From Website: http://www.rootsweb.com/~vermont/CaledoniaKirby.html TOWNSHIP INFORMATION - KIRBY - CALEDONIA COUNTY VERMONT Theophilus Grout, a lineal descendant in the fifth generation from Capt. John Grout, who was of Watertown, Mass., in 1640, and Phineas Page, were the first settlers of the town of Kirby. They took adjoining tracts of land on the Moose river, a considerable portion of Grout's land lying low in a bend of the river, and in that early day considered of but little value. But Grout was born and reared on the banks of the Connecticut river, in Charleston, N.H., and naturally held a more favorable view of bottom lands than the average settler. He took a conveyance of this land in 1792, and it has been in the family ever since; he having conveyed it to his son Josiah Grout, in 1848, who, in 1865, conveyed it to his son George W. Grout, and George O. Ford, his son-in-law, from whom the title came in 1874, to its present owner, William W. Grout, the eldest son of Josiah, who, since his ownership, has made extensive and valuable improvements upon it—building two large new barns and remodeling and rearranging two old ones built by his grandfather; also reconstructing and adding to the house, which was built about fifty-five years ago, and was the fourth upon the premises, including the first, which was of logs; and stood upon the hill near the Concord line, where the first opening was made, in order to be well away from the frosts of the low lands and thus secure a crop of wheat, without which the settler in that wilderness country would have been without bread. The low land along the river has been brought under cultivation within the last fifty years; and within the last ten has been thoroughly drained by its present owner, and is, of course, the best upon the farm. The upland rises in an undulating slope to the north and east, but until recently much of it was kept wet and cold by springs of water flowing out in many places. This, too, has been drained and smoothed and fitted for the profitable use of farm machinery, and the whole cultivated portion of the farm, about 150 acres, is now in excellent condition, and very productive. About seventy-five acres are in timber, and 225 in pasturage, making 450 acres in all, 110 having been added to it by the present owner. The farm is heavily stocked with Jersey and high grade Jersey cows, a flock of good sheep, and a fine family of horses, carefully bred from Morgan, Clay, Hambletonian and Mambrino strains. General Grout spends most of his time on the farm when free from professional and public duties; but since he came into possession of it, in 1874, it has been under the immediate management of his brother-in-law, Captain George O. Ford, who married Sophronia, his eldest living sister, and their attachment for the old farm is hardly less than that fits owner. It is, in short, regarded with pride and affection by all members of the family. Now here is a farm that for almost a century has made a comfortable home for three generations of a family whose success, such as it is, has been won wholly in Vermont, and who still cling to the old homestead. Surely here is a lesson for the young men of Vermont, not only in farming but as showing, also, that here in Vermont, as elsewhere, a reasonable degree of success always attends those who patiently and industriously turn to account the opportunities at hand. Theophilus Grout, the first owner of this property, was twenty-four years of age when he commenced clearing it up, and the whole period of his active life was spent upon it. Indeed, the removal of the forest and bringing this tract of land under cultivation constituted his principal life work. He was, to some extent, honored by civil office, was, upon the organization of the town, its first representative, and was several times subsequently returned to the legislature; was for many years justice of the peace, and at one time collector of U. S. revenue; but of far greater service was he to mankind in establishing here in the wilderness a home, and in rearing children who, in their turn, have performed their part, and nearly all passed off the stage. He was a man of large influence in neighborhood and town matters. He was frank and straightforward in all his transactions. His love of justice and fair play, and his knowledge of affairs made his advice and assistance valuable to those in trouble, and he was frequently consulted by such as were involved in legal controversies. He was a man of fine presence, of strong, erect frame and iron constitution. In politics he was a Democrat. In religion he inherited from his puritan ancestors a devotional turn of mind, and at one time was connected with a Baptist church in Waterford; but later in life his views took a somewhat liberal turn. He was, till his death, a regular attendant at church on Sunday, and took a deep interest in every phase of theological discussion. He lived uprightly in the fear of God, and in love with his neighbor. In early life he married Joanna Willard, of Hartland, Vt., who by him was the mother of eleven children, and who died at the age of eighty-one years. Theophilus Grout died April 5, 1852, at the age of eighty-four years, in the full possession of his mental faculties. The text, which, sometime before his death, he had asked the minister to speak from at his funeral, was the prayer of the publican: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Josiah Grout, sixth child of Theophilus, was born October 20, 1805. He married September 29, 1830, Sophronia, daughter of Carleton Ayer, of St. Johnsbury, who was a woman of superior mental and moral qualities; and after living for a time at Canaan Vt., he removed to Compton, P.Q., whither his father-in-law had gone to reside. There he remained till 1848, when his older brother, Theophilus, who had been at home with the old folks, having died, he returned to the old homestead, took title to it, and spent the balance of his life upon it. While in Canada he did not renounce his allegiance to the United States, and took no part in Canadian affairs — though he came near getting himself into trouble with the Canadian authorities by too freely expressing his sympathy with the Papineau rebellion of 1838. Reared a Democrat, he remained such till 1854, when the Democratic party repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which opened Kansas and Nebraska to the introduction of slavery. This was too much for his party fealty, and with his pronounced anti-slavery convictions, he naturally drifted into the Republican ranks, where he was permanently settled by the War of the Rebellion. He cast his first Republican vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. He was not, however, very active in politics, but found greater satisfaction in the cultivation of his farm and the care of his family. He died at the age of sixty-nine years. There were born to Josiah and Sophronia (Ayer) Grout ten children: — (1) Helen M., December 17, 1831, married Martin Perkins, and died at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, August 26,1856. (2) William W., May 24, 1836. See sketch. (3) George W., June 26, 1838, farmer, resides in Derby, Vt. (4) Josiah, May 28, 1841, lawyer and farmer, resides in Derby,Vt.; was major of cavalry in the late war, has been several times member of Vermont legislature, and was speaker of House of Representatives in 1886. (5) Sophronia, September 17, 1842, married George O. Ford, who was captain 8th Vt. Vols. in the late war, and resides on the old homestead in Kirby. (6) Mary, March 15, 1845, married Charles H. Dwinnell, and resides in Barton, Vt. (7) Victoria, September 27, 1846, resides with William W., in Barton, Vt. (8) Theophilus, September 3, 1848, lawyer, state's attorney, and member of legislature, resides in Newport, Vt. (9) Susan, September 21, 1850, married F. W. Baldwin, of Barton, Vt., died in September, 1879. (10) James, July 3, 1852, resides on the old homestead in Kirby.