Trout, Johannes(John)

TROUT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/7/2008 at 12:38:25

Source: Marilyn Johnson McDowell, El Paso, Texas.

JOHANNES (JOHN) TROUT
14 Nov 1796 Johannes (John) Trout was born in Earl Twp, Berks County, PA.
30 July 1797 John was baptized at St Joseph’s Hill Lutheran Church, Pikes Township, Berks, PA.
19 Oct 1822 John married Anna Maria Miesse.
Census 1830, Brunswick Twp, Schuylkill, PA, pg. 90.
Census 1840, West Brunswick Twp, Schuylkill, PA, pg. 191.
Census 1850, East Hanover Twp, Lebanon, PA, pg. 255.
Census 1860, South Fork Twp, Jackson, IA, pg. 201.
Census 1870, Maquoketa, Jackson, IA, pg 25.

Obituary of John Trout of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, born about 1796, died December 12, 1880. “He died at Baldwin, Iowa, Dec 12, 1880. Native of Berks Co. Penn. When a young man moved to Schuylkill County, Penn. Married Oct. 19, 1822 to Miss Mary Macie (Miesse) who with seven children survives him. Was engaged in making woolen goods and amassed a competence. Came to Maquoketa in 1854. From over 50 years ago until his death he was a member of the Church of the United Brethren”.
Source: The Excelsior, Jackson County, IA

More About John Trout:
Age at time of death: 12 Dec 1880, 84 years, 0 months, 28 days
He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.

Obituary of Anna Maria (Miesse) Trout
”Died at the residence of her son Thomas Trout in this city, Friday evening May 5, 1893 at seven o’clock aged 88 years 5 mo. Her death was peaceful and triumphant, dying of old age. Deceased was born Dec. 7, 1804 in Berks Co. Penn. And was united in holy wedlock to John Trout Oct. 19, 1822. Since the death of her husband she has made her home with her son Thomas and the funeral services were held at the residence on Pleasant Street Sunday afternoon at 2 PM. With Rev. F.W. Koenig pastor of the Evangelical Church officiating. She leaves 6 Children.
i. Franklin (Frank) Trout of Maquoketa, IA
ii. Thomas Trout of Maquoketa, IA
iii. Amelia (Mary Ann) Trout of Maquoketa, IA
iv. George of Maquoketa, IA.
v. William Miesse of Wamego, KS
vi. Mrs. (Leventina) Capt. Gebert Sioux of Falls, SD
Grandma Trout united with the Christian Church at the age of 16 and was a conscientious Christian and faithful worker both in the United Brethren denomination and other churches to the end of her long life”.
Source: The Excelsior, Jackson County, IA.

More About Anna Maria Miesse:
Anna Maria Miesse’s paternal grandfather was Daniel Miesse who was a Revolutionary War Patriot. Daniel Miesse was one of 12 who kept the fires lit while Washington crossed the Delaware River. Source: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Anna Marie Miesse Trout is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.

Children of Johannes (John) and Anna Maria (Mary) Trout:
1. Franklin
Biographical sketch of Franklin (Frank) Trout.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa; Chapman Brothers, Chicago. Ill.
“Frank Trout, a wealthy citizen of Maquoketa, was formerly extensively engaged as a carpenter and builder, and many of the finest buildings in this city attest his skill in that line, and are monuments to his workmanship. He now lives in retirement in one of the pleasantest homes in this metropolis, and is truly honored and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a native of Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County being the place of his birth, and Jan. 1, 1832, the date of that important event in his life. It is uncertain whether his grandfather, Jacob Trout, was born in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, but it is known that in the latter State he carried on the trade of a blacksmith for many years, and spent his last days in Berks County.

The father of our subject, John Trout, was born in New Jersey (editor note; incorrect he was born in PA.) was reared by his maternal grandparents, and at the age of nine years was set to work in a woolen mill to learn to make cloth. He followed that trade as a journey worker for several years, and then bought a mill in Schuylkill County, and later building a large mill continued the manufacture of cloth many years. In 1854 he sold all his interests in that business in the East, and coming to Jackson County, invested some of his capital in land a mile and a half southwest of Maquoketa, and carried on farming some years. He then retired to Maquoketa, and lived here until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was a person of rare enterprise, and in his business, which he conducted by the most honorable methods, displayed good judgment and sound sense, and was enabled to accumulate a comfortable property. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Measey, was born in Berks County, Pa. She is still living in Maquoketa, and has attained the venerable age of eighty-four years.

There were twelve children born of her marriage, eight of whom grew to maturity.

The subject of this sketch was the sixth child of his parents, and was reared to his seventeenth year in his native county. He then accompanied his father to Lebanon County, and assisted him on a farm until he was eighteen. He then went to Harrisburg, and served two and one-half years to learn the trade of a joiner and carpenter. After acquiring a thorough knowledge of his chosen calling in all its details he did journey work in Pennsylvania two years. In 1852 he proceeded westward as far as Ohio, and found employment as a carpenter in Circleville, Pickaway County, remaining there actively engaged until 1855. In that year he came to Iowa, by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Davenport, and thence by stage to Maquoketa, that being the most convenient route at that time. In 1856 he went to Davenport, and the following two years carried on his trade there very profitably. In 1858 he was seized with the gold fever, and purchasing two yoke of oxen, started for Pike's Peak, and had journeyed far into the interior of Nebraska when he met several parties returning from the lately discovered gold fields with very discouraging accounts of the hardships which they had encountered in their vain search for the precious metal, and he wisely decided to retrace his steps. He crossed the Missouri River at Plattsmouth on his outward journey, and on his return visited Nebraska City, both of those places being then but small hamlets. He sold his outfit in the latter city, and proceeding down the Missouri River to St. Louis, established himself at his trade there, and on the breaking out of the war in 1861 he returned to Maquoketa, and has ever since been a resident of this city. He was for many years actively and extensively engaged as a builder and also as a trader, but in May, 1885, retired to private life, having accumulated a sufficient amount of property to yield him an income ample to supply all his wants.

To the lady who presides over his cozy home, and renders it attractive to their numerous friends, Mr. Trout was united in marriage in 1864. Their pleasant wedded life has been blessed by the birth of one son, George Franklin. Mrs. Trout's maiden name was Louisa Fisher, and she was born in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, the daughter of Peter Fisher.

Mr. Trout is thoroughly respected for those traits of character that mark him an honest man and a good citizen. He is a man of genial manners, and has a good fund of general information, as in his journeying to and fro he has been a keen observer of men and events. He has been quite an extensive traveler, and at various times has visited Florida, Alabama, California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and other states. He has witnessed with great pleasure the rapid setting up of this western country, and can relate many interesting stories of pioneer times. The first time that he attempted to cross the plains on his way to the Rockies, buffaloes, antelopes and deer were plenty, and large droves were encountered. Mr. Trout is an earnest supporter of the Republican party, believing that its policy is the best for the interests of the country.”

More about Frank Trout:
Date of death 14 July 1920; burial Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.
ii. Thomas Trout ( see Thomas Trout )
iii. Amelia (Mary Ann) Trout b. 7 Oct 1824 Orwigsburg, PA. Married Samuel Scheib in 1841. In 1870, their son, William T. Scheib, established a hardware and agricultural implements store in Baldwin, Iowa.
iv. George Trout b. May 1843 Orwigsburg, PA. Married Virginia H. (Jennie) in 1870. Occupation: Banker. Research continues.
v. William Miesse Trout b. 9 June 1841. Enlisted in the Army during the Civil War. Occupation: Merchant. Married Susan Bower of Denver, Ind. One son was born to them, Harry Trout. Both son and wife preceded William Miesse in death.
Research Continues

More About William Miesse Trout:
Source: Maquoketa Record, September 12, 1906:
”Wm. Trout an Old and Highly Respected Resident of Maquoketa Dies Suddenly at the Advance Hotel.
With no one present to witness the struggle of final dissolution, the free spirit of William Trout left the earth sometime during Friday night, leaving the body cold and stiff in death's embrace, in which condition it was found at noon on Saturday by Landlord Patterson of the Advance Hotel, where Mr. Trout of late had been making his home. When Mr. Trout retired to rest last Friday night, he left word with Landlord Patterson not to call him before dinner as he was not feeling first rate and the rest would do him good. Consequently no one sought to disturb him until the noon hour. Going to his room, Mr. Patterson's call met with no response and upon entering he found the body of Mr. Trout cold in death, the summons having come to all appearances sometime during the night. Mr. Trout was an enterprising energetic business man in early life and even beyond its prime, he was engaged in commercial activity, with success and many warm friends regret his death.
William Meisse Trout was born in Lebanon County, Penn., June 9, 1841, and died Sept. 8, 1906, having lived 65 years and 8 months. He enlisted in the Army at the beginning of the Civil War, and served throughout honorably and faithfully.
Soon after the war ended he married Miss Susan Bower of Denver, Indiana, one son was born to them, Harry, and both wife and son have preceded him in death. William Trout followed the occupation of merchant until the death of his wife when his health failed and he retired from active work. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a man of fine moral character. Of immediate relatives he leaves to mourn his death, three brothers and one sister, Frank and Thomas Trout of Maquoketa, George Trout of Wamego, Kansas, and Mrs. Adam Gebert of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and also a beloved daughter-in-law, Mrs. Harry Trout of Kansas City, Kansas. The funeral was held from the residence of his brother, Thomas Trout, under the direction of the Grand Army of the Republic and Rev. Malcolm Dana, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery.”
vi. Leventina Trout b. April 1826. Married Adam Gebert 1855, Maquoketa, IO. Parents of two sons and two daughters.
Leventina passed away in 1909 at the age of 83.

More About Adam Gebert:
Adam was the son of Adam Gebert, Sr. whom Thomas Trout apprenticed under in the hardware and tinning business upon his arrival in Maquoketa, Iowa. Adam, Jr. enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army on 13 August 1862 at the age of 39. He was commissioned in Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment Iowa on 13 Oct 1862. Promoted to Full Captain on 31 Mar 1863. Gebert mustered out of the Army from Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment Iowa on 27 Jun 1865 at Louisville, KY. After the service the Gebert family moved to Colorado Springs, Co. where Adam was a lumber dealer. The Gebert’s moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota after 1880.
Also:
vii. Isaac Trout b. 1823 m Sophia Gilbert. Parents of 1 son and 2 daughters. Died 26 Jan 1872. Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.
More About Isaac Trout:
Isaac worked with his father on the family farm in Maquoketa.

Research continues.

THOMAS TROUT
15 Feb 1836 Thomas Trout was born in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
He married Amanda Knittle in Jackson County, Iowa

More About Thomas Trout:
Census 1880, Maquoketa, Jackson, IA, pg. 512-A;
Census 1900, Maquoketa, Jackson, IA, pg. 17-B; daughter Mary E. Trout Godfrey 34 and her children Donna 4 and Charles 2 also in household.

After moving to Maquoketa, Iowa Thomas worked for Adam Gebert learning the tinning trade.
1859 Thomas Trout opened Trout Hardware in Maquoketa, Iowa.
1863 Austin Munger became a partner with Thomas Trout.
1874 Trout & Munger erected a two story brick building with a frontage on Main street of 14’ and 90’ deep to an “L extending to Platt Street 43’ with a front of 24.’ Trout owned the front part with an entrance on Main Street and Munger owned the back part with an entrance on Platt Street.
1874 Thomas Trout was elected Alderman, Maquoketa, Jackson, Iowa
1876 Trout was elected City Treasurer of Maquoketa, Jackson, Iowa
1878 He was elected to second term as City Treasurer, Maquoketa, Jackson, Iowa.
1879 Trout and Munger dissolved their partnership. Thomas’s son George entered the hardware business.
1881 Tom Trout and David Wright formed a partnership, with “a good stock and very liberal prices” as their motto.
1884 Trout Hardware was sold to George W. Trout.
1893 George W. Trout sold Trout Hardware to W. H. Hand.
1894 J. Bert Trout entered the business in partnership with W. H. Hand.
1899 J. Bert Trout became sole owner.
1902 J. Bert Trout sold ½ interests to his brother-in-law William J. Matthias, husband of his sister Fannie.
1936 William J. Matthias died.
1946 J. Bert Trout retired. Don Matthias, son of William J. became the manager.

According to my grandmother, Donna Marie Godfrey, Thomas believed that all women should be educated. His daughters and grand daughter Donna Marie Godfrey traveled to Europe to study music and art.

More About Amanda Knittle:
Amanda was the daughter of Daniel Knittle and Mary Ann Hiebner, his wife. She was born 20 March 1843 in Port Carbon, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania. The date of her marriage to Thomas Trout is not known, however it is prior to 1856 making her approximately 16 years of age. Amanda was called “Mary” by her husband and family. She remained close throughout her life with her brother Henry Knittle and his family. Amanda was an accomplished musician and played the piano and organ. Amanda was a petite woman with tiny hands and a very slender figure.

Children of Thomas Trout and Amanda Knittle:

i. James Trout, born 1858 in Maquoketa, Jackson, IA.

ii. George William Trout, born 4 Feb 1862 in Maquoketa, Jackson, IA; married Grace Belden Wilbur 05 Jan 1884 in Maquoketa, IA.

Children of George William and Grace Wilbur Trout were: Thomas Wilbur Trout, Philip Wilbur Trout, Ralph Belden Trout, John Vernon Trout.

Mr. and Mrs. Trout also raised her nephew George Wilbur Sackett who was orphaned as a child. George was the son of Grace’s sister Beldena and husband George Sackett.

More About George William Trout:

George was a graduate of Maquoketa High School, Maquoketa, Iowa. He began working in his father’s hardware store at the age of 17 and became sole proprietor in 1884. George and Grace left Maquoketa in1903 and moved to Oak Park, Illinois where George founded Trout & Sackett. George was the

President and Treasurer of George W. Trout & Co. of Chicago, Ill. In 1921 George founded the American Surplus Goods Company in Jacksonville Florida.

More About Grace Wilbur Trout:
Grace was born in Maquoketa, Iowa in 18 March 1864. She was the daughter of Thomas J. Wilbur and Anne Belden.
Grace was home schooled and educated by private tutelage. She was the grand daughter of Elisha Wilbur and Polly Tilton, his wife. She was the great grand daughter of Benjamin Wilbur and Mary Church, his wife. Benjamin Wilbur, (1754-1841), served as a private 1776 in Col. John Topham's Rhode Island regiment raised for the defense of the state. He was born in Little Compton, R. I., died in Hornellsville, N. Y., where his tombstone tells "that he obeyed the call of his country." Grace Wilbur Trout was a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as a descendant of her Great Grandfather, Benjamin Wilbur. Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout. DAR ID Number: 43873.
Mrs. Trout was a member of the Nineteenth Century Club in Chicago, Ill, the Woman’s Auxiliary of Oak Park Club. Activities Suffrage Orator; President Illinois Suffrage Assn.; Author of A Mormon Wife, published by E.A Weeks & Co., 1896.

More About Anne Belden, mother of Grace Wilbur.
1846 Anne Belden enrolled at Alfred Seminary in Alleghany. New York. Anne was born and raised in Hornellsville, N. Y.

More About Thomas Wilbur, father of Grace Wilbur.
Thomas was born and raised in Hornellsville, N.Y. He and his brother Jonathon Tilton Wilbur were both attorneys. In 1850 Thomas served as the police magistrate in Maquoketa, Iowa.

More About William and Grace Trout:

In 1915 the Trout’s purchased a home and property on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida from Grace’s cousin, Eliza Madelina Wilbur. In 1921 George and Grace sold their home in Oak Park, Ill and moved to Florida on their estate known as Marabanong. According to their grandson, Thomas Trout Jr. the home was the first in Jacksonville to have an Olympic size swimming pool.

Marabanong was 6,000 square feet with patterned shingles, a mansard roof, and a signature Queen Anne tower.

The Trout’s did not retire upon moving to Florida. George established the Government Surplus and Hardware Store. According to Thomas Trout, Jr. his grandfather traveled to Washington D.C and purchased railroad cars full of merchandise from the U.S. government. Grace remained active in politics and was elected President of the Jacksonville Planning Commission in 1921. Grace’s cousin Carline Belden Wilbur resided with the Trout’s throughout her adult life. Carline was deaf and read lips according to Thomas Trout, Jr. She acted has her cousins’ personal secretary.

Children of Grace and George Trout:

More About John Vernon Trout:

John Vernon Trout died on May 9, 1893 of the croup at the age of one. John Vernon Trout 1892-1893.

More About Ralph Belden Trout:

Maquoketa, Iowa Newspaper EXCELSIOR RECORD, October 28, 1912. "At one thirty in the early hours of the morning, Ralph Belden Trout, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Trout, passed into that far county where free and unhampered, he can go on living and working. In California where he had achieved much business success, his keen and practiced mind, his humor and cheerfulness, his high moral standards inspired respect and love in all who knew him...The last words spoken but a moment before his going were 'I live and breath and have my being in God.' And so he left those who loved him sorrowing and alone, but comforted in the thought that his strong brave life goes on". Ralph Belden Trout 1890-1912.

Adopted nephew, George Wilbur Trout, son of Grace’s deceased sister Beldena. George graduated from West Point in 1917. In 1918 he married Antoinette Cooper. He was killed in action in France on 15 Oct 1915.

iii. Charles Lincoln Trout, born 1864 in Maquoketa, Jackson, Charles was the proprietor of Charles L. Trout & Company a wholesale jeweler in New York City from 1901 to 1936. He married Della Matilda Mounts and together they had son Charles L Trout, Jr. Charles Lincoln Trout died 4 Feb 1936 in New York City. It is unknown whether Charles, Jr. married, however, he was engaged to Princess Olga Chagodaef of Russia.
iv. Mary Elizabeth Trout, born 1865 in Maquoketa, Jackson, IA; Mary Elizabeth studied art in Paris. She was an accomplished musician. She married Frank Godfrey 7 June 1894 at the home of her father, Thomas Trout in Maquoketa, Iowa. Frank was the publisher of Banks and Bankers in Chicago, Illinois. They were the parents of two children Donna Marie Godfrey and Charles Trout Godfrey.
v. Frances (Fannie) Trout, born 6 April 1869 in Maquoketa, Jackson. Fannie graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1887 and attended the New England Conservatory of Music and Oberlin College. She married William J. Matthias in 1893. William became a partner with J. Bert Trout in the family hardware business in 1902. William was born 13 April 1859 and died on 19 Aug 1956.

Obituary of Fannie Trout Matthias.

“SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. W. J. MATTHIAS SHOCKS ENTIRE COMMUNITY The people of Maquoketa and community received another shock last Saturday afternoon when word came from the W. J. Matthias home on South Second street that Mrs. Matthias had passed away, the cause of her death being heart failure. Mrs. Matthias had been subject to heart trouble for several days and had not been enjoying good health for a few weeks and with her husband was intending to leave for Chicago on Saturday afternoon to consult a specialist regarding her affliction. About noon her son, Donald, called at the home and left his mother preparing for the trip. Shortly after one o'clock her husband went home to make preparations to leave and found the lifeless body of his wife on the floor of the bathroom, the family physician stating that death had probably been instantaneous due to cardiac insufficiency. In the passing of Mrs. Matthias, another home has lost a devoted wife and mother; the city has been called upon to give up an ideal citizen and noble woman, and the community is made poorer in the losing of a lady of refinement, of beautiful character and exceptional attainment. To be a home-loving wife and mother was one of the ideals to which Mrs. Matthias aspired and how wonderfully she succeeded in reaching that goal; her devotion to her home circle and loved ones radiated the true meaning of wifehood and motherhood. Never unmindful of friends; ever ready with a helping hand to neighbors; valued and honored by her church and social co-workers, Mrs. J. W. Matthias won the admiration of all and wonderful memories will always cluster around her beautiful life. Mrs. Fannie Trout-Matthias was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, April 6, 1858, and was graduated from our high schools with the class of 1887, after which she attended Oberlin college and later the New England Conservatory of Music. After completing her studies in music she taught stringed instruments in Chicago and was one of that city's most competent lady instructors. She was an honored member of the Outlook Club and Maple Leaf Chapter of O.E.S., of this city, in which circles she will be greatly missed. In 1893 she was united in marriage to William J. Matthias and to this union four children were born and who now with the bereaved husband mourn the loss of a devoted mother. The children are Mrs. Eleanor Hertz of Paris, Ill.; Mrs. Dorothea Hite of Chicago; Donald of this city and Miss Miriam who is now attending college in Chicago. Besides these she leaves three brothers, George Trout of Florida, Charles Trout of New York and Bert Trout of this city. The funeral services were held this Tuesday forenoon from the late home at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. A.W. Sinden, pastor of the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Matthias was a faithful member, officiating. Interment was made in Mt. Hope cemetery”

7 Feb 1925 SOURCE: Family collection of newspaper clipping.

vi. John Bert Trout, born 7 Feb 1873 in Maquoketa, Jackson, IA. Died 1 Feb 1951. Never married. He was often quoted as saying “the only good business man is an honest one.”

More Information About Marabanong:

Eliza, from whom Marabanong was purchased, was the daughter of Jonathon Tilton Wilbur and Helen Belden. Jonathon was the brother of Grace’s father, Thomas Wilbur. Helen was the sister of Grace’s mother.

Eliza Belden and her first husband, Thomas Basnett, had begun construction of the home around 1876. Mr. Basnett died in 1886, his widow, Eliza, married Dr. E. Mathieu Souvielle later that year.

Thomas Trout, Sr. and his wife Antoinette Cooper (widow of Captain George Sackett) were the second generation of Trout’s to reside in the home known as Marabanong raising their five children in the home. Their son Thomas Trout Jr. and his wife Joan were the third generation of Trout’s to reside at Marabanong and raise their family. The home remained in the family for 107 years when it was sold in 1983.

Marilyn Johnson McDowell, texas26@gmail.com El Paso, Texas.