The DeRousse Line from Alsace-Lorraine to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
George DeRousse was born on February 23,
1795 in the Sarralbe, department de Moselle,
France, also known as Alsace-Lorraine. He
fought alongside Napoleon Bonaparte, and
came, as a fairly young man, to the United
States of America at Philadelphia.
At this time, there was already established,
in Louisiana, and in Illinois and related
places, a different, distinct DeRousse line.
So, in the United States at least, in the
first third of the 19th century, there were
two, unrelated lines of DeRousse. Now these
two lines just could be related. But they
are not related, at least, from unions or
descendancies, within the United States.
Sorrowfully, the Philadelphia DeRousse line
has either almost died out, or has actually
become "extinct," as far as can
be discerned. The last known ones I am aware
of, were two who had migrated to Cumberland
County, New Jersey -- William and Irma/Erma
DeRousse.
But to get back to the history of the Philadelphia
line...
George goes back to Nicolas DeRousse, born
August 26, 1758 in Saralbe (now Sarralbe),
France. Nicolas was the husband of Marie-Anne
Moreau. They had been married, also at Saralbe,
November 14, 1768. An actual image is in
my possession, of the birth record for George
DeRousse,
their son. It is believed that the father
of Nicolas was Andre DeRousse. His wife was
Anne-Elisabeth Wanger, born November 15,
1715. They were wed October 25, 1745, again
at Saralbe, France.
One tiny bit of information that makes this
all the more believable, is that George DeRousse,
the immigrant, was also at times called George
Andreas DeRousse.
George, the immigrant, had married Christiana
Steiner, who was born about 1816. She was
a Mayor's daughter. To quote the "Biographical,
Genealogical and Descriptive History of the
First Congressional District of New Jersey"
by New York and Chicago, 1900 Volume 2, pp.
337-338, she
was "... 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. DeRousse became
the parents of seven children, of whom five
are living."
The seemingly most prominent of these children
was Louis Theodore DeRousse. He became active
in the Civil War, the Grand Army of the Republic,
and in some local political affairs of the
times. In addition, he married prominently,
and worked for his father-in-law, who was
a self-made man in the grain industry. Many,
many things he got involved in. He was very
interested in Microscopes, and was one of
the founders of a society devoted to promoting
the instrument in the public eye. He did
many other things. Nevertheless, he was not
a heroic man. He was human. Frankly, he was
fearful at the suffering and death he was
to experience. This is something none of
us should think belittles him, however. Who
can know how they will respond at their own
fatal illness and death? Time is what tells
how each will respond.
Unfortunately, as before mentioned, the male
lines, while attaining, each, either a satisfactory
or a prominent living, eventually appear
to have nearly died out. Louis Theodore unwittingly
helped keep his own and other DeRousse's
lives in the eyes of Society, by being a
co-founder and benefactor of the Camden County
Historical Society. It was largely through
that organization, and the assistance of
other researchers, that the information in
this history was drawn from. Here is a brief
list of events in the life of Louis Theodore
DeRousse:
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.
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 re-nomination.
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".
In 1884, Louis T. Derousse was a director
of the YMCA in Camden, NJ (p.495, Prowell)
An executive director of the Camden County
Historical Society tells me:
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.
Last, I post his obituary. It rather sums
up what I have discussed above. His strengths,
his human frailties. He was nothing more
or less than a human being, not to be particularly
praised, yet not to be belittled for doing
what he perceived was proper and natural
for the times --
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].
Note: If anyone can find a connection between
the lines of the earliest DeRousse/Dirouche
of Louisiana, and the DeRousse line mentioned
above, it would be of great interest to me.
Yet it is quite possible that they are separate
and distinct, and no one should try to force
the one line to be united with the other...
Contributed by: Vincent Summers
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