GEORGE W. TROUT, professor of history at
the State Manual Training Normal School at Pittsburg, Kansas, was born in Allen
County, Kentucky, September 16, 1863, and is a son of Rev. Paton and Amanda
(Black) Trout. He belongs to an old and honored family which originated in
Ireland, and came to America during the days of the American Colonies; the first
forefather in this country settling in Virginia, from whence the family drifted
to various parts of the Union.
Professor Trout was married in 1887, in
Allen County, Kansas, to Miss Mary L. Gilbert, daughter of Edward and Mary
(Tucker) Gilbert, farming people, the former of whom is now deceased, while the
latter is a resident of Kincaid, Kansas. To this union there have been born nine
children, as follows: Deva, who died at the age of three years; Ola, who died
when three months old; Aiden Camby, born May 5, 1893, a graduate of the academic
department of the State Manual Training Normal School, and now a member of the
Pittsburg Fire Department; Ruth, born December 28, 1895, who is the wife of
James Stillwagh, the proprietor of an ice manufacturing business at Pittsburg,
and has one child, Edith Lavon, born January 15, 1915; Anna, born April 4, 1898,
who is a freshman at the State Manual Training Normal School; Gilbert, born
February 28, 1901, a freshman in the high school department of the State Manual
Training Normal School; Ralph, born September 10, 1903, who is in the ninth
grade in this school; Harold, born February 7, 1906, also a student; and Mary
E., born July 7, 1910. The family home is at No. 305 West Quincy Avenue.
In his youth George W. Trout received only
an indifferent public school education, as the family was large and he was
expected to contribute to its support. He was only fourteen years of age when he
began to do a man's work on the farm, in Marion County, Illinois, thus earning
$6 per month. He continued as a farm hand in the fields of Illinois, with
gradually increasing wages, until 1882, when he came with the family to Allen
County, Kansas, and during the next six years continued to work as a farmer
during the summer months. In the winter terms, however, he taught in the
country schools, having managed to pick up some education through studying in
the hours that were not demanded for farm work, and in 1885 was given a county
teacher's certificate. With his appetite for knowledge only sharpened by
what he had secured, Mr. Trout determined to gain a thorough education, and in
1893 entered Ottawa University, from which institution he was graduated in 1899,
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently, he went to Rochester, New
York, where for three years he attended a theological seminary, specializing in
history and sociology, and in 1902, on his return to Kansas, located at
Pittsburg as pastor of the First Baptist Church, a pastorate which he filled for
five and one-half years. In 1908 he was offered and accepted the
chair of history in the State Manual Normal Training School at Pittsburg, where
he has since remained and where he now has two assistant professors.
In politics Mr. Trout is a Republican and
by his ballot supports the men and measures of the party, but has had neither
time nor inclination to hold office himself, his attention being fully occupied
with his business affairs, which have resulted prosperously so that he is now
one of the substantial farmers of his adopted county. Professor Trout is
one of the best known educators in the state, was one of the organizers of the
Kansas Sociological Association, of which he is a member, and belongs also to
the Kansas State Teachers' Association and the Kansas Historical Association.
Fraternally, he belongs to Pittsburg Camp
of the Modern Woodmen of America, and to Pittsburg Lodge No. 187, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master; Pittsburg Chapter No. 58,
Royal Arch Masons, of which he is high priest; Pittsburg Commandery No. 29,
Knights Templar, of which he is prelate; Mirzah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Zabud Council, of Topeka; and Fort Scott Consistory
No. 6, of the thirty-second degree. He also holds membership in the Pittsburg
Commercial Club and allied himself with other progressive and public-spirited
citizens in advancing movements for the welfare of the city and its people.
The procedings of the year 1927 has a
picture of the man, George W. Trout, Grand High Priest, February 23, 1926, to
February 22, 1927. Sixty-first annual convocation held in Topeka, Kansas
Monday and Tuesday Feb. 22, 23, A. D. 1926 A. I. 2456, morning session Tuesday,
Feb. 22, 1927, under " Presentation of Jewel", M.:. E.:. George W. Trout was
presented a Past Grand High Priest's Jewel on behalf of the M.:. E.:.
Grand Chapter by M.:. E.:. Elrick C. Cole.
He died June 23, 1947 at 83 years of age.
