Brother Routt was born eight miles north of Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, June 8, 1841. He was a descendant of the Scotch, and chose farming as a means of livelihood. He was married to Martha J. Scrutchfield January 28, 1864. To them were born two children--James, now an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Beulah Staples who, from childhood, has been an active worker in the church.
When but eight years old Brother Routt came under conviction through the influence of the gospel while reading the third chapter of John. He became a candidate for the ministry under the care of McGee Presbytery October 7, 1878, and was duly licensed to preach March 26, 1883; was ordained to the full work of the ministry April 7, 1889. He was commissioned by his presbytery to represent them in the General Assembly which met in Marshall, Mo., May 19, 1898.
Brother Routt was not a college bred man, but it has been said of him that he was one of the greatest theologians of his day.
He never received as much as $6.00 on a year salary for his preaching and he would often give his last cent to relieve the destitute when an appeal was made to him.
Brother Routt was a true friend to the young men preparing for the ministry, and it was a great comfort to be in his home.
Some of the co-laborers with Brother Routt were the Revs. W. F. Manning, Levy Hayes, S. B. F. Caldwell, Hugh Crockett and A. M. Buchanan.
While at his post of duty in the pulpit at Salem Church, near Jacksonville, Mo., he was paralyzed April 8, 1905, from which he never recovered sufficient to take up his much loved work of preaching, and May 20, 1915, he passed from this life to his reward. His remains lie in the Grand Prairie cemetery, near Cairo, Mo. Be this a tribute to a faithful, beloved man of the Lord.
[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 181-182]