BIO: John Luke Rouse, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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Pennsylvania A History - Biographical.  George P. Donehoo, Editor-in-Chief.
Chicago/New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1928.
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Page 89-90

JOHN LUKE ROUSE – The death of John L. Rouse in 1925 removed from York, 
Pennsylvania, a native son, a great student, a good citizen who was always awake 
to the needs of his community, and one of the most brilliant lawyers of his 
time.  He was well and widely known throughout York and its environs as one of 
the outstanding and most progressive and influential members of the local legal 
fraternity, generally recognized as the finest municipal lawyer of that section 
of the State, well liked and highly respected by his professional brothers, and 
a man who achieved a distinct success by applying daily to his work the 
strictest of ethical codes, among whose ramifications may be mentioned those 
prime factors to success of proved ability, great efficiency, unflagging 
industry and energy, perseverance, probity, integrity, and absolute and 
unquestioned honesty of thought, purpose and deed.  His was an engaging yet 
dominant personality, which endeared him to old and young alike, and made 
friends for him wherever he went.  That his death comes as a great loss to his 
native city is not to be doubted, and that he will be greatly missed is a 
foregone conclusion.

John Luke Rouse was born in York, Pennsylvania, on December 29, 1876, a son of 
Luke Reiman and Catherine (Kuehn) Rouse, well known and highly respected 
citizens of that city.  The father, Luke Reiman Rouse, was a descendant of one 
of the finest of the old pioneer families of Pennsylvania, and served with 
distinction in the Union Army during the Civil War.  The line descends through 
Rev. Lucas Raus, who came to this country, locating in York, Pennsylvania, in 
1758, and here he became pastor of Christ Lutheran Church.  He was educated at 
University of Leipsic and also studied medicine at University of Jena.  He 
founded the Lutheran Church at Dover, and also one at Conewago Township known as 
Quickel’s.  A few years later he took up the practice of medicine and was one of 
the pioneer physicians in York County.  He died in 1788.  His son, Dr. John 
Rouse, was born in York in 1767, and was a prominent physician in York for 
several years.  In 1800 he opened a drug store which he continued to operate for 
twenty-five years.  He died in York, June 18, 1841.  His son, Dr. Luke Rouse, 
grandfather of John Luke Rouse, was educated at York County Academy and received 
his medical degree from University of Pennsylvania.  He was also a leading 
physician of York and one of the founders of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.  Dr. 
Samuel J. Rouse, an uncle of our subject, was prominently known throughout York 
borough and also the State.  He died in 1908.

John Luke Rouse received his early education in the public schools of his native 
community, following which he attended and was graduated from the York High 
School.  He then read law in the offices and under the expert tutelage of Mr. 
Black, and was admitted to the Bar of the State of Pennsylvania in the year 
1897, at the age of twenty-one years.  He at once embarked upon his professional 
career by opening offices in the Central National Bank Building of his home 
town, where he was engaged in a general law practice up to the time of his 
death.  He was successful from the very first, building up a large and lucrative 
clientage second to none in that section of the State.  All of his legal work 
was of a consistently high type, and upon specializing in Municipal Law he soon 
became recognized as a lawyer without a peer in that line.  Upon his admission 
to the bar of the Supreme Court, he often practiced before that august body.  
For a period of eighteen years he served with great ability as solicitor for the 
city of York, which is an unbroken record for length of service in that office 
in York.  He was one of the organizers, a member of the board of directors, and 
attorney for the Central National Bank of York, of which he established the 
Trust Department, and was its active head until his death; and at one time 
served as president of the Bar Association of York County.  During his 
incumbency of the Solicitor’s office he became well known for the able manner in 
which he represented the city of York against the water companies.  Mr. Rouse 
was a great student and an omnivorous reader of all that was of the highest 
literary plane, with the result that his deep and comprehensive knowledge almost 
approached erudition.  His forensic ability was also unusual, and his gifts as 
an orator were often utilized at public meetings, etc., as well as in his 
professional work.  Upon his graduation from the York High School he had been 
named as valedictorian of his class.  During the late World War Mr. Rouse 
rendered valuable service in a clerical way by reason of his work in the office 
of solicitor, this having been an appointment by the Federal Government.  He was 
an active and interested member of the York County Bar Association; while his 
religious affiliation was given to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of York, of which 
he was a member and a most liberal supporter.  He also gave freely of his means 
in promoting the welfare of various local benevolences and charities.  Mr. Rouse 
was, to sum up, an all-round good citizen and one who was a decided asset to his 
city.

John Luke Rouse was married, in York, Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1903, to Ida 
Catherine Lucking, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Kottcamp) Lucking, residents of 
that city.  John Luke and Ida Catherine (Lucking) Rouse were the parents of one 
child, John Luke Rouse, Jr., who was born in York, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 
1908, and at the present time (1926) is a student.  Mrs. Ida Catherine (Lucking) 
Rouse and her son, John Luke Rouse, survive the husband and father, whose death 
occurred at his home in York, Pennsylvania, on May 11, 1925, in his forty-ninth 
year, losing to his native city one of its most brilliant lawyers and a citizen 
par excellence.