LOUIS THEODORE DEROUSSE BIOGRAPHY, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY Copyright (c) 2000 by Vincent Edward Summers . ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ LOUIS THEODORE DEROUSSE A COLLECTION OF BIOGRAPHICAL EXCERPTS AND STATISTICS ================================================================================================ First: To mention the parentage of Louis, he was the son of George DeRousse, who was born February 23, 1795 at Sarralbe, departement de Moselle, France. His mother was Christine Steiner, of Germany. George was, in turn, the son of Nicolas DeRousse, born August 26, 1758, Saralbe (now Sarralbe), France, and his wife, Marie-Anne Moreau born October 26, 1765, also of Saralbe, France. They had been married, November 14, 1786, likewise at Saralbe. A scanned image of the birth record of George DeRousse is in the possession of Vincent E. Summers. Lastly, Nicolas DeRousse appears to have been the son of Andre DeRousse and Anne-Elisabeth Wanger, married October 25, 1745, in Saralbe. "Biographical, Genealogical and Descriptive History of the First Congressional District of New Jersey". New York and Chicago, 1900 Volume 2 pages 337-338. LOUIS T. DEROUSSE. The well known postmaster of Camden, New Jersey, was born in Philadelphia, May 29, 1844. His father, George De Rousse, was born in France and participated in the battle of Waterloo under Napoleon. Not long afterward he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking up his abode in Philadelphia, where he followed his trade of boot-crimping. A faithful member of the church, his life was honorable and upright, and at his death, which occurred in 1874, when he was eighty years of age, the community lost one of its valued citizens. He married Miss Christine Steiner, a native of Germany, whose father was a prominent citizen of that land and served as the mayor of the town in which he made his home. Mr. and Mrs. De Rousse became the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. Louis T. De Rousse pursued his education in the local schools until seventeen years of age and then began working in a lawyer's office of Philadelphia, at fifty cents a week. He was subsequently employed in the office of the Philadelphia Ledger, but in 1864, at the age of twenty years, he put aside his personal considerations and offered his services to the government, enlisting in the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves. When hostilities had ceased he entered the employ of W. H. Horstman & Sons, of Philadelphia, with whom he remained for eight years. In 1874 he became a resident of Camden and was with Wilson Fitzgerald, a flour, feed and grain merchant, for some time. Mr. De Rousse has taken quite an active part in public affairs. In 1880 he was elected a freeholder from the first ward of Camden, and served one year. He was elected comptroller for a three-year term and was discharged his duties faithfully. He founded the Camden Republican Club and was its first president. In 1895 he was elected to the New Jersey legislature, where he served through the three succeeding years. In 1896 he was elected speaker, and in 1897 he was the Republican leader in the house. He has studied closely the questions and issues of the day and is an able champion of the principles of the party that has ever stood for the protection of American industries and institutions and which advocates the adoption of a sound-money basis and of expansion principles. His public course is one worthy of commendation, for he has ever placed the country's good before personal aggrandizement. He is now an efficient and popular postmaster of Camden and his administration is invoking high praise. Mr. De Rousse was married to Miss Anna W. Fitzgerald, a daughter of WIlson Fitzgerald, and they became the parents of three children, of whom two are living: Jennie H., the wife of Dr. J. D. Farrar, of Baltimore, Maryland; and Anna W., at home. In his social relations Mr. De Rousse is a Mason, and Odd Fellow and an Elk. In manner he is genial, courteous and kindly,-- qualities which make him very popular with all classes. He has a wide acquaintance among the most prominent men of the state, and inspires personal friendships of great strength. His marked individuality and force of character have gained him leadership in political circles, while his genuine worth has won him uniform respect. =============================================================================================== CAMDEN COUNTY. LOUIS THEODORE DEROUSSE. (Rep., Camden.) Mr. Derousse was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 29th, 1844, and is an accountant. He was formerly in the flour, feed and grain business, but was forced to retire from it owing to ill health. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders for one term (in 1881) and declined a renomination. He was City Comptroller of Camden for three years (1888 to 1891). This is his third year in the House. Last year he served as Speaker, when he discharged the duties of that high office with much credit, dignity and impartiality. He carried the county in 1896 by a plurality of 9,920 over Jones, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. ~~~~~~ CAMDEN COUNTY. LOUIS THEODORE DEROUSSE. (Rep., Camden) Mr. Derousse was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 29th, 1844, and is an accountant. He was formerly in the flour, feed and grain business, but was forced to retire from it owing to ill health. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders for one term--in 1881--and declined a renomination. He was City Comptroller of Camden for three years--1888 to 1891. He was elected to the Assembly by a plurality of 7,227. The reference for these two tidbits is: "Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey". 1895 (page 225) and 1897 (page 253). =============================================================================================== ADDITIONAL FACTS ABOUT LOUIS THEODORE DEROUSSE -- Member of the Union Army in the Civil War. Burial Services by a "Rev. Charles Bowden" at Louis' home at 326* North Sixth St., Camden, NJ. Interment in family plot at Harleigh Cemetery. Died at his daughter's, Mrs. (Dr.) James D. Farrar, at 7103** Old York Rd., Oak Lane, PA, [of Nervous Breakdown and abscessed liver, Camden Post Telegram of 9-01-1921] on Saturday, 2:15 in the afternoon [Camden Courier of 8-28-1921]. A Timeline -- Worked on the Philadelphia Ledger, till age 20, in 1864. Enlisted in 1864 in the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves. Came to Camden in 1870 as an accountant [One account, more believable says he worked in Phila after hostilities, for W. H. Horstman and Sons, and in 1874 came to Camden, associating with Wilson Fitzgerald, whose entry, see. Went into flour & grain trade, but forced to discontinue because of health. 1880 Became Camden County Freeholder representing the First Ward of Camden. The next year, he declined renomination. 1888-1891 City Comptroller of Camden. 1895-1898 Assembly, New Jersey Legislature, final part as Speaker. 1899-1903 served as Postmaster of Camden. Mason, Camden Lodge #15, F. and A. M. and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Member of the Camden Lodge of Elks. Grand Army of the Republic, Post 37. A co founder of the Camden Microscopica Society. Camden County Historical Society. He founded and was the first President of the Camden Republican Club. Also an "Odd Fellow". 1880-1890 Camden County: CCHS was incorporated Feb. 21, 1899, with the first board of trustees consisting of Louis T. Derousse. and others. Another group of citizens including, Derousse, and Mrs. Clarence K. Binder, organized a committee to establish a free public library in Camden City.- Jane Hamilton. *326 North Sixth Street in Camden, NJ, is now the Camden Toll Plaza for the Ben Franklin Bridge, according to Camden County Historical Society's "Communicator" of Spring 1996. **7103 Old York Road, Oak Lane, PA is in what is now known as West Oak Lane section of the City of Philadelphia. ================================================================================================= A 1999 Private Communication to Vincent E. Summers... Vince: I assume you are aware of Mr. DeRousse's involvement with founding the community of Delair (in today's Pennsauken Township). This was accomplished in connection with Mr. Bonsall, editor of the Camden Daily Post. DeRousse Avenue is still one of the main thoroughfares in the community. Another notable in the early days of Delair was Volney Bennett, a lumber merchant and owner of the Daily Post. He later moved to Riverton and served that community for about 20 years as its mayor. He was responsible for having special trees shipped to Delair from his forests in South Carolina for planting along the railroad. ... Best, Paul Schopp Executive Director of the Camden County Historical Society *** and excerpted from another private communication*** The information provided in Dorwart & Mackey's book (shown below) came out of Charles Boyer's HISTORY OF THE PRESS, published in 1921. There is additional information about Fitzgerald in the text. If you write to the society, I'm sure copies of the appropriate pages can be made. The interesting thing about the Telegram is that it was absorbed by H.L. Bonsall of the Camden Post. Bonsall was a close friend and business partner of Louis DeRousse in the development of Delair. - Paul Schopp, Executive Director Camden County Historical Society. =============================================================================================== West Jersey Press of 2 Dec. 1868 states: Married ----------------- DEROUSSE - FITZGERALD.--On the 26th Ault., at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. V. D. Reed, Mr. Louis T. Derousse of Philadelphia, to Miss Annie W., daughter of Wilson Fitzgerald, Esq., of Camden, N. J. --------------- =============================================================================================== Buried in Harleigh Cemetery with his wife, Joseph D. Farrar, M.D. (Son-in-Law), Jennie DeRousse Farrar, Anna DeRousse Boyer, and her husband, Charles Shimer Boyer. ===============================================================================================