In 1890, he received his Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Vermont, graduating with his childhood friend Marshall Avery Howe.

After his retirement, he continued to teach summer bryology courses at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

[3] His primary focus was mosses, which he developed an interest in during high school.

[4] Grout was also the first editor of The Bryologist, which evolved from a serial started with Willard Nelson Clute.

[3] Grout issued four exsiccatae, one with the title North American Musci pleurocarpi.