Henry Shaver Trout (October 15, 1841 – April 16, 1918) was a Virginia lawmaker who served as both state delegate and senator, and later as mayor of Roanoke, Virginia.
Henry Shaver Trout was the son of John Trout (1813-1882), the first mayor of Roanoke, and Eliza Jane Shaver (1820-1853). His father's farm lands became the basis for Big Lick and eventually the City of Roanoke. Henry Trout married Annie Elmira Thomas of Montgomery County, Virginia, on 16 May 1866. Three children were born to this union.
Shortly after his birth, his father acquired "The Trout House", an extensive farm on Franklin road in Roanoke. "The Trout House: A popular tavern of Southwest Virginia in Ante-Bellum days. Built in 1797 by William Stover and Acquired by John Trout in 1845." Another part of an article says the house was purchased in 1838, before the birth of Henry Trout. He attended Roanoke College for two years in preparatory school, and another two years in higher education there.[1]
He enlisted as a private in Company I of the 28th Virginia Infantry on May 13, 1861, at age 23, and was promoted to Sergeant on August 1, 1862, and later promoted to Second lieutenant during November 1862. Prisoner of war captured at Sayler's Creek Battlefield on April 6, 1865, and released on June 20, 1865 from Johnson's Island, Ohio. Six feet tall, light hair, fair complexion, blue eyes.[4]
Political and professional lifeedit
Henry Trout was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the term 1877-1881. He was then elected to the Virginia Senate for the session 1882-1886.[5] He was elected mayor of Roanoke in 1892. Trout was also the first president of the First National Bank (Roanoke, Virginia), which he held the office for over 30 years.[6]
Race Riot of 1893edit
Henry Trout was the mayor of Roanoke when the infamous city riot of 1893 took place. A black man had been accused of assaulting a white woman, and later a white mob assaulted the militia and stormed the city jail. The mob, about 5,000 strong, threw rocks at the troops, who returned fire, killing eight men. However, the mob entered the jail and lynched the accused man, Thomas Smith. Mayor Trout tried to stop and reason with the mob, but was shot in the foot by the angry mob, and then the mayor was hurried away from the mob and sent out of town by his friends for his own protection. Later, the mob took the hanged man's body to the unprotected home of Mayor Trout, and threatened to lay him out on the mayor's dining room table. Afterwards, they planned to bury his body in Trout's front yard.[7]
Death and Burialedit
He went to work as usual at the First National Bank (Roanoke, Virginia), but went home early when he began to feel ill, and died on April 16, 1918, at his home on Campbell Avenue. He was considered "Roanoke's Real Pioneer" and the city's oldest native born resident. Many shops in Roanoke were closed for his funeral, and the students of Roanoke College attended his funeral. The service was at his home and was open to the people of Roanoke.[8]
Henry Shaver Trout's grave is listed as Site #5 on the Fair View Cemetery walking tour, located on Confederate Drive just east of the intersection with Magnolia Avenue in Roanoke.
Referencesedit
^Fabris, Casey. 2017. Roanoke Times. "Mayor Saw the Magic in Roanoke."Discover History & Heritage. August 2017. Pages 58-73.
^History of Roanoke County. by George S. Jack, Edward Boyle Jacobs. "Hon. Henry S. Trout." 1912. Pages 168-169.
^Simmons, J. K. A Touch of History: The Blue Ridge Rifles, 12-27-1859-4-9-1865, Company A, 28th Virginia Volunteer Regiment (Infantry) a Roll of Honor and Reminiscences. Fincastle, Va: Botetourt County Historical Society, 1995.
^Fields, Frank E. 28th Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg, Va: H.E. Howard, 1985. Page 83.
^Discover History and Heritage. The first issue- 1875 to 1900, by the Roanoke Times. August 2015. Page 52.
^Discover History and Heritage. The first issue- 1875 to 1900, by the Roanoke Times. August 2015. Pages 32-34, 51.
^Fabris, Casey. 2017. Roanoke Times. "Mayor Saw the Magic in Roanoke."Discover History & Heritage. August 2017. Pages 58-73.
October 29, 2023
henry, trout, henry, shaver, trout, october, 1841, april, 1918, virginia, lawmaker, served, both, state, delegate, senator, later, mayor, roanoke, virginia, 11th, mayor, roanoke, virginiain, office, july, 1892, june, 1894preceded, bywilliam, evanssucceeded, by. Henry Shaver Trout October 15 1841 April 16 1918 was a Virginia lawmaker who served as both state delegate and senator and later as mayor of Roanoke Virginia Henry S Trout11th Mayor of Roanoke VirginiaIn office July 1 1892 June 30 1894Preceded byWilliam G EvansSucceeded bySturgis E JonesMember of the Virginia Senate from the 4th districtIn office December 5 1883 December 8 1887Preceded byJames E EskridgeSucceeded byD F HoustonMember of the Virginia House of Delegates from Roanoke CountyIn office December 5 1877 December 3 1879Preceded byWilliam WattsSucceeded byMichael P SpessardPersonal detailsBornHenry Shaver Trout 1841 10 15 October 15 1841Roanoke County Virginia USDiedApril 16 1918 1918 04 16 aged 76 Roanoke Virginia USPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseAnnie Elmira ThomasAlma materRoanoke CollegeMilitary serviceAllegiance Confederate StatesBranch serviceConfederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankSecond lieutenantUnit28th Virginia InfantryBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War service 3 Political and professional life 4 Race Riot of 1893 5 Death and Burial 6 ReferencesEarly life editHenry Shaver Trout was the son of John Trout 1813 1882 the first mayor of Roanoke and Eliza Jane Shaver 1820 1853 His father s farm lands became the basis for Big Lick and eventually the City of Roanoke Henry Trout married Annie Elmira Thomas of Montgomery County Virginia on 16 May 1866 Three children were born to this union Shortly after his birth his father acquired The Trout House an extensive farm on Franklin road in Roanoke The Trout House A popular tavern of Southwest Virginia in Ante Bellum days Built in 1797 by William Stover and Acquired by John Trout in 1845 Another part of an article says the house was purchased in 1838 before the birth of Henry Trout He attended Roanoke College for two years in preparatory school and another two years in higher education there 1 Civil War service editHenry Trout served as a lieutenant in Company A 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment of George Pickett s Division He participated in Pickett s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg and was twice wounded He mas made a captive near the end of the war and imprisoned in Johnson s Island Prisoner of War camp 2 3 He enlisted as a private in Company I of the 28th Virginia Infantry on May 13 1861 at age 23 and was promoted to Sergeant on August 1 1862 and later promoted to Second lieutenant during November 1862 Prisoner of war captured at Sayler s Creek Battlefield on April 6 1865 and released on June 20 1865 from Johnson s Island Ohio Six feet tall light hair fair complexion blue eyes 4 Political and professional life editHenry Trout was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the term 1877 1881 He was then elected to the Virginia Senate for the session 1882 1886 5 He was elected mayor of Roanoke in 1892 Trout was also the first president of the First National Bank Roanoke Virginia which he held the office for over 30 years 6 Race Riot of 1893 editHenry Trout was the mayor of Roanoke when the infamous city riot of 1893 took place A black man had been accused of assaulting a white woman and later a white mob assaulted the militia and stormed the city jail The mob about 5 000 strong threw rocks at the troops who returned fire killing eight men However the mob entered the jail and lynched the accused man Thomas Smith Mayor Trout tried to stop and reason with the mob but was shot in the foot by the angry mob and then the mayor was hurried away from the mob and sent out of town by his friends for his own protection Later the mob took the hanged man s body to the unprotected home of Mayor Trout and threatened to lay him out on the mayor s dining room table Afterwards they planned to bury his body in Trout s front yard 7 Death and Burial editHe went to work as usual at the First National Bank Roanoke Virginia but went home early when he began to feel ill and died on April 16 1918 at his home on Campbell Avenue He was considered Roanoke s Real Pioneer and the city s oldest native born resident Many shops in Roanoke were closed for his funeral and the students of Roanoke College attended his funeral The service was at his home and was open to the people of Roanoke 8 Henry Shaver Trout s grave is listed as Site 5 on the Fair View Cemetery walking tour located on Confederate Drive just east of the intersection with Magnolia Avenue in Roanoke References edit Fabris Casey 2017 Roanoke Times Mayor Saw the Magic in Roanoke Discover History amp Heritage August 2017 Pages 58 73 History of Roanoke County by George S Jack Edward Boyle Jacobs Hon Henry S Trout 1912 Pages 168 169 Simmons J K A Touch of History The Blue Ridge Rifles 12 27 1859 4 9 1865 Company A 28th Virginia Volunteer Regiment Infantry a Roll of Honor and Reminiscences Fincastle Va Botetourt County Historical Society 1995 Fields Frank E 28th Virginia Infantry Lynchburg Va H E Howard 1985 Page 83 Discover History and Heritage The first issue 1875 to 1900 by the Roanoke Times August 2015 Page 52 Trout Family History by William Trout 1917 Discover History and Heritage The first issue 1875 to 1900 by the Roanoke Times August 2015 Pages 32 34 51 Fabris Casey 2017 Roanoke Times Mayor Saw the Magic in Roanoke Discover History amp Heritage August 2017 Pages 58 73 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry S Trout amp oldid 1153146834, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
