dan DeForest GROUT

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 163-164 
(portrait p 164)

[There appears to be a typo in the first name of the subject of this pair of 
biographies. Submitter has changed "Don D. GROUT" to "Dan D. GROUT," 
believing him to be descended from Solomon GROUT, born in 1751. 
Interestingly, Elijah GROUT, born about 1732, and Joel GROUT, born about 
1734, appear to be brothers of Solomon GROUT, which means that Dan D. GROUT, 
along with Selim E. GROUT, Josiah GROUT, William W. GROUT, Theophilus GROUT, 
and Aaron Hinman GROUT, the subjects of other Vermont GROUT biographies 
posted on this website, all appear to be descended from John and Sarah Busby 
GROUT, and thus of English descent. The ascendancy of the subject of the 
following biographies appears to be: Dan DeForest GROUT < Luman ("Major") 
(1823) and Philura J. (FRENCH) GROUT < Dan (1786) and Beulah (ELMORE) GROUT < 
Solomon (1751) and Ruth (PUTNAM) GROUT < John (1704) and Johana (Joanna?) 
(BOYNTON) GROUT < Jonathan (1658) and Abigail (DIX) GROUT < John (1615) and 
Sarah Busby GROUT. Material in bracket added by submitter, who is not 
researching this family, to clarify information given in these biographies 
and to raise questions.]

Dan D. GROUT, of Waterbury [Washington County, Vermont], was born 24 April 
1849 in Morrisville [Lamoille County, Vermont], son of Luman M. and Philura 
J. (FRENCH) GROUT. Dan D. GROUT was educated at the People's Academy, 
Morrisville, he taught for a time in Stowe [Lamoille County, Vermont] and 
Holliston [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, and was the principal of the 
academy at West Charleston [Orleans County, Vermont]. Deciding upon a 
professional career, he began the study of medicine under Dr. George A. 
HINMAN* of Charleston [Orleans County, Vermont] and later with Dr. Edward S. 
PECK of New York. This was followed by attendance at several courses of 
lectures at Dartmouth and the University of Vermont, from which latter 
institution he graduated M. D. in 1872. Upon graduation Dr. GROUT received 
the appointment of assistant physician in the Kings County (New York) 
Hospital and later filled the same position at the asylum for the insane at 
the same place. [* The fact that Dan D. GROUT studied with Dr. George H. 
HINMAN hints at the family connection between the subject and Josiah GROUT, 
who married Harriet HINMAN.]

Began the private practice of his profession in Wolcott in 1873 and in 1875 
removed to Stowe [both in Lamoille County, Vermont], where he built up a 
lucrative practice, which he relinquished in the spring of 1890 to enter upon 
a larger field of activity, which he found at Waterbury [Washington County], 
where he has since resided and is actively engaged in his profession. 
Politically affiliates with the dominant party of Vermont [Republican], and 
that his efforts have been appreciated by his party is evidenced by the 
positions of honor and trust which have been given him; was superintendent of 
schools while in Wolcott; represented the town of Stowe in the state 
Legislature, serving on the committees of public health and lunatic asylums; 
had charge of the bill to locate and construct a state asylum for the insane; 
was appointed by Gov. {Paul] DILLINGHAM one of the trustees for said 
institution, and had the personal supervision of the construction of a 
portion of the buildings; has held many town offices and is at present one of 
the Waterbury village trustees.

Dr. GROUT is an active member of the Masonic fraternity; member of Winooski 
Lodge, Waterbury Chapter, of Royal Arch Masons, and of Waterbury Council of 
Royal and Select Masons; has for the past two years been the Worshipful 
Master of Winooski Lodge. Has been three times married. In July 1873 
[1875?] he [Dr. Dan DeForest GROUT] married Nettie A., daughter of John and 
Susan JONES of Barre [Washington County], by whom he has two children: Inez 
L., and Luman M. [Note second biography states Nettie A. died in 1880.] On 
20 December 1881 he married [Miss] Angie, daughter of Venon* and Eliza 
WILKINS of Stowe [Lamoille County]; she left him four children: Annie M., 
Josie R., Benjamin Harrison, and Angie. In 1892 he married his present wife, 
Ida E., daughter of D. J. and Jane MORSE of Waterbury. [* Venon is a typo in 
the original text for Vernon. The family of Vernon WILKINS was enumerated in 
the 1880 census of Stowe, and included his wife Eliza; two daughters Angie 
(age nineteen, born Vermont) and Annie; and mother-in-law, Eunice KAISER. 
Note the second biography of Mr. GROUT gives the names of his two 
children with third wife Ida E.]



2nd Biography of Dan DeForest GROUT

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, pp 207-208

Dan DeForest GROUT, physician and surgeon, Waterbury [Washington County, 
Vermont], was born 24 April 1849 at Morrisville [Lamoille County, Vermont], 
son of Major Luman M. and Philura J. (FRENCH) GROUT. Major Luman M. GROUT 
was born at Elmore [Lamoille County, Vermont] in 1823, and is the last 
surviving veteran of the Mexican war who enlisted from Vermont. He was major 
of the Eighth Vermont Regiment in the Civil war, 1861-1865. [Luman M. GROUT 
served under Colonel RANSOM, was wounded and discharged for disability; and 
afterward farmed in Elmore, Lamoille County, Vermont; was elected to the 
Vermont Legislature in 1856 and 1857.] Dan DeForest GROUT was educated at 
Peoples' Academy, Morrisville, at Dartmouth College, and at the University of 
Vermont, graduating in medicine in 1872. In 1872 was appointed assistant 
physician to Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, where he served one 
year; began private practice in Wolcott, where he was superintendent of 
schools in 1873; removed to Stowe, where he was in general practice until he 
removed to Waterbury in 1890; has been surgeon general of Central Vermont 
Railway since 1899; was U. S. pension surgeon 1903 and 1905, and a former 
consulting surgeon of Fanny Allen Hospital.

Republican; represented Stowe in the Legislature in 1888; he served on the 
committee on the insane, and had charge of the bill in the House that made 
the present state hospital possible; had charge of its construction, and 
brought the first 200 patients to it from the Retreat at Brattleboro [Windham 
County, Vermont]. Was trustee of the village of Waterbury, and chairman of 
the school board from 1900 to 1903; has been chairman of the Republican town 
committee for the past 20 years; was chairman of the State Tuberculosis 
Commission from 1902 to 1905, and a delegate to the Pan-American Tuberculosis 
Congress at Baltimore in 1903. Was appointed superintendent and treasurer of 
the Vermont State Hospital for the insane on 06 September 1905, which 
position he now holds.

Past master of Winooski Lodge No. 49, Free and Accepted Masons; member of 
Waterbury Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; Vermont State Medical Society; 
Burlington and Chittenden County Clinical Society; and American Medical 
Association. In 1873 he [Dan DeForest GROUT] married [Miss?] Nettie A. JONES 
of Barre, who died in 1880; they had two children, Inez L., and Luman M. In 
1881 Dan D. GROUT married [Miss] Angie WILKINS of Stowe; they had four 
children, Annie M., Josie R., Benjamin Harrison, and Angie G. After the 
death of his second wife, Mr. [Dan DeForest] GROUT married, in 1892, [Miss?] 
Ida E. MORSE of Waterbury; they have two sons, Don Jackson [Dan Jackson] and 
Frank Morse.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly