John Andrew Trout was born 4 Jan 1842 in Buckeystown, Urbana District, Frederick, MD, the second child of John TROUT and Elizabeth Rebecca MADERA. His father John had developed a prospering business making "post & rail" fences, and as his three oldest sons, William H., John Andrew, and Valentine Tobias came of age, they helped with their father's fence making business.

With the coming of the Civil War, John Andrew registered for the draft on 24 Nov 1863, and then eventually enlisted on 29 Feb 1864 for a term of three years as a Private in Company "H," 1st Maryland Cavalry, also known as the 1st Potomac Home Brigade (PHB) Cavalry, commanded by Col. Henry A. Cole. Pvt. John Andrew TROUT was captured by victorious Confederate forces at the Battle of Monocacy, MD on 9 Jul 1864 and was initially held as a prisoner of war at Danville, VA before being transferred 17 Feb 1865 to Richmond, VA. It was there he was immediately paroled on 20 Feb 1865 after 8 mos, 11 days in captivity and transferred to the USA Hospital in Annapolis, MD, where he was treated for 6 months before finally be returned to his regiment on 22 Jul 1865. (he had been technically mustered out on June 28th)

Following the war, John Andrew TROUT returned to his fence making business and married circa 1868 to Harriet A. BAKER (1850-1912) and eight children were born to this union. Following Harriet's death on 3 May 1912, John at age 71 married second on 12 Apr 1913 to Elsie Mae BURDETTE (1885-1945) and six additional children were born to this second union.

John Andrew's second marriage was the subject of much good-natured ongoing newspaper coverage as he had earnestly advertised for over a year in the Frederick Evening Post seeking a bride, stipulating that she must have one son 10-12 years old. Although young Elsie (age 27 and 44 years his junior) had not been previously married, she had accepted his proposal, much to the delight of readers who had followed his long and well-covered search for a bride and courtship.

Tragically, John Andrew TROUT's long and interesting life ended by his own hand on 8, Aug 1927 when he very calmly concluded at the age of 85 years, 7 months and 4 days, that he had lived quite long enough, and while his wife was out on an errand, John ingested a quantity of "Paris Green," a popular rodenticide/insecticide of the time. He had not been ill, nor had his friends reported that he had been particularly depressed, but as was his somewhat unusual and eccentric personality, he had simply concluded that it was simply "time."

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Excerpt from his obituary:

"Civil War Veteran and former member of the Maryland Regiment of the Union Army. Survived by widow, Elsie May Burdette Trout (2nd wife) and their children: Evelyn, Anna, Clyde, Dorothy, Lucille and Ernest. Survived by children from 1st marriage: Mrs. Albert Dixon, Mrs. Mattie Trail, Mrs. Annie Browning, Mrs. Almeda Carty, Roy Trout, Wilson Trout, and George Trout."

Source: The Frederick Post, 12 Aug 1927
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